Supplement Your Skin: A Holistic Guide To Common Skin Treatments

Many people struggle with the fight for youth when it comes to their skin. Starting in teenage years for most, they find dry or oily skin cumbersome. Then comes acne, oily skin, dry and patchy skin, and then wrinkling that comes with age. For this reason there are millions spent on anti-aging creams and lotions, to be applied to the skin.

There is certainly something to be said for these kinds of topical options. Particularly in our society in which being beautiful equates to success. However, there are also a number of things that you can do such for your skin that doesn’t involve spending thousands on chemicals.

Taking care of your skin and adding skin supplements to your daily routine can make all of the difference when it comes to keeping your skin supple and smooth.

Skin Conditions

Skin conditions come in many forms. Working towards correcting problems can be tricky if you do not know the root of the cause to your skin impurities. Understanding what is at the core of your skin trouble is the first step to providing the best care.

And this is the good news!

While changes in the skin over time due to age or environmental issues can be frustrating, there are options for you. No matter what your age, your face can have that beautiful glow of youth and look brilliant throughout the years.

The way to do this is by focusing on taking care of the skin from the top to bottom, from the inside out. Working with holistic options, natural care and skin supplements designed to protect and maintain healthy skin, you’ll find it is easier than ever to get the results that you want.

To find out how to keep your skin looking it’s best, let’s start and see more about specific skin conditions.

How To Deal With Common Skin Conditions

Your skin is your chance to give a first impression to the world. Before you open your mouth or hand in your resume or answer that wink, the person/persons on the other end have had to look at you. The maintenance of youth is a constant in the world of research and development. We will never stop looking for the fountain of youth.

For many people fighting off wrinkles, age spots and the other markers of age are not on the priority list at all. For many people irritating, unsightly sometimes incurable skin issues are at the top of their list.

Chronic Skin Conditions

Chronic Skin Conditions, by name and definition are not curable, however, they are treatable and certainly manageable. Simple changes in diet, lifestyle and incorporating supplements can make all the difference in getting across your best first impression. Some of the more common Skin Conditions suffered chronically by a large number of people are:

Acne: While mostly suffered by those of us during our adolescence, more than 20% of the incidents still occur in adults.

Eczema: Hundreds of thousands a year are affected by this socially and physically debilitating condition. The skin becomes highly irritated, dry, and cracked. The cracked skin can then become infected by the simple bacterias that live on the skin.

Psoriasis: Commonly recognized due to the instances of silvery scales and also thick, red marks all over the skin is rampant with Psoriasis.

Rosacea: The condition known as Rosacea is not just an ailment like acne is, iIt is actually a grouping of skin conditions that cause both irritation and inflammation and can also affect more than just the skin.

Acne

Acne is a generic term for a very general and common skin condition. Often referred to as “common” acne, because everyone at one time or another has hd a breakout of acne, even if it is just a few pimples here and there over the years. It is also common because almost anything can cause pimples to manifest, even something as some dirt getting into an open pore can cause them. The size of the open pore in conjunction with your genes and hormones will determine the level of infection and thereby the type of the acne.

The Typical Symptomatology of Acne

Papules – Small raised bumps created by infected hair follicles
Pustules – Red raised bumps with pus filled tips
Nodules – Painful, solid lumps beneath the skin surface
Cysts – Puss filled, painful infections found beneath the skin surface

What Is The Cause Of Acne

The copious amounts of research done in this field have revealed that while teens and faces are the common targets of acne, adults and other parts of the body are not immune. It has also shown that no amount of face washing or swearing off of chocolate will stop this nasty skin condition from knocking on your door. Our bodies naturally create the bacteria that clogs the pores that cause acne to form. The hormones in our bodies directly affect the reaction our bodies have to the clogged pore.

No Easy Fix

Unfortunately there is no easy fix for acne. There are several hundred products on the market all claiming to be the smoking gun fix for this age old skin condition, however, there is no cure for acne. For mild cases of acne there are several over-the-counter supplements available to assist in the body’s reaction to the bacterias, assisting in keeping the mild breakouts at bay.

The Medical Fix For Acne

For many acne is extremely painful both mentally and physically and can be addressed by a physician in many ways. They may advise you to take certain skin supplements such as tea tree oil or Vitamin E or prescribe one of the following:

Topical Antibiotics
Topical Retinoids
Azelaic acid
Dapsone

Eczema

There is no specific test that can be given to determine if you are suffering from Eczema, but a doctor is likely to take one look at you and your symptom and be able to diagnose it. Doctors will focus on issues related to allergies based on the rashes they see and will also ask questions about your history and whether or not you have ever had hay fever or allergies.

The Typical Symptomatology Of Eczema

The one thing that can be counted on with this skin condition is that it is consistent in its appearance. When looking for signs of eczema you can expect to see:

Itchy Skin
Dry Skin
Rough Skin
Flakey Skin
Inflamed Skin
Irritated Skin
Brownish/Grey or Red Patches
Small Bumps
Oozes blister like fluid when scratched

What Is The Treatment For Eczema?

Proper skin care is paramount when it comes to dealing with Eczema. In fact, in some cases of eczema, maintaining proper skin care and a few lifestyle changes may be all it takes to deal with the problem. Unfortunately, though in most cases medications, therapies and dietary supplements are required to deal with the symptoms of this skin condition.

The Easy Fix For Eczema

For those suffering with mild cases of Eczema, simple things like using the proper mild soaps and moisturising properly after bathing and then again later in the day can make all the difference in symptoms. The dryness of the skin creates the rash like affected areas that are extremely itchy and inflamed and in some cases bumpy and can then become infected so keeping a gentle lotion on hand or some hydrocortisone can truly help as does:

Use mild soaps
Short warm showers
Reduce stress
Get a humidifier (it will add a little moisture to the air for your skin)
Over the counter (OTC) skin supplements

The Medical Fix For Eczema

For many suffering this extremely painful skin condition, doctor prescribed medications and added dietary supplementation is the only way to deal with the symptoms.

Medications and other therapies available for the treatment of eczema are:

Antihistamines
Ultraviolet Light Therapy
Immunomodulators
Immunosuppressants
Hydrocortisone
Corticosteroids
Prescription Strength Moisturizers

Psoriasis

Experts cannot be sure of the exact cause of the skin condition known as Psoriasis. It is believed that something misfiring within the immune system kick starts the inflammation process, which in turn causes a new generation of skin cells to be born. Skin cells on average replace themselves on an almost monthly cycle occurring every 27 to 30 days.

In people with Psoriasis, skin cells are replaced every three to four days creating a build up of skin cells on the surface of the skin which then creates the silvery scales common to this disorder.

Things That Can Trigger A Breakout

Scrapes and cuts
Surgery
Emotional stress
Strep infection

Typical Symptomology For Psoriasis

Plaque – Thick red patches of skin
Guttate – Small red spots that can be found not only on the face but on the torso, scalp and limbs
Inverse – A shiny, smooth red rash that presents in the folds of the skin
Pustular – White pustules circles with red skin
Erythrodermic – Mirrors third degree type burns and covers very large portions of the skin

What Is The Treatment For Psoriasis?

The “good” thing about Psoriasis is that there are plenty of treatments and therapies available both over the counter and through the prescription of your doctor. Many will address the rate at which new skin cells are created and others will address the itchy dry skin issue.

Your doctor will assist in the proper treatment plan based on the size and location of the rash. Things like your age and overall health will also need to be considered when deciding the proper treatment plan for you.

The Easy Fix For Psoriasis

In dealing with mild cases of Psoriasis there are several over the counter methods to deal with skin cell generation as well the itchy dry skin associated with this skin condition. Some of those methods include:

Moisturizers for Dry Skin
Steroid Creams
Retinoid Creams
Over-the-Counter Supplements

The Medical Fix For Psoriasis

When dealing with more serious cases of psoriasis, a doctor may prescribe one or more of the following:

Light Therapy
Methotrexate
Retinoids
Cyclosporine
Biologic Treatments

Rosacea

Rosacea is a very common skin condition that primarily affects the skin on the face. However, for many, this skin condition is not just limited to the skin and when it is it likely to manifest in different types. One person can be affected by several subtypes of the condition all at once. Each person dealing with Rosacea has a different experience.

Typical Symptomatology Of Rosacea

Flushing
Persistent Redness
Bumps and Pimples
Visible Blood Vessels
Eye Irritation
Burning or Stinging on the face
Dry appearance
Plaques – Red Patches
Skin Thickening
Swelling

What Is The Treatment For Rosacea?

A person's treatment of rosacea is a directly related to their symptomatology and can be limited:

Medications may be prescribed to deal with bumps and redness in an attempt to attain remission of the skin condition
Surgical remedies may be called for when excess tissue and swelling is involved specifically with regard to the nose and ears
Over-the-counter supplements to deal with individual symptoms

What Can I Do To Prevent Rosacea?

