About Skin, Hair and Toxins

Most of us have days when we look in the mirror and simply despair of our appearance. This is the plan for those depressing moments. It’ll instantly re-energize your skin and your hair, making them look much healthier, and also offers tips to help strengthen both of these in the future.

About Skin and Toxins

Skin is one of the first parts of the body to show problems from toxin overload.

The main reason for this is that the body sees it as a non-essential organ; therefore, if toxins are wreaking havoc on the rest of the body, destroying nutrient stores and such like, the body diverts nutrients away from the skin to allow it to supply them to more vital organs like the heart and lungs. This is bad news for our looks, because the skin relies completely on nutrients for its health; if it’s lacking in essential fatty acids that the body has diverted to the brain, for example, it will look dry.

Smoking

Toxins can attack our skin in other ways too. The healthy look of the skin depends on the circulation being able to supply it with the nutrients and oxygen it needs. Many toxins interfere with this process – the worst one being smoking, which constricts blood vessels and causes smokers to have a sallow, yellow complexion. On top of this, it’s been shown in research that smokers in their 40s have the same number of wrinkles as non-smokers 20 years older. This happens, according to doctors at Nagoya City University Medical School in Japan, because smoking increases levels in the body of an enzyme called matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), the job of which is to break down collagen - the fiber that keeps the skin firm.

Alcohol

Another toxin that causes problems with the skin is alcohol; in the body this is broken down into acetaldehyde which first attacks collagen and elastin, but also alters the shape of the red blood cells reducing the amount of oxygen travelling around the system.

Stress

Stress can trigger dull-looking skin because it wipes out the B vitamins our circulation needs to create healthy red blood cells.

Sunlight

When it comes to our skin, the real toxin is sun. It has been estimated by dermatologists that if we didn’t expose our skin to the sun we wouldn’t get a wrinkle until we were 60. As it is, most of us start to see the first sign of ageing in our early 30s, if not before.

Sunlight causes problems because it allows high levels of free radicals to be formed in the skin, and these start to attack the collagen and elastin fibers that keep our skin firm. Just four short minutes of sun exposure is enough to start this whole process happening. Sunlight also thickens the upper layers of the skin, which creates an unfortunate, dull, sallow appearance.

About Hair and Toxins

Toxins can also cause hair to look dry and dull, and this is for the same reason as for skin - it’s not seen as an essential organ by the body.

If the body decides the muscles need more B vitamins (because they are under stress), these will be diverted away from hair, cutting the supply of the fuel it needs in order to grow. Hair growth is also affected by poor circulation. It’s been shown that you boost hair growth by ten percent through massaging and stimulating the scalp; it’s therefore not difficult to see that poor circulation could impede growth by at least this much. Finally, hair has its own toxins to handle, such as all the perming lotions, chemical dyes, harsh shampoos and heat from blow-dryers. All of these are ‘toxic’ to the hair.

The Solution

Detoxing your skin and hair against problems is therefore a matter of reducing many of these toxins, or at the very least strengthening your skin and hair against them. However, in the short term, you can dramatically improve the look of your skin and hair with intensive treatments, plus massage and other moves that boost circulation. So the plan starts with an instant-result program to stop ‘bad mirror days’ in their tracks.

Program to improve Skin and Hair

Instant-result program to improve skin and hair

Carry out the following regime once to improve the look of your skin and hair instantly; then use the elements marked with an asterisk (*) nightly to fight beauty problems for good.

Shampoo your hair and towel dry it so it is just damp. Apply an intensive conditioning treatment or mix up your own with half a cup of warm (not hot) olive oil and ten drops of lavender essential oil. Apply this to the hair using gentle massage movements to stimulate the scalp. Once the hair is coated, get a plastic carrier bag and tie this around your hair (obviously keeping your face well clear) to increase the rate at which the treatment penetrates the hair. Leave this on while you carry out your facial.

*The ‘Lion’ It may sound bizarre to start a facial with a yoga move, but this move actually tones your facial muscles while simultaneously reducing muscle tension that can hinder circulation. Sit comfortably on the floor or a chair, resting your palms on your legs. Inhale, then exhale slowly; while you do this, open your eyes and mouth as wide as possible. Very slowly, stick your tongue out and down as far as it will go (without straining), and you’ll feel the muscles around your face tighten. Now stiffen your arms and fingers. Hold this position for as long as you can, then slowly relax.

*Cleansing Cleanse the skin with your normal cleanser, or mix up a natural cleanser using a tablespoonful of natural yogurt and one teaspoonful of lemon juice. Dap this off the skin with a tissue, then rinse with cool water.

Exfoliate the skin Use a gentle store-bought exfoliator to do this, or, alternatively, add enough water to a teaspoon of sugar to make it into a smooth paste - make sure that it isn’t too thick and scratchy or too liquid.

Steam the skin Steaming helps release any toxins and impurities that may be just under the skin’s surface, blocking circulation. Fill a bowl with boiling water, then gently place your face about 10cm (4in) from the surface and hold for 2-3 minutes. You can intensity the effects of the steam by placing a towel over your head to trap the vapours, but don’t do this if you have asthma because it can irritate the respiratory tract.

*Splash the skin Using cold water, quickly splash the skin 20-30 times with water. Then pat it dry with a towel. On a night when you haven’t steamed the skin, you can even do this with iced water to rapidly boost the blood flow to the area; ice is best avoided on steam nights, though, since the dramatic change in temperature can over-stress the skin and lead to broken veins.

