Did you know that your skin is your largest organ? Covering the body, this stretchy, semipermeable organ acts as your body’s shield and even has its own microbiome, providing a haven for trillions of bacteria to protect against infection.

The skin also serves as a sensor. It communicates nonstop with the brain regarding the outside environment. In addition, the skin provides your body with Vitamin D. This vitamin is vital for healthy bones, the immune system, heart, lungs and brain, and even plays a role in cancer prevention. Vitamin D forms when the sun’s UV rays interact with a fat-soluble molecule in the skin. Yet this nutrient’s production is often impaired by sunscreen use, increased melanin (pigment that produce skin color), and/or decreased sun exposure.

When it comes to understanding skin, there’s far more to this organ than what’s seen on the surface. In fact, the skin has three layers:

1. Epidermis: an outwardly growing layer of dead skin cells also known as the stratum corneum. This layer contains immune-defensive cells to help protect against infection.
2. Dermis: the “sensing” layer below the epidermis, with nerve fibers for detecting pain, touch and temperature, plus hair follicles that protect and sense, too. This layer has collagen and elastin to give skin strength and elasticity, and it also contains blood vessels for temperature regulation and sweat glands to lower the body’s internal temperature and allow for the excretion of several waste products. Two other glands are found in the dermis: the apocrine glands, which produce the odorous “stress sweat”; and the sebaceous glands, which secrete oils for lubricating the hair and skin.
3. Subcutis: primarily a fat layer, this provides reserve or “emergency” energy to the body, insulation, and some “cushion” for protection from knocks and falls.

Despite having three layers, the skin undergoes a lot of stress daily. Wind, water, sunlight, burns, infections, abrasions and chemicals—all take their toll. In addition, wrinkles form as the skin thins and loses its ability to retain moisture and elasticity. With increased exposure to such stressors, skin ages faster, becomes drier, and loses fat, collagen and elastin. Dark spots, aka liver spots or age spots, can form as the melanocytes (melanin producing cells) begin clustering. Increased skin damage can increase the risk of skin-related cancers.

Considering all this, what’s put on the body is just as important as what’s put in the body. Just think about the labels on your shampoo, lotion, and skin cleansers…they often contain a very long list of unfamiliar, difficult-to-pronounce chemical names. While these “scientific” products are marketed for beauty and anti-aging, the long-term effects often do the opposite.  In fact, when absorbed through the skin, these products can inflict internal stress and toxicity.  They commonly change the skin’s pH, too, affecting bacteria and moisture content and perpetuating inflammation. Interestingly, discontinuing these products sometimes triggers increased oil production, but other times even drier skin. (Check out Environmental Working Group’s, Skin Deep, too see how your skin products measure up.)

Recent research suggests that when sunscreen chemicals break down under UV exposure, this process inflicts serious harm to the skin and body and even disrupts hormone balance. So too much sun and too much sunscreen aren’t good for the skin. Also, hormones can change skin elasticity and stimulate increased sweat and oil production. Clogged pores, due to bacteria plus an imbalance of oil and fat, ferment these contents in the pores, producing acne. Because of this, skin health often needs to be addressed from the inside out.

In my naturopathic medical practice, I see many skin conditions clear with simple strategies around changes in diet, reducing toxic exposures , improving hormone balance, and using quality natural skin care products.

Daily Tips for For More Radiant Skin:

• Avoid prolonged sun exposure, enjoy the shade
• Cover the skin with hats and clothing when in prolonged, direct sunlight
• Use mineral based (micronized zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) sunscreen if sun exposure is unavoidable, re-apply frequently
• Adopt healthy eating habits, eating more nutrient dense foods, reducing/avoiding processed, refined and deep fried foods
• Stay hydrated with water
• Manage emotional stress
• Support proper hormone cycles
• Use skin care products with minimal ingredients, containing natural oils, essential oils, and are free of synthetic chemicals, preservatives and dyes
• Keep abrasives off the skin
• Avoid photosensitizing plant oils on skin exposed to sunlight: bergamot, lime, St. John’s wort