Skin nutrition: a new frontier

Skin is the largest organ of our body, namely a tissue covering us completely but also a real „visiting card“ of our health and well-being. Epidermis carries out many important physiological functions, mainly as protective barrier against pathogenic microorganisms and other risk factors; however, being also constantly exposed to the action of external agents, it represents an organ at risk of oxidative stress. This can reduce the efficiency of its protection systems and fasten its aging process. Therefore, just like skin „takes care“ of us, so it is fundamental that we take care of our skin‘s health. That means to keep it correctly moistured and sufficiently permeable for the exchange of nourishment, oxygen and water. The first step for taking care of our skin‘s health is choosing a wholesome diet, namely correct from every point of view but particularly focused on cutaneous well-being. HELPING SKIN FROM THE INSIDE In fact, like all other cells, also skin keratinocytes, for being able to divide themselves and mature, depend on the nutritive substances of food. Then, it is necessary to supply the skin with the required essential nutritive elements as water, energy, vitamins, mineral salts and high quality proteins, that contribute to keep it healthier for a longer period of time by retarding its aging process. Here we need a different and more innovative approach, that is a concept connecting dermatology to nutrition for a better health of our skin. A NEW SPECIALIST Against stress, insomnia, UV rays, cold, hormonal changes and aging, the skin care must be based on a global treatment programme. Our skin must be helped both from the inside and from the outside. Thus, a wholesome diet must be combined with the habit of dermatological hygiene, that implies daily specific cleansing, moisture and photo protection according to age and skin typology – without forgetting a wholesome diet. For this last aspect some of the most important steps to be made are food hygiene and correct supply of dermal nutritive substances. Then, a diet therapy and the use of specific integrators and substances able to solve and prevent skin problems are fundamental. In this way skin can be helped also „from the inside“, as well as dermal and epidermic problematics can be solved also by a global programme of care and prevention. For this purpose there is a new specialist able to conjugate the knowledge of the skin and of its problematics with the basic principles of nutrition: he is the skin nutritionist, and with the passing of time he is going to become more and more important. We’ll talk again about skin nutrition and we’ll do it with the help of specialists and experts, because skin makes itself and becomes beautiful only with a synergic and combined action and it is important to discover little by little its secrets and modalities.