*Add moisture Now it’s time to moisturize the face. On ordinary nights, you can do this with your normal moisturizer, using the same moves; but on this program you’re going to use essential oils because these can create rapid improvements to the skin’s surface. Apply two drops of your chosen oil (use chamomile for dry skins, rose for oily skins, and carrotseed for mature skins) to a carrier oil. Grapeseed is a great one to use, since it’s fine enough for use on the face and is also an antioxidant in its own right; if you’re pregnant, just use the grapeseed oil. Now apply the moisturizer, massaging the skin as you go.

- Start at your chin, gently smoothing the skin upwards with the pads of your fingers; don’t tug the skin, just smooth it. Now drum your fingers lightly again, moving upwards up the jaw line. Repeat five times.

- Repeat these moves over your cheeks. Now quickly pat the cheeks and jaw 5-10 times, start lightly but then get firmer.

- Stroke up around the temples and up the forehead. Repeat the drumming motion.

- When you get to the middle of the forehead, alternatively use the index fingers of each hand to brush rapidly upwards from the middle of your brows to the hairline; this should feel like a smooth rolling movement.

- Finally, treat the under-eye area. Dap a little oil along the socket bone below your eye (oils should never go directly on the eye area), and massage this in well, using gentle upward strokes. Finish by lightly drumming your fingers along the socket bone. Repeat the process under your other eye.

Rinse off your hair (it may take a couple of shampoos), and apply conditioner. Rinse again and towel dry. If you have to blow-dry, use warm air, not hot, and keep the dryer as far away from the hair as possible.

Hair and Skin's Needs

Your Skin’s Needs   

Antioxidants. These are the most vital way to protect your skin against free-radical attack. Studies at the University of Arizona, USA have found that eating at least six servings of red or yellow vegetables a day is actually the same as wearing sun-protection factor (SPF) 4 on your skin in its ability to protect you against sun damage. Aim for 6-10 servings of fresh fruit or vegetables a day for best results. This will also supply vitamin C, which helps build collagen and vitamin A, which encourages the growth of new skin cells.

Essential fatty acids. As well as keeping red blood cells healthy, which boosts circulation, essential fatty acids also help fight dry skin. Good sources are oily fish, nuts and seeds – aim for one serving a day.

Sulphur. This helps the body form new collagen. You’ll find it in eggs, onions and garlic. Aim for one serving a day.

Skin Doesn’t Need

Sugar. As well as being a major source of free radicals, sugar also attacks the skin. It attaches to proteins in collagen and this causes them to become stiff and inflexible, eventually leading to wrinkling.

Salty foods. These are high in iodine, which can encourage the skin to break out.

Your Hair’s Needs

B vitamins. Hair doesn’t grow unless adequate levels of B vitamins are found in the body. You’ll find them in whole grains, dairy products, leafy green vegetables. Aim for at least three servings a day.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs). Like skin, a lack of EFAs creates dry hair. Have at least one serving daily.

Protein. If we don’t get enough protein in our diet, hair actually grows with a lifted cuticle. This not only increases the risk of dehydration, but it also makes hair look dull because light can’t reflect from it. Aim for two servings of protein-rich foods (like eggs, fish, dairy products, nuts, pulses or meat) each day.

Vitamin H (biotin). Found in eggs, fish, milk, nuts and pulses, this nutrient actually helps hair (and nails) grow. Aim for one serving of biotin-rich foods a day.

Hair Doesn’t Need

Too much vitamin A. While this nutrient may help skin, high quantities of foods that are heavy in vitamin A, like liver, can actually trigger hair loss; instead, get your vitamin A through foods containing beta-carotene (like carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes), since this doesn’t cause the same reaction.

Way to Good Hair and Skin

Eating your way to Good Hair and Skin

Like so many elements of our health, what we eat can make the difference between good skin and hair and dull, dry versions. Skin and hair need slightly different things to thrive, but this diet will aid both.

A Day’s Diet at a Glance

- Start by taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement, plus 1,000mg of methyl sulfonyl methane (which converts to sulphur in the body) and 500mg of evening primrose oil. Drink at least one glass of water, and aim to drink another eight throughout the day.

- For breakfast, have a bowl of bran or wheat cereal topped with skimmed milk, two tablespoons of blueberries and two of raspberries. Drink a glass of orange juice.

- Mid-morning, have a piece of fruit and a handful of nuts or a low-fat yogurt.

- At lunchtime, take another 500mg of evening primrose oil. Have a sandwich of two slices of wholegrain bread filled with 50g (2oz) fish, chicken or low-fat cheese. Top with a mix of lettuce or alfalfa sprouts, chopped onion, tomato, avocado and cucumber. Serve with a cup of tomato, carrot or vegetable soup.

- Mid-afternoon, have another piece of fruit.

- Before your evening meal, take another 500mg of evening primrose oil. 

- For your meal, eat a 75g (3oz) serving of lean protein. Serve with 50g (2oz) brown rice, wholewheat pasta, jacket potato, new potatoes or wholegrain bread. Add two tablespoons of a green vegetable and two of another vegetable.

Living the DETOX Life

As well as integrating the diet advice into your normal life, there are three other essentials for good looks:

- Use sunscreen. This is the most important thing that you can ever do for your skin. You should apply at least an SPF 15 sunscreen 30 minutes before you go into the sun; even in winter, ultraviolet rays still break through clouds. If you have sensitive skin, screens that use titanium dioxide as a block may cause fewer problems than so-called chemical sunscreens. Hair should also be protected with sun-protective sprays because sunlight dries it out.

- Stop smoking (Find details in Category: Quit-Stop Smoking Tips)

- Keep your skincare regime simple. If a product has more than ten ingredients, it could increase your risk of sensitive skin. Stick to products with short ingredient lists and keep the amount you use to a minimum. Even the most mature skin needs only a cleanser, a moisturizer, a vitamin C serum for the daytime and a vitamin A cream at night to look good – not forgetting sunscreen, of course.