Water -- Keeping the Glass Half Full

Hello, again, skin-loving friends!

     In this post, I thought I would talk about something we have all heard a million times before and why it is important for the health of your skin -- drinking lots of water! As many of us may know, water makes up about 60% of our body and is a major component of every organ (including skin!) -- so kind of important, right? In addition to making up a lot of the body, water you get from food and liquids that you eat and drink fill out a lot of functions. For example, water helps to absorb shock for your brain and spinal cord from movements that put pressure on your body, like jumping or running. Also, water makes sure that your body doesn't get too hot by making up a large part of sweat, which your body excretes to cool the skin. Last -- but not least -- water acts as a major transport system for nutrients and cells throughout your skin, as well as excreting the materials you don't need anymore in urine. Hopefully I have made it pretty clear, water is absolutely vital to your body functioning properly!

     You may be thinking, but what about the skin? Well, let me tell you, water's importance in the skin is comparable to its importance throughout the rest of the body! As you have probably figured out by now, skin -- just like everything else in your body -- is made up of cells. These cells have many components, but the cytoplasm is what acts as the major filler in cells that all of the organelles are suspended in. This cytoplasm is made up of 80% water and has a variety of jobs, such as providing materials needed for biochemical reactions. However, and most applicably to skin cells, cytoplasm allows for cell growth, flexibility, and the alteration of shape. This is very important for the skin as we all want plump, elastic skin cells that can maintain the youthful look we live in as twenty-somethings.

     So if cytoplasm is composed of mainly water, and the skin is made up of cells, meaning that it is made of mainly water, then it is pretty clear that water is necessary for the maintenance and health of our skin. Basically, if you don't have enough water then your skin will become -- you guessed it -- more dry! This will cause your skin to appear flaky and tight, though it may also look dull or cracked in appearance. This is because the top layer of your skin is pretty much the last of the organ to get water, so the cells on your top layers will be noticeably very dry due to the cytoplasm having less water and thus the skin cells will shrink a bit. In addition to this problem with the uppermost skin layer, your skin in general is the last organ to get water out of all of the organs in your body. This means that if you don't get water in your body in excess, then the allotted amount of water going to your skin will decrease first and your skin may suffer.

     So how do we get enough moisture to our skin? Basically, besides drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day (8 fluid ounces a piece), you can also put lotions on. Lotions are most effective when you put them on right after your shower -- as in within a few minutes of getting out -- because this is when your pores are open and clean and your skin is looking for a source of hydration. Lotion, depending on the type you use, can also help your skin to retain moisture throughout the day. So if you have dryer skin on the average, then a thicker lotion would probably be more beneficial. I know a lot of people who don't like lotion because they feel greasy or slippery afterwards, and this can definitely happen with certain formulas. However, putting lotion on right after your shower and rubbing it in completely will increase the rate of absorption and will leave you feeling greasy for a shorter period of time. Also, buying lotions that are thinner, due to more water than oils, will also decrease how long you are dropping things from your post-lotion hands.

     Hopefully this has made it clear why you're constantly hearing about drinking lots of water, as well as how this applies to the health of your skin. So let's all not only look at the glass as half full, but let's keep it half full by drinking enough water throughout the day!

Have any questions, comments, or concerns? Feel free to comment below or read through my references linked throughout the post!

Thanks for reading!

Collagen -- The New Love of Your Life

Hello friends!

     Today I thought we would talk about one of those topics you hear a lot about but you may not understand why it's important: collagen. I know this word is thrown around a lot, but without my science background I never would have known what it actually was, just that it was apparently important. So I'll break it down for you. Basically, collagen is a large protein molecule composed of the amino acids glycine, proline, hydroxyproline (which just has an OH -- oxygen and hydrogen -- group on the proline = hydroxy), and arginine. So you may be thinking, that's great, but why should I care? Well, these collagen molecules are one of the main components of connective tissue in our skin that helps it to maintain its shape and suppleness, as well as aiding the replication of new skin cells. And now you're interested -- hook, line, and sinker.

     So resilient, flexible skin -- sounds pretty great! But you may be thinking, "Why do we get wrinkles if this magical molecule is in our body?" Well, as some of you may have figured, collagen production slows down as we age. This eventually leads to fine lines, wrinkles, and the overall lack of elasticity of our skin. Not to mention, ladies produce less collagen than men from the start, leading us to a premature disadvantage when it comes to wrinkles. However, there are definitely ways that we can help combat this decrease in collagen synthesis, even if we are just prolonging the inevitable. As I was upon learning more about collagen, you may be thinking "Give me the goods, man." Well the goods are easier to come across than you may think, and chances are you've used them before. For example, Vitamin C is a cofactor in the production of collagen, making it a necessity for your skin. It's so important that if you don't have vitamin C, your body will stop producing collagen altogether while you also come down with things like scurvy. Similarly, Vitamin B and E are great for helping collagen to regenerate and are important for the health of your skin in general. I don't know about you, but I'm all for that win-win situation.

