NEOLIFE
Lifestyle
NEWS YOU CAN USE
W
e all feel at our best when our skin is soft, smooth, blemish-free and glowing—attractive skin is key to our self-esteem and confidence. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and is an essential part of the immune system—it is really worth taking good care of! It serves as a barrier and first line defence between you and the external environment. It helps regulate your body temperature and prevents you from becoming dehydrated. The skin is also the only body organ that can be nourished from the inside and the outside!
YOUR SKIN VITAL BARRIER & PRECIOUS Take Good Care Of It!
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Numerous micronutrients, such as vitamin E and selenium, and phytonutrients are known for their key roles in supporting skin cell metabolism and protection. Micronutrients are known to play key roles as enzyme cofactors for metabolic reactions of skin cells and also provide support as antioxidants to defend against damaging environmental attacks.3 More recently the phytonutrients— carotenoids and polyphenols—have emerged as important skin cell protectors.4,5 Likewise, very important effects of correct omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid status have been highlighted to contribute to optimal skin health.6
NOURISH
IMMUNE ORGAN —
Adopting a healthy lifestyle can make a great difference to the quality and appearance of your skin—a good balanced diet with quality nutrients, staying hydrated, reducing stress, regular adequate sleep, the avoidance of excess alcohol and tobacco all have a positive influence on your skin’s health and wellbeing. 1 Our skin needs a wellbalanced diet with quality and diversity of nutrients and phytonutrients for protection and optimal health just like the rest of our body.2 Skin cells of the epidermis (known as keratinocytes) have a remarkable ability to assemble unique combinations of proteins and lipids to create protective barriers and junctions.
Our skin’s outer layer, the epidermis, actually has 4 layers (5 on the thicker skin of the palm of the hands and feet) which together make up the skin barrier function. Maintaining the main elements of the skin barrier function is key to healthy, youthful-looking skin.
1. The skin’s Acid Mantle 2. The skin’s outer layer –
This barrier function is critical for keeping the Horny Layer in moisture and lipids as well as defending 3. Active cell renewal – “morphing” keratinocytes the body against all kinds of environmental attacks, microbes, pollution and toxins. The outer “Horny Layer” is covered by a protective film known as the Acid Mantle.
Active Cell Renewal: A Matter of Skin Cell Life & Death Below the “Horny Layer” of protein-filled dead cells are layers of actively renewing or “morphing” skin cells (keratinocytes). The rate at which the body is able to replace skin cells in the skin barrier impacts how fresh and youthful-looking we are. Below the epidermis lies the dermis, with the proteins collagen and elastin which provide strength and elasticity to the skin; with a rich blood supply, it delivers vital nutrients to support skin structure and function. Quality nutrition can make a big difference1, just as topically applied nutrients from quality skin care products and a regular skin care routine are of great value to Active Cell Renewal processes. The skin’s acid mantle protects the barrier function of the skin surface. The acidic properties of the acid mantle are vital to the overall skin barrier function.7
Skin can be nourished from the outside and from the inside. That is why a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle must also address our skin care needs.
MAIN ELEMENTS OF THE SKIN BARRIER FUNCTION
PROTECTIVE ACID MANTLE
Use of harsh and alkaline soaps and cleansing products may strip away your acid mantle and cracks may develop in the outer “horny layer” leaving your skin feeling sensitive, tight and dry. When combined with unhealthy diet and lifestyle factors, skin pH can move upward into the more neutral or alkaline zone leaving the skin exposed and vulnerable. (continued on page 6)
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