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My grandmother had the most incredible baby-soft skin. I remember how white, smooth and firm it was, the product of a Minnesota farm-wife's constant shielding from the sun. She used to stay covered up all the time. Big sun hat, light but long-sleeved clothing, which included keeping her hands protected. It really is a reminder to me, despite how much I love the sun, that long-term protection can really pay off, especially here in Colorado where we get extra-baked at elevation.
She had nutrition covered without fancy supplements or cosmetics by providing her skin and her family the basic nutrients they needed right from her huge home garden and farm. She provided her skin the B vitamins biotin, B6 and niacin from eggs, zinc from whole grains, dairy and meats, Vitamin C from tomatoes, and amino acids from beans and other legumes. She got essential fatty acids from flax, and it all came from the rich Minnesota dirt of the Red River Valley, a dark, nearly-black loam from which you could have grown anything. Being Norwegian, she was also a fan of cod liver oil, giving her the Vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, so important for skin integrity.
If you wonder how important nutrition is for the skin, consider what happens when you don't get enough of these essential nutrients. Vitamin A deficiency can show up as dry eyes and scaling of the skin. Not enough biotin can lead to dermatitis, cradle cap (in infants) and hair loss. Zinc deficiency can cause a seborrheic-like rash, acne-type skin issues and hair loss. If you have any of these problems, remember that skin issues can be tricky, so it's helpful to get a doctor's opinion to you know what you have.
Skin cancer can grow really fast and is becoming more prevalent. If you have any strange-looking moles, growths with irregular borders, or unusually dark or worsening areas of skin, get them checked out. That said, there are some other old-time naturopathic treatments that can be helpful for common skin issues.
Heliotherapy, literally “sun therapy,” has a long tradition of supporting skin health. Now don't get all excited and run around naked at high noon in some kind of western Colorado showdown. We all know what would happen, how many times you'd be the butt of barbeque jokes, and how many times you'd increase your risk of skin cancer. I'm talking about 20 minutes daily, over as much skin as possible, especially if you suffer from eczema, psoriasis, or an itchy fungal issue called tinea versicolor. You'll also get an extra dose of Vitamin D, up to 20,000IU in those 20 minutes. Oh, and make sure the walls are high in your backyard.
The other simple and beneficial treatment for eczema is to apply unrefined sesame oil to your skin in small amounts, directly after a shower or bath. This is based on traditional Ayurvedic medicine from India, and has great benefit for the skin. Skip the toasted variety unless you want to smell like a Chinese restaurant.
SKIN BRUSHING
Ladies, want a home remedy to soften and restore youthful skin? Then try the simple but effective practice of dry skin brushing! Skin brushing has been practiced in many cultures over many years, as part of a daily hygiene routine. The best skin brushes are natural vegetable bristle brushes, although a loofa brush or a baby's hairbrush can also be used (you can find these brushes in most health food stores.)
Skin brushing is best done on dry skin, prior to your shower or bath. The skin is one of the major organs of elimination in the body and in addition to keeping the skin free from dry, dead skin cells, you'll also increase the efficiency of your skin to remove wastes from the body, increase blood flow and lymph drainage and stimulate the surface oil and sweat glands to enhance circulation, bringing the tone and suppleness of youth back into your skin.
Here's how to soften up with dry skin brushing:
1. Start by brushing on your legs. Brush from your toes toward the center of your body, as this is the direction of venous and lymph flow toward your heart. When finished, your skin will tingle and might be a little red, but do not brush so hard that your skin is bright red.
2. Next, brush lightly up your stomach and lower back making sure to include your buttocks.
3. Move to your arms and brush from your fingers to your shoulders in short strokes toward the center of your body.
4. Finally, lightly brush your shoulders, upper back and neck, toward the center of your body.
The next time you're looking in the mirror, consider if you're taking care of your skin both inside and out. I give thanks to my teachers for what I've learned, but I also give credit to grandma. She passed her traditions unpreachingly on to my mother and now me. Partly because off her, I have soft skin and attribute it directly to the amount of quality oils in my diet and how I care for my skin.
And the cod liver oil? I now slurp it daily by the tablespoon. Thanks, grandma!
-------------------
Dr. Christopher Lepisto graduated as a naturopathic doctor (ND) from Bastyr University in Seattle, Wash. He is a native of Grand Junction and opened his practice here in 2004. Previously, Lepisto lived and worked in New Zealand, where he developed a special interest in indigenous herbal medicines. Lepisto practices downtown near Fourth and Main. For more information, visit www.grandjunctionnaturopath.com or call 970-250-4104.