     In addition to getting your vitamins, it's important to wear sunscreen whenever you're out in the sun. I know we have all heard this before, but I'm serious. Sun damage has been linked to causing collagen clumps in our skin as well as decreasing the production of new collagen molecules -- yikes. This could literally take years off of your collagen life by harming the machinery that produces it. Darn you UV rays and the glorious tans you give us.

     Lastly, eating a good amount of antioxidants is often recommended to maintain collagen because antioxidants help to decrease the degradation rate of your current collagen. This is because antioxidants help to fight free radicals, which are bi-products of biochemical reactions in your body that can cause damage to your skin as well as other tissues and organs when they build up. So more antioxidants = less damage to your body = a healthier you. The following video explains how antioxidants work in your body as well as ways to get more of them in your diet!

     Further down the line, it is possible to use retinol/retinoid creams or other similar treatments to help increase skin cell turnover rate and to maintain new collagen producing machinery. However, these products can be expensive, and can make your face more sensitive to things like the sun after long term use, so it isn't really necessary right now if you take care of your skin through more natural methods. That means taking your vitamins, wearing sunscreen, and protecting your skin from the harsh reality of the modern world by eating foods high in antioxidants. In addition, a healthy diet, exercise and drinking lots of water are always good to keep the blood pumping and the vitamins moving throughout your body. I know, these are things you've heard before -- and you'll hear them again! It doesn't mean you can't go to the beach, it just means slather some of that loving SPF 30 (or higher!) sunscreen on first -- and a few more times throughout the day. The main point, however, is to take care of your skin before it's too late. You love your collagen, make it love you too!

Want to read more? Check out my sources linked throughout the post to get a more thorough look at the chemical composition of collagen -- and how you can make it work it like a supermodel.

Have any questions? Feel free to comment below and I will get back to you!

Thanks for reading!

Skin type -- Love It or Lose It?

Hi all!

       Today I thought we would discuss something that causes a lot of confusion -- your facial skin type. Anyone who has ever gone shopping for makeup or face washes knows that there are multiple types of skin-- from dry, to oily, to combination skin. And then of course there's sensitive skin and acne-prone skin and normal skin -- whatever that means! So what are the differences, and how do we know what to look for? Unfortunately, this is a pretty important question to know the answer to when taking care of your skin. And let's be honest, it's pretty hazy out there as is, and wading through a million and one facial products is too difficult for my normal 5 minute Walmart run.

      According to The National Skin Care Institute, there are really only four skin types -- dry, oily, combination and normal skin. Most of us are familiar with these terms, but what are they characterized by? Turns out they are based on a combination of three factors that affect your skin's health -- the amount of water, fats, and sensitivity of your skin. In a perfect world, we would all have the right amount of each category and would carry on our merry way, right? Unfortunately, that is just not how life works, so let's see what the typical characteristics of each skin type is, shall we? Lets start at one end of the spectrum -- dry skin.

     Dry skin is typically prone to red patches of dry or flaky skin with small pores. These effects are due to an inadequate amount of water and oils -- two of our three categories that determine your skin type. Dry skin is also relatively sensitive and therefore mild, non-drying cleansers need to be used as well as regular moisturizers to try to obtain a more balanced amount of oil on the skin. Although it is not usually acne prone, dry skin can still be pretty irritated on a regular basis due to the formation of dry, red patches of skin. Some not-so-extreme cases of dry skin will just feel pulling or tightness, but may also have some flakiness around the least oily areas.

     On the other end of the spectrum is the oily skin type. This is usually accompanied by overactive sebaceous glands, meaning lots of fats in the skin, which causes a shiny complexion with larger pores. For these reasons, this type of complexion is usually more acne prone than others. To balance this skin type, it is better to use oil-free face washes and thin, mild moisturizers to not add extra oil where it isn't needed -- or wanted for that matter. And I just want to point out that just because your skin is oily, doesn't mean you should wash it more often. By washing your face more than 1 to 2 times a day -- at most once in the morning and once at night -- you can actually make your skin more oily because it is over-dried and trying to get back to a balance of oil. To do this, your skin produces even more oil than it did before, which I think we can all agree is not helping anything!

     Now in-between the two extremes is the combination skin type. Combination skin is usually oilier around the T-zone -- the area from your forehead down the length of your nose and the chin -- while your cheeks can be normal to dry skin. Typically this causes larger pores around the T-zone, as it produces more oil, and an overall shiny complexion. Take note that this skin type is prone to change throughout the year, with dryness in the winter and oiliness in the summer -- yay for finicky skin! This alternating pattern -- between dry and oily -- is mainly due to lipid imbalances, which are more likely to be genetic or hormonal than a typical water/lipid/sensitivity imbalance type of thing. This may make it hard to care for your skin and may take a bit more diligence in "listening" to what your skin is telling you throughout the year.

     Lastly is the beloved "normal" skin type, which is accompanied by a smooth appearance, a lack of blemishes, and pores that are neither dried up nor large from excess oil secretion. This means that people with normal complexions have a nice balance of water, lipids, and sensitivity to their skin, which is what allows them to not wear any make-up and look like they've stepped out of a Neutrogena commercial. To this I say, "You go, Glen Coco!"

