Skin; the body’s only defence..

Our skin is the only defense our organs and vessels have against the environment.

It is also the largest organ of your body, and it is an organ of secretion.  If the body contains more toxins than the kidneys and liver can effectively excrete, the skin takes over.  As these excess toxins escape through the skin it’s healthy integrity is interrupted. The skin also ‘breathes’, and the pores need to be clear and unblocked.  All our other organs are protected and safe inside our body, but our skin is absolutely exposed.  The skin’s only protection against the environment is a very thin layer called The Acid Mantle or The Hydrolipidic Layer.

The names of the layer of protection gives us an idea of what it is; firstly it’s Ph is acid, and secondly Hyrolipidic means a combination of water and oil.

Most soaps by their nature are alkaline, while others, at best, are neutral.  To preserve the acidity of our skin our soap should be slightly acidic

 Even fresh water is not the ideal Ph for our skin..

so.. 

Itchy, dry, fleking,  uncomfortable skin is often aggravated by hot baths and caustic soaps.. even if your soap says ‘gentle’ it is probably too alkaline for your skin’s sensitive acid mantle of protection.  Generally, liquid soaps have a healthier Ph than solid soaps.  Be very aware of other irritants in your cleanser: colourants and fragrances specifically.  In my opinion, baby products are the worst culprits here – brightly coloured and smelling of ‘baby’, they contain more toxins than unscented, uncoloured products.

Winter and summer your skin requires enough hydration – remember your water intake needs to be 30ml/kg body weight/day, every day.  Omega 3 in the form of Fish oil or Flax oil or even Chia seeds, lubricate the Hydrolipidic layer (as well as the hydrolipidic layer that makes up our tears).  An acidic, toxin-laden diet puts a burden on your skin.

The most important thing about your skin, though, is that the skin you see is the proverbial ‘tip of the iceberg’.  The health of your Inside Skin is well reflected by the health of your Outside Skin.  What do you think is happening in the digestive mucosa or the membranes lining your sinuses if your visible skin is dry, cracked, flaky, fungal or infected?  Many drugs on the market today are administered through transdermal skin patches, which have been shown to be up to 95% more effective than oral medication. This proves that the skin, the largest organ of the body and our first line of immunity, is permeable to all chemicals.

Take care of your skin by ensuring adequate hydration, mineral, vitamin and omega intake.  Limit your refined foods and concentrate on anti-oxidant-rich raw fruit and veggies in season.  Busby organic Tissue oil or The Victorian Garden Organic Moisturisers have the correct Ph and none of the toxic chemicals, nourishing and healing skin.  Astxanthin is an anti-oxidant with a very strong affinity for the skin.  Naturally anti-inflammatory, Astaxanthin protects the skin and aids the repair of sun damage and the ravages of time.

See our “links’ page for some interesting information on healthy sun awareness and protection 

The Good Health Shop is a proud stockist of  Inthusiasm Organic Make-up

 

Modern skincare, toothpaste and shampoos contain toxic chemicals like parabens, petroleum, aluminium, Sodium Laureth Sulphate, pps in hair colour, and benzine; and what goes on, goes in.. about 70% of the ingredients of your creams, hair colour and other cosmetics enters your bloodstream.

 

Cosmetics often use vibrant colours that are derived from some unexpected sources, ranging from crushed insects to rust.  The labelling laws do not apply to cosmetics and the ingredients do not have to be disclosed.  Even when they are, the toxins are usually hidden as E numbers.  Makeup worn on the lips is not just absorbed through the skin, but also swallowed with drinking and eating.   Many chemicals found in cosmetics don’t cause obvious immediate signs of toxicity, but slowly poison us through repeated use.  You only have to Google it to see our skincare and make-up is, at best,  inhibiting our health and at worst, really doing us, and our families, harm

The skincare and make-up which a woman uses in a year is measured in kilograms!
An excellent argument for organic skincare:
*Petrochemical oils can’t be used by cells and can’t penetrate the skin unless aided by other chemical agents. These oils slow down Trans Epidermal Water Loss by forming an impenetrable layer on the surface of the skin.

Organic oils, however, improve the structure of the skin. These oils slow down Trans Epidermal Water Loss and ensure that the skin stays hydrated and moisturised.

*Sodium Laureth Sulfate has been shown to produce eye or skin irritation in experimental animals and in some human test subjects. Some products containing SLES have been found to contain low levels of the carcinogen 1,4-dioxane.

*aluminium is a heavy metal and a contributing factor in alzheimers, cancers, allergies and others www.globalhealingcenter.com

Without employing scare tactics or brainwashing, the wise are making the change to organic.

We stock organic choices in Toothpaste, Shampoo, conditioner, Skin care for adults and children, luxuries like bubblebath, body scrub and gift soaps;   Enchantrix, Victorian Garden and Meadowsweet.

 

Busby Liquid Gold Tissue Oil is a long-awaited product.. Those in the know have shunned Tissue oils in order to avoid the mineral oils and parabens they contain.  Now at last a safe alternative in a beautiful soft oil, high in Vitamin E and natural oils, the oil is well absorbed and very nourishing.  At only R59.90 it a welcome addition.

Introducing Melaskin, an organic combination of Kigelia (Sausage tree), Sutherlandia and African potato cream. This unique combination is specifically usuful for skin cancers, slow healing sores and skin anomalies.  Melaskin helps to fade dark blemishes and is antifungal in nature.  Melaskin treats Molluscum Contagiosum http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001829/