She had nutrition covered without fancy supplements or cosmetics by providing her skin and her family the basic nutrients they needed right from her huge home garden and farm. She provided her skin the B vitamins biotin, B6 and niacin from eggs, zinc from whole grains, dairy and meats, Vitamin C from tomatoes, and amino acids from beans and other legumes. She got essential fatty acids from flax, and it all came from the rich Minnesota dirt of the Red River Valley, a dark, nearly-black loam from which you could have grown anything. Being Norwegian, she was also a fan of cod liver oil, giving her the Vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, so important for skin integrity.
If you wonder how important nutrition is for the skin, consider what happens when you don't get enough of these essential nutrients. Vitamin A deficiency can show up as dry eyes and scaling of the skin. Not enough biotin can lead to dermatitis, cradle cap (in infants) and hair loss. Zinc deficiency can cause a seborrheic-like rash, acne-type skin issues and hair loss. If you have any of these problems, remember that skin issues can be tricky, so it's helpful to get a doctor's opinion to you know what you have.
Skin cancer can grow really fast and is becoming more prevalent. If you have any strange-looking moles, growths with irregular borders, or unusually dark or worsening areas of skin, get them checked out. That said, there are some other old-time naturopathic treatments that can be helpful for common skin issues.
Heliotherapy, literally “sun therapy,” has a long tradition of supporting skin health. Now don't get all excited and run around naked at high noon in some kind of western Colorado showdown. We all know what would happen, how many times you'd be the butt of barbeque jokes, and how many times you'd increase your risk of skin cancer. I'm talking about 20 minutes daily, over as much skin as possible, especially if you suffer from eczema, psoriasis, or an itchy fungal issue called tinea versicolor. You'll also get an extra dose of Vitamin D, up to 20,000IU in those 20 minutes. Oh, and make sure the walls are high in your backyard.
The other simple and beneficial treatment for eczema is to apply unrefined sesame oil to your skin in small amounts, directly after a shower or bath. This is based on traditional Ayurvedic medicine from India, and has great benefit for the skin. Skip the toasted variety unless you want to smell like a Chinese restaurant.
SKIN BRUSHING
Ladies, want a home remedy to soften and restore youthful skin? Then try the simple but effective practice of dry skin brushing! Skin brushing has been practiced in many cultures over many years, as part of a daily hygiene routine. The best skin brushes are natural vegetable bristle brushes, although a loofa brush or a baby's hairbrush can also be used (you can find these brushes in most health food stores.)
Skin brushing is best done on dry skin, prior to your shower or bath. The skin is one of the major organs of elimination in the body and in addition to keeping the skin free from dry, dead skin cells, you'll also increase the efficiency of your skin to remove wastes from the body, increase blood flow and lymph drainage and stimulate the surface oil and sweat glands to enhance circulation, bringing the tone and suppleness of youth back into your skin.
Here's how to soften up with dry skin brushing:
1. Start by brushing on your legs. Brush from your toes toward the center of your body, as this is the direction of venous and lymph flow toward your heart. When finished, your skin will tingle and might be a little red, but do not brush so hard that your skin is bright red.
2. Next, brush lightly up your stomach and lower back making sure to include your buttocks.
3. Move to your arms and brush from your fingers to your shoulders in short strokes toward the center of your body.
4. Finally, lightly brush your shoulders, upper back and neck, toward the center of your body.
The next time you're looking in the mirror, consider if you're taking care of your skin both inside and out. I give thanks to my teachers for what I've learned, but I also give credit to grandma. She passed her traditions unpreachingly on to my mother and now me. Partly because off her, I have soft skin and attribute it directly to the amount of quality oils in my diet and how I care for my skin.
And the cod liver oil? I now slurp it daily by the tablespoon. Thanks, grandma!
-------------------
Dr. Christopher Lepisto graduated as a naturopathic doctor (ND) from Bastyr University in Seattle, Wash. He is a native of Grand Junction and opened his practice here in 2004. Previously, Lepisto lived and worked in New Zealand, where he developed a special interest in indigenous herbal medicines. Lepisto practices downtown near Fourth and Main. For more information, visit www.grandjunctionnaturopath.com or call 970-250-4104.
