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Look in the mirror. If you are lucky, you can mostly see even, soft, smooth and plump skin. However, if you're like most of us, you're likely to see some uneven pigmentation, some age spots, redness, acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, and sagging.
All these so-called "spots" are evidence of damaged skin. Just as a new car gradually loses that intense shine and becomes pitted, dull, oxidized, scratched and pitted, our skin wears out from exposure to the sun and weather and the changes that occur within us as we age.
Question: Can we repair any of this damage?
Answer: With the right ingredients and care, yes!
What creates damaged skin?
When we're young, our skin is much more capable of healing itself. Remember when you were ten years old, a scratch or scratch was almost gone the next day? However, as we age, the time it takes for the skin to heal gradually increases, meaning damage can show up on our skin for months.
Meanwhile, skin continues to contend with damaging elements, so it's in a constant cycle of trying to heal itself and may be less able to keep up with the demands.
Factors that cause harm
As we go about our daily lives, there are several things that can damage the skin. These include:
- Sun Exposure – This is by far the number one harmful element
- Severe weather elements (wind, rain, cold, heat)
- environment pollution
- Dehydration
- Cigarette smoke
- Exposure to abrasive and drying chemicals in personal care products
- poor diet
- lack of exercise
- Excessive use of alcohol and drugs
- Stress
- chlorine in swimming pools
- Bacteria, infections and medical trauma
All of these factors and more can lead to the breakdown of skin cells, which weakens the outer protective layer called the "epidermis". Once this layer is weakened, cracked and damaged, the skin becomes even more vulnerable to attack by bacteria, UV rays, pollution and more. It also becomes less efficient at retaining moisture and nutrients.
The immune system also comes into play here. Just as your body needs nutrients, sleep, and stress relief to maintain a strong immune system, your skin requires the same tools to repair itself and protect itself from other damaging elements. However, the more damaged it is, the less able the immune system is to keep up. In fact, the skin's ability to repair itself can decline by more than 50% in middle age.
signs of damaged skin
This difficult cycle means that skin damage appears in the mirror. You are likely to see these signs
- Dryness, flaking, dullness
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Hyperpigmentation, acne scars, sunspots
- warts and freckles
- Sagging, bagging, loss of elasticity and firmness
- Redness, swelling and inflammation
- Skin rashes and allergic reactions
- visible blood vessels
Internal ways to stimulate skin repair
Fortunately, there are ways to help repair and even reverse skin damage. The key is to take internal and external measures to support the skin's own repair systems. Some things you can do with your diet and lifestyle include:
1. Eat foods rich in vitamin C
…such as citrus fruits, mustard, spinach and peppers. Vitamin C is essential for collagen production, which strengthens the skin's structure and increases firmness.
2. Eat more protein
Protein is the key to rebuilding cells. Try fish, lean meats, eggs, tofu, beans and nuts.
3. Increase zinc
Zinc helps the body synthesize proteins, helps build collagen to repair skin tissue, and supports the immune system. Try fish, soy, whole wheat pasta, mushrooms and egg yolks.
4. Dispose of the trash
Junk food is not good for the body, which means it is not good for the skin. Too much sugar, salt, and trans fats contribute to dryness and cell breakdown, resulting in premature aging and skin damage. Healthy food appears on your skin!
5. Dandelion tea
This helps detoxify your system, and less toxins means less breakouts and other unattractive skin problems.
6. Drink lots of water
Your skin needs it to stay hydrated from the inside out.
7. Cut down on chemicals
Check your food and cleaning products for potentially harmful chemicals, and choose natural and organic items whenever possible to reduce toxic buildup in your system.
8. Daily exercise
Exercise is as good for your body as it is for the rest of your skin, as it gets your blood pumping nutrients where they're needed for skin repair. Plus, it naturally gives you a healthy glow.
9. Try meditation
Meditation, yoga, journaling, tai chi, art therapy, time with a pet, or whatever works for you to calm your body and mind.
External ways to stimulate skin repair
What if you've been doing everything right when it comes to your diet and lifestyle, but you still have skin damage? (Most of us do, by the way!) Then you need to turn to topical solutions to help reduce skin damage and encourage skin repair.
Fortunately, research has shown us that certain natural ingredients are stars when it comes to repairing, healing, and reversing skin damage. We'll talk more about this in future posts, but for now, here's a quick look:
1. Plant stem cells
These are truly on the cutting edge of new science in skin care. Research has found that some plant stem cells have the ability to help stimulate the proliferation of human stem cells. This means that when applied to human skin, they help to stimulate the growth of new cells. These new cells work by repairing and restoring damaged tissue, creating smoother, smoother, younger-looking skin. Pro Tip:Annmarie's Citrus Stem Cell Skin Care SerumIt is packed with plant stem cells that provide vibrant skin.
This is a powerful enzyme found in the skin that is critical for the formation of "fibroblasts", which are the cells that produce collagen and other connective fibers that give the skin shape and firmness. SOD is also a powerful antioxidant, which is one of the main things we need for younger looking skin.
2. Vitamin C
This is an anti-aging vitamin that also works externally! Not only is it a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from damage, but it is also instrumental in collagen formation, which helps to smooth the appearance of wrinkles and firm the skin.
3. Lavender
Studies have shown that this herb promotes skin health as well as being effective against some skin irritating bacteria, both of which can help prevent skin damage. It has also been shown in studies to inhibit the type of free radicals that cause damage from UVA/UVB radiation.
