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The Skin and its Rhytms

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Our skin is an amazing living, breathing organ, as vital as the liver, heart or lungs, and like these other organs, our skin performs unique functions to keep us fit and well.
The Skin Functions

Our skin is an integral part of our whole body environment, and it is affected by the things that happen inside and outside. It acts as a protective barrier, preventing harmful substances and disease organisms from entering our body. It controls the loss of body fluids and minerals, and helps to control the body temperature. And it performs all these functions continuously, in ways that keep us stable and healthy in a world that is constantly changing around us; changing seasons, temperatures, humidity, day length and light intensity.

The Hormones and the Skin
And the environment inside our bodies also changes constantly and rhythmically. We women know that our bodies have a monthly rhythm – the menstrual cycle – a whole host of hormones in a cycle of continuous flux every month of our lives, from puberty to the menopause. Scientists have shown that these cyclical hormonal changes have profound influences on a woman’s skin ( Wiechers et al, 2007). In women the dominant sex hormone is oestrogen, but we also have other fluctuating hormones such as progesterone and low levels of the male sex hormone, testosterone. The amounts of these hormones, and their levels relative to one another, affect the skin moisture content and lipid production (oiliness), as well as the elasticity and protective qualities of the skin. High oestrogen levels and high oestrogen: testosterone ratios improve the skin moisture content. Many women notice an improvement in their skin and hair during pregnancy because of the natural rise in oestrogen level. On the other hand, low oestrogen levels after menopause mean we are likely to notice our skin becoming drier and less elastic as we age. Raised testosterone levels – one of the side-effects of smoking in women – reduce the amount of moisture in the skin. Diet, age, psychological stress and external influences such as temperature, humidity and Ultra Violet light also affect skin health.

The Skin Moisture and Barrier Change
Research has showed that a woman’s skin is driest between days 1 – 6 of the menstrual cycle (where day 1 is the first day of bleeding). Oiliness, due to lipid secretion is highest between days 16 – 20 and this coincides with an increase in the number of microbes on the skin. The skin barrier is weakest from days 22-26 and it is most susceptible to damage by sunlight (UV-B) between days 20 – 28 (Muizzuddin et al, 2006).
But menstruation is not the only natural cycle affecting our bodies and skins. Research also shows that levels of skin sebum (oil) production, skin water loss and the skin pH all change cyclically during each day (Le Fur et al, 2001).
So what can we do to care for our skin, to help it function at its best and keep it healthy and youthful while it keeps on changing? Do we need a product for each time of the month, age and climate? With iRejuvenate Step 1 and Step 2 you can feed your skin in an individual and unique way: at different time of the month, season, climate and age. By blending the 2 products according to your individual needs you can optmise your skin nutrition with only two products!

In winter and when the skin barrier is at its lowest the skin needs more oil nutrients, therefore a higher ratio of iRejuvenate Step 1 is required

In the summer or when the external environment is dry, the skin needs more moisture retaining nutrients, ie iRejuvenate Step 2

Your Skin Is An Everchanging Organ

Traditional Moisturisers Do Not Allow You To Feed Your Skin In An Interactive Way

iRejuvenate is The First System Designed To Be Interactive With Your Mutable Skin Needs. PLease visit Forest Secrets Skincare to know more about iRejuvenate and to read more articles
http://www.forestsecretsskincare.com/


Refs:
Le Fur, I., Reinberg, A., Lopez, S., Morizot, F., Mechkouri, M. and Tschachler, E.; Analysis of Circadian and Ultradian Rhythms of Skin Surface Properties of Face and Forearm of Healthy Women; Journal of Investigative Dermatology 117 ( 2001), 718-724.
Muizzuddin, N., Marenus,.K.D. Schnittger, S.F, Sullivan, M. and Maes, D. H.; Effects of Systemic Hormonal cyclicity on skin; International Journal of Cosmetic Science (September/October 2005) pp????
Wiechers, J.W., Rawlings, A.V. and Hansen, W.G., Evidence for the existence of a Body-Brain connection for skin moisturization., IFSCC Magazine (July/September, 2007), 209- 213.

About the Author

Author: Organatural | Total views: 93
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Spanish taslation

a doctor in industrial chemistry from Ca’ Foscari University, Italy , has an MSc in Food Science and Technology and a SCS diploma in cosmetic science. She began her career researching and sourcing nutritional supplements for soft drinks before moving to Aura Soma Products in 1999, where she started specialising in natural cosmetics. Moving west to Primavera Aromatherapy in 2004, she developed organic certified cosmetics. In 2006 she founded Organatural and recently launched her own range, Forest Secrets Skincare.
She is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Society of Cosmetic Scientists and writes articles for trade magazines
Visit her Organatural site to know more
http://www.organatural.co.uk/




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