When dealing with the skin condition Rosacea, there are treatments to deal with the individual symptoms and preventative measures that can be taken in an attempt to achieve relief. Some of the preventative measures that can be taken by a person suffering from the effects of Rosacea specifically deal with lifestyle and environmental factors.

When dealing with rosacea a person wants to avoid or limit the following:

Sun/Wind Exposure
Emotional Stress
Extreme Hot/Cold Weather
Heavy Exercise
Alcohol Consumption – Specifically Red Wine
Hot Beverages and Food
Spicy Foods

Not-So-Chronic Skin Conditions

Cutaneous Candidiasis

Usually occurs in skin folds (armpits between fingers)
Can be white or Red
Can progress to cracked sore skin with blisters and pustules

Keloid

Symptoms occur at the site of a previous injury
Bumpy or ridged area of skin
Area that flesh colored, pink or red or purple

Hives

Itchy raised welts
Red and painful to the touch
Can be small and round in shape or large and randomly shaped

Shingles

Itchy Red Patchy with Fluid filled blisters that break easily
Rash that wraps around the spine and torso
May be accompanied by Fever, Chills, Headache or Fatigue

What Can I Do At Home To Treat These Chronic Skin Conditions?

While there is no “cure” for any of these chronic skin conditions, there are several prescription medications and therapies available as well as a multitude of over-the-counter skin supplements that can play a crucial role in better dealing with the symptoms of these particular chronic skin conditions.

Acne

There are well over 50 different supplements that can be used to assist with the treatment of this irritating skin condition. The ones that appear to show the most promising effects are listed below:

Zinc

Zinc is a mineral that has been proven crucial to the body and its systems. Specifically, zinc is key to the to division and growth of new cells in the body. It has also been shown in research that most people suffering from acne are also suffering from zinc deficiency. If your current diet consists mostly of vegetables, grains and beans then you are more than likely zinc deficient.

How does Zinc Work?

For some “lucky” acne sufferers, the simple addition of a zinc supplement can literally be a game changer. These are the people who are specifically suffering from acne due to a zinc deficiency in their bodies. For the rest of the acne suffering world zinc will be one of several supplements taken to assist with the ongoing problem. Zinc is not only crucial to the development of new cells but it also plays a key role in the reduction of the body inflammatory response to the bacteria responsible for acne.

Bovine Cartilage

The substance cartilage is already found in the body and provides it with structural support. Cows provide the bovine cartilage that can be beneficial to the human body as a supplement that supports immune and neural functions. Bovine cartilage is used to treat a host of serious illnesses including cancer. It is specifically taken either orally or subcutaneously (injected beneath the skin) to treat these illnesses.

How does Bovine Cartilage Work?

With regard to acne, bovine cartilage can be applied directly to the skin to ease inflammation and breakouts. When taken orally, this can have beneficial effects on the skin as a supplement to support healthy growth of new skin and reduce the amount of acne eruptions.

Probiotics

While it may seem strange to see a Probiotic listed as a supplement to take to help acne, given the standard prescription of antibiotics when dealing with acne, there is a really good reason. It may also seem strange given that usually when we think of probiotics we think of digestive health not our skin.

How do Probiotics Work?

Research has shown that your gut needs plenty of good bacteria in order to function properly. When the gut is not functioning properly, it can and will create chaos with your entire body and will cause inflammation, even on your skin. The skin inflammation involved in acne is one of the primary symptoms that need to be addressed. Balancing out your gut will also allow your body to better use the nutrients from food which might also help your body calm down the acne.

Krill Oil

Krill oil comes from a specific species of Krill from the antarctic called, Euphausia Superba. There are two specific factors of this extract that one is looking for in a supplement. The first being omega-3 fatty acids like those you find in fish oil, the second being the antioxidant astaxanthin.

How does Krill Oil Work?

The two components of Krill Oil Extract, omega-3 fatty acids and the antioxidant astaxanthin are both key elements to skin health. It has been shown that the omega-3 fatty acids assist in production of healthy cell membranes. As well as assist in the reduction of swelling or inflammatory response in the deeper skin layers. The antioxidant astaxanthin assists with the protection of the skin from environmental attackers like the sun as well as fighting free radicals.

Evening Primrose Oil

The oil that is used in supplements and soap making is derived from the seed of the Evening Primrose plant. Evening primrose oil is another in the many fatty acids needed to assist our bodies function properly.

How does Evening Primrose Oil Work?

Evening primrose oil has been used for centuries specifically for the treatment of skin conditions. In Britain it was actually approved for a short time as an effective medical treatment for acne but no longer holds that approval. Not only does evening primrose assist with inflammation but it also assists the body to deal with pain.

