Did You Know Your Skin Could Do This?

👀 Did you know…

That your skin is the largest detoxification organ in your body!

Even though sweat is almost entirely water, studies have found that some toxins—including heavy metals and bisphenol A (BPA)—are excreted in sweat.

Here are 3 simple ways to support detoxification through the skin:

1️⃣ Sauna

2️⃣ Exercise

3️⃣ Dry Skin Brushing

The first 2 help you sweat, while the last unclogs pores and sloughs off dead skin cells.

Isn’t it fun how all the body systems actually work together?

References

Kuan WH, Chen YL, Liu CL. Excretion of Ni, Pb, Cu, As, and Hg in Sweat under Two Sweating Conditions. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(7):4323. [link]

Genuis SJ, Beesoon S, Birkholz D, Lobo RA. Human excretion of bisphenol A: blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study. J Environ Public Health. 2012. [link]

Got Acne? Top Nutrients Researched

📢 New Research Alert

Can nutritional supplements help people with acne?

Researchers asked that question in a review of 42 studies just published in JAMA Dermatology.

They found:

🔹 The highest quality studies showed potential benefits from vitamin D, green tea extract, and probiotics.

🔹 Other studies suggested benefits from vitamin B5, omega-3 fatty acids, and gamma linoleic acid.

🔹 Zinc was the most commonly studied nutrient, but it only showed benefit in half the studies. Higher doses were more helpful but were also associated with adverse effects.

This type of review is helpful because it allows us to take a birds-eye view of all of the research to date rather than just one individual study.

It’s limited by only looking at supplements rather than foods and dietary patterns, but it’s good evidence that nutrition can make a difference for skin health!

Like if you found this helpful ❤️

Reference

Shields A, Ly S, Wafae B, et al. Safety and Effectiveness of Oral Nutraceuticals for Treating Acne: A Systematic Review. JAMA Dermatol. Published online October 25, 2023. [link]

Sun Safety Beyond Sunscreen

☀️ Do you ever wonder if there’s anything more you can do besides wear sunscreen to protect yourself from skin cancer?

You’re in luck because a new study suggests there may be!

The study involved 498 people who had an increased risk of skin cancer. They were categorized by their use of vitamin D supplements as non-users, occasional users, or regular users.

Here’s what they found:

☀️☀️☀️ The risk for melanoma was reduced by more than HALF in the group who regularly took vitamin D supplements (compared to non-users).

Unfortunately, the study only looked at the association between supplementation and skin cancer but did not evaluate an optimal dose.

Questions about vitamin D? Drop them below

Reference

Kanasuo E, Siiskonen H, Haimakainen S, Komulainen J, Harvima IT. Regular use of vitamin D supplement is associated with fewer melanoma cases compared to non-use: a cross-sectional study in 498 adult subjects at risk of skin cancers [published online ahead of print, 2022 Dec 28]. Melanoma Res. 2022. [link]

The Scoop On Collagen Supplements

Collagen supplements are becoming more and more popular, but do you know which type is best to take?

Collagen is a protein found in the connective tissue of the body—including the skin, hair, nails, bones, muscles, and joints. It’s naturally produced in the body, but collagen production slows with age. 

That’s why people are turning to collagen supplements to support their skin, hair, joints, and bones as they get older. 

Let’s look at 5 forms of collagen supplements

1️⃣ Type I Collagen

Type I collagen is the most abundant protein found in humans and an essential building block of skin💋 

2️⃣ Type II Collagen 

Type II collagen is the main type found in cartiliage, making it necessary for joint health🏃 

3️⃣ Type III Collagen

Type III collagen works synergistically with type I to support skin health and is also needed to strengthen bones🦴  

4️⃣ Type V Collagen

Type V collagen works synergistically with type II to support joints and is also concentrated in the hair👩‍🦰 

5️⃣ Collagen Peptides (Hydrolyzed)

When a collagen product says it’s hydrolyzed, that means the protein has been broken down into smaller peptides for better digestive absorption. This also makes them easy to dissolve in liquids☕ 

So, the best type of collagen for you depends on your health goals. Plus, many products come as a mixture of collagen types. 

💊 Collagen supplements can be taken as powders, capsules, or liquids. You can dissolve collagen powder in cold or hot beverages (even your morning coffee) or mix it into foods like yogurt or oatmeal. 

Drop me a comment if you’re already taking it! ⤵️