4. Sandalwood
This oil helps in repairing and rejuvenating the skin. It has also been shown to help fade the appearance of age spots and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
5. Uva Ursi
Also known as gauche, this plant has been shown in studies to help shrink and tighten the body's membranes, meaning pores appear smaller. Even more exciting, however, is that this is a natural source of hydroquinone, a powerful brightening ingredient that helps lighten dark spots.
6. Licorice root
Studies have shown this herb to be effective with a number of skin conditions. It can also provide a natural whitening action, reducing the appearance of age spots.
7. Baya Amla
This berry is a great source of vitamin C, which means it helps protect the skin. Amla berries also help soothe the skin and reduce the appearance of pores. Most exciting is its ability to stimulate collagen production and restore the appearance of firmness to the skin.
8. Sea buckthorn berry oil
This oil naturally soothes dry patches on the skin and is packed with fatty acids that help restore softness and smoothness. It is also known to help promote rejuvenation and keep the skin hydrated.
How do I get all these benefits?
Sure, knowing which herbs and ingredients can help repair skin damage and restore a more youthful appearance is all well and good, but then what do you do? Do you have to go out and buy all these ingredients and try to find a way to mix them together?
Fortunately no! Our (appropriately named)Citrus stem cell serumit has all these ingredients, based on aloe vera juice that is absorbed directly into the skin, bringing with it all the benefits.
When used every day, morning and night for a month, this serum can help fade discoloration to reveal radiant, even skin. You might even want to abandon your base.
Do not resort to aggressive and toxic ingredients like hydroquinone. We're telling you, these are natural ingredients that really work.
Do you suffer from skin damage? Please share your story.
Are you passionate about nutrition and natural healing?Learn more about the Food Matters Nutritional Certification Program here.
CLOSE REGISTRATION AND BONUS
FAQs
How do you fix fully damaged skin? ›
- Apply sunscreen.
- Wear clothing that provide UV protection.
- Drink sufficient water.
- Use skin moisturizers.
- Get enough sleep.
- Use lip balm.
- Use clean sheets and pillow cases.
- Exercise (sweat)
Wondering how you can repair damaged skin swiftly? Include aloe vera gel in your daily skincare routine. You can also cut out on junk food and will notice an instant change in your skin.
How can I regrow damaged skin? ›- regular exercise.
- a nutrient-dense diet.
- staying hydrated.
- reducing stress when possible.
- protecting against environmental factors, like ultraviolet (UV) rays, pollution, and dry weather.
In general, healing barrier damage ranges in the order of 2-6 weeks and most people can expect to see significant improvement in the 3-4 week range. The skin barrier can be permanently damaged, though this is rare and usually related to an underlying medical condition.
Can you reverse years of skin damage? ›“Sun damage is reversible to some extent, but you can't completely undo the changes to your skin,” Dr. Littler says. Topical retinoids can help improve the appearance of surface wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots.
What vitamin is best for skin? ›Vitamin D is one of the best vitamins for your skin, along with vitamins C, E, and K. Making sure you get enough vitamins can keep your skin looking healthy and youthful. This could translate to a reduction in: dark spots.
What is the fastest way to heal your skin? ›Gently wash the area with mild soap and water to keep out germs and remove debris. To help the injured skin heal, use petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist. Petroleum jelly prevents the wound from drying out and forming a scab; wounds with scabs take longer to heal.
What does skin damaged skin look like? ›Wrinkling. Pigmentation changes such as age spots, liver spots (solar lentigines) and freckles. Loss of skin tone (decreased elasticity) Rough, uneven skin texture.
How do you know if your skin is permanently damaged? ›Breakouts and inflamed red skin might also be a clue that your skin barrier is damaged. Also, if your skin is burning and stinging when applying non-active products, that's a pretty good sign your skin is compromised.
What causes permanent damage to skin? ›Ultraviolet radiation causes DNA changes in the skin that can lead to premature aging and skin cancer. There are three kinds of UV light: UVA light. This form of solar radiation damages skin at all levels—from the surface layer (epidermis) down deep into the dermis.
What causes skin not to heal? ›
A skin wound that doesn't heal, heals slowly or heals but tends to recur is known as a chronic wound. Some of the many causes of chronic (ongoing) skin wounds can include trauma, burns, skin cancers, infection or underlying medical conditions such as diabetes. Wounds that take a long time to heal need special care.
How fast does skin repair itself? ›Ageing and Skin Renewal Process
In babies, the skin renews itself every 14 days. In teenagers, this process takes about 28 days. In adults, it takes between 28 and 42 days. In those age 50 and older, the skin renewal process can take up to 84 days.
Nothing damages the skin more than excessive sun exposure. The ultraviolet rays from the sun break down the elasticity and collagen in your skin. Once these two things are removed, your skin will start to develop wrinkles and show age or brown spots. Excessive sun exposure is also the primary cause of skin cancer.
What is the number one cause of skin damage? ›The sun is what causes the most damage amongst many people. The sun causes a decrease in collagen production, and it also affects the elasticity the skin has. These two factors cause wrinkles to form over time. The sun also changes a difference to occur in melanocytes, which can lead to white patches.
Does skin repair itself? ›Human skin repairs itself slowly, via the formation of contractile scars which may cause dysfunction.