Olive Oil

This oil is pressed from olives and has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes as well as to make soaps and for its use in cooking. For acne, the main benefits come when it is used topically.

How Does Olive Oil Work?

Olive oil is an ancient skin cleanser and has been used specifically to deal with the skin inflammation associated with acne. The oil can be applied directly to the skin to act as a cleanser to remove the dirt and bacterias that cause acne breakouts.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is commonly known as retinol, which is probably familiar to you if you purchase skin or beauty products. It is beneficial to immune system and aids with cell growth which is essential for glowing healthy skin.

How does Vitamin A Work?

Vitamin A plays a crucial role in dealing with acne because it has a direct effect on the desquamation of dead skin cells. Dead skin cells combined with the natural bacterias and the body’s reaction to them is the cause of most acne, which can be alleviated with appropriate levels of Vitamin A within the body.

Serums are also a common way to use this vitamin as a skin supplement. Usually mixed with Vitamin E, it can increase healing time for infectious acne, carbuncles, facial cysts and ingrown hairs that are associated with acne.

Vitamin B Complex

Vitamin B Complex is a grouping of 8 nutrients, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12. Each of these nutrients can be taken separately for different effect on the body but when dealing with the skin the complex is most beneficial. Taking a complex supplement, Vitamin B aids with overall health and immunity and specifically assist in the health of the skin, hair, liver and eyes.

How does Vitamin B Complex Work?

Vitamin B Complex can assist with your immune system’s reaction and the resulting inflammation. Lowering your stress levels will also decrease your acne breakout. Additionally, the vitamins work together to both calm epidermal layers by decreasing agitation and can also induce regeneration of new cells, which helps you heal more quickly from an acne outbreak.

Too much B6 and B12 can both cause outbreaks of acne if you take too much. For this reason it is important to monitor the amount you take and to calculate B vitamins that you get from food, multivitamin and skin supplement sources.

Selenium

Selenium is an antioxidant as well as a dietary mineral that is essential to the body and its overall general health. This Dietary mineral can be found in animals foods like meats, fish and eggs.

How does Selenium Work?

Selenium is an excellent choice for a skin supplement for acne because it combats many common epidural bacteria types and also reduces inflammation. This can reduce the symptoms of acne while cutting down the time that outbreaks last for. Additionally, many people suffering from acne have been shown to be selenium deficient.

Keep in mind, taking Selenium will not prevent acne from occurring, it is one of the best supplements to reach for when an outbreak occurs.

Magnesium

Magnesium is an essential mineral that affects a multitude of body functions including the body’s reaction to bacterias, hormone levels and cell growth.

How does Magnesium Work?

Magnesium will work to assist your body in its reaction to the bacterias that cause acne as well as the resulting inflammation. It also has a direct effect on the hormone levels and provides assistance in that constant balancing act which in turn has a direct effect on acne and the body’s reaction to it.

Calcium

Calcium is required for the body’s natural production of antioxidants as well as assisting with cell renewal.

How does Calcium Work?

Calcium works to assist the body produce antioxidants which helps to fight inflammation. Calcium supplements taken in combination with Magnesium have been proven to assist in dealing with the inflammation associated with acne.

Turmeric

This spice has been around for centuries and is mostly known for its use in Indian Cuisine. It has been a fundamental part of “Ayurvedic Medicine” a centuries old medicinal practice in India This spice’s amazing medical principles have only recently been recognized by those in the United States.

How does Turmeric Work?

Research has shown Turmeric to be unequaled in dealing with inflammatory issues of the body as it is exceedingly rich in anti-inflammatory essentials. For this reason alone its use with regard to acne is clear. Turmeric is also high in the antioxidant curumin which has also been utilized when dealing with acne.

Fish Oil

Known for its high content of omega-3 fatty acids, Fish Oil is fundamental supplement when dealing with all health issues.

How does Fish Oil Work?

Studies have shown that the omega-3 fatty acids assist in production of healthy cell membranes. As well as assist in the reduction of swelling or inflammatory response in the deeper skin layers. So its use with regard to acne is clear.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D has been proven to be a fundamental component to the endocrine system of a healthy body. While the most basic way for your body to attain Vitamin D is through exposure to the sun, over 75% of Americans are Vitamin D deficient.

How does Vitamin D Work?

The endocrine system is just another way of saying the body’s system of hormones. Vitamin D being essential to a healthy hormonal balance would assist with acne by assisting in the control of the hormonal response to the bacterias.