     To conclude our discussion of skin types, I want to put in a little disclaimer -- just because your skin is a specific type now, doesn't mean you're stuck with it forever. It is natural for your skin to evolve as you get older, whether that's from lifestyle, diet, or just normal changes as you age. So no worries, we can all keep hoping for that normal skin type!

Questions, comments or concerns? Check out the comment box below!

Want to read more? Feel free to check out my sources linked throughout the post!

Thanks for reading!

Skin -- What Is It?

     When I was 10 I ran across the book "I Feel Bad About My Neck" by Nora Ephron in some random bookcase in my house. Naturally, I picked it up and skimmed through it, pretending to be a mature adult. I never made it through the whole book, but from what I read, Ephron was talking about how although she could put on makeup and use anti-wrinkle creams on her face, there was always a tell-tale sign of her age that we often forget about: our necks. Ephron went further into talking about sleepless nights, the lack of moisturizer or sun-tan lotion, and the bad habits she grew up with for skin care. All these comments had a big affect on my perspective of skin and its importance. Ever since, I've been interested in how the skin works and its appearance.

     Fast forward a couple years and there I am, an acne-prone teen who will do just about anything to clean up her skin. This included repeated washing, scrubbing, rubbing, popping -- you name it, I did it. Eventually, and I mean a long eventually here, I decided to figure out things I can do to prevent breakouts instead of just treating them as they come. This period of my life should have come with its own label: "WARNING: Excessive Googling Ahead!" Although a lot of nonsense came from my googling, a lot of good came from it too -- once I knew what to look for, that is. It took me until my freshman year of college to really be able to discern good, reputable sources from ones I shouldn't listen to. And let me tell you, it's not as easy as you'd think. So, that's why I'm here now -- to be a reputable source so you don't have to go into the wilderness that is the internet all alone. We twenty-something's have to stick together, you know?

     So let's start with defining what the skin is, and how it differs throughout your body. I mean, it's the largest, and by the far the most noticeable, organ in our body -- we should probably have a basic understanding in order to care for it, right? Well to start off, there are three layers to your skin: the epidermis, or the top layer, the dermis, or the middle layer, and the lowest layer which is subcutaneous fat. The epidermis is the outermost layer of your skin that is visible to us, meaning that it protects your inner organs from the outside world as well as taking care of the production of new skin cells when you shed old layers. Meanwhile, the dermis is a thick middle layer where most of the action happens connecting your skin to your inner organs. This is where things like your blood vessels, hair follicles, sweat glands, and all your nerve endings are located -- AKA how you feel temperature, pressure, or rubbing. The subcutaneous fat is mostly there to connect your organs to your bones or muscles and to further link your skin to the rest of your body via blood vessels and your nervous system.

     Now that we understand what skin is, how does it differ from one part of your body to another? As we all know, the skin on our face is just a bit different from the skin, say, on the bottom of our feet. So why is this and what is it that makes it different? Well, the skin on the bottom of your hands and feet is much thicker due to higher amounts of keratin -- a strong, fibrous protein -- and a thicker layer of subcutaneous fat, making our skin much more resistant to all the wear and tear our hands and feet experience when we pick things up or walk. The skin on our hands and feet also have a lot more nerve endings, making the skin more sensitive to the temperature and texture of things in our environment. Lastly, you may notice that the skin on the pads of your hands and feet have no hair. This is mainly due to the fact that hair is unable to grow from this thicker subcutaneous fat layer. If you think about it though, this makes perfect sense. Just imagine picking things up or walking on a smooth surface with hairy hands and feet -- you would easily lose your grip. I don't know about you, but I definitely don't need any help being clumsy, so our hairless skin clearly comes in "handy"! (Yes, that pun was intended.)

     On the other end of the spectrum is the skin on your face and chest. Noticeably, this skin has a thinner layer of subcutaneous fat than the skin on other parts of your body. This causes the skin on your face and neck to be more sensitive to wrinkling. However, keep in mind that the skin around your eyes and on your eyelids is the thinnest of all, and thus why those adorable little crows feet are often the first wrinkles to rear their ugly heads. Another difference between the skin on your face and upper body is that there are more sebaceous glands, which secrete oil to help maintain skin elasticity. While sebaceous glands are present throughout the skin besides the hands and feet, they are in higher concentration on your face, chest, and upper back. This is why it is more common for people to have acne in these areas than on other parts of the body. When the pores get plugged up by dead skin cells or other contaminants throughout your day, the sebaceous glands still release oil into the pore. This causes a build up of fats in your skin, resulting in pimples, blackheads, cystic acne, etc.

     The skin throughout the rest of your body is generally an intermediate of the two extremes, with a moderate layer of subcutaneous fat, few sebaceous glands, and hair follicles throughout. This skin is generally easier to care for than the skin on your face or your neck and is less likely to become rough like the skin on your hands and your feet.

     So now you have a thorough understanding of the largest organ on your body, the skin. If you'd like to read more, feel free to read the references linked throughout the post, or if you have questions, just leave me a comment -- I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for reading!