Skin: a mirror of health

Are you a new mom getting little sleep? Chances are your skin looks as tired as you feel. Did happy hour turn into an entire evening? The next day, your skin probably looks sallow, dehydrated and dull.

Skin is an external reflection of our internal health. Its well-being is intertwined with the health of almost all other systems in the body.

A healthy heart

• Benefits: One of the most important muscles to strengthen through exercise is the heart. Responsible for sending oxygenated blood to the organs and returning deoxygenated blood back to the lungs, a healthy heart is also crucial to healthy skin.

  As blood travels from the heart throughout the body, it takes with it important proteins and antibodies needed for the healthy functioning of all bodily systems, including the skin. New research has even suggested that regular exercise may spur the production of new blood vessels in the heart, contributing to skin and cardiovascular health.

• Best activity: Running is one of the best things you can do for your heart. It’s no accident that runners often have a clear, glowing complexion. On a daily basis, runners strengthen their heart, boost circulation and improve the oxygen content of their cells.

  Not a runner? Try any activity that raises your resting heart rate and gets the heart pumping: rollerblading, biking or even a brisk walk. After your workout, apply an oxygen-rich skin treatment to brighten and clarify the skin. Peter Thomas Roth Oxygen Detoxifying Masque contains vitamins E & C, chamomile, lemon and salicylic acid to do just that!

Love your lungs

• Benefits: The cardiovascular system is a primary contributor to healthy skin. Specifically, the lungs — responsible for delivering oxygen and removing harmful carbon dioxide from the body — benefit greatly from aerobic activity. With regular exercise, you flood the cells with oxygen, improving stamina and lung function, as well as potentially improving the tone, clarity, texture and color of your skin.
• Best activity: Aerobic activities like running, biking, swimming and dancing help your lungs and cardiovascular system. To complement your exercise regimen, consider a supplement that hydrates cells from the inside out, such as Murad Wet Suit Cell Hydrating Dietary Supplements — which also supports collagen production and strengthens cell walls. Before you start any supplement, however, always consult your doctor.

Better bones

• Benefits: Bones are probably the last body part you’d think affect the health and wellness of your skin. But, bones support all of the soft tissues in the body. When weight is applied to the bones — with weight-bearing exercises like lifting weights — the body deposits more minerals into the bones, which makes them denser and stronger.
• Best activity: To help strengthen your bones, take up any aerobic activity and add weight training to your routine. Also, add ankle weights to any cardio exercise for supplementary strengthening. For healthy bones, also focus on diet: eat foods rich in calcium, such as milk and cheese, leafy green vegetables, almonds, tofu and yogurt. Talk to your doctor about taking a multi-vitamin and calcium supplement.

See also:

Atypical Acne: Chest and Arms

Jock Itch (Tinea Cruris)

Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis)