Skincare shouldn't just stop at the neck

You may be surprised to learn that the largest human organ isn't the lungs or kidneys, but is in fact our skin!

As our largest single living organ, our skin is our first line of protection against the world; it is the shield which protects our internal organs from the impacts of our environment and allows us to interact safely and effectively with the outside world.

The epidermal barrier protects us from biological attack from bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic agents. It helps us to withstand chemical attack from acids and alkalis, which dissolve away the skin barrier, as well as the myriad of daily encounters with foreign materials. Without our skin, we could not protect ourselves and if allowed, these irritants could trigger an immune response that would render us incapable of ever existing within our constantly changing environment.

Why then do so many of us neglect to look after the skin on the rest of our body? A comprehensive skincare routine shouldn't just stop at the neck, it should equally include the whole body. What's more, with winter approaching our skin is even more at risk to attack from our environment. This article helps provide some useful advice on all-over body care and protection, not just for the face.

Overall, the key to hand and body care principally involves the maintenance and continuity of the epidermal barrier through a daily combination of the following mechanisms:

For example, try this simple experiment: place your hands in a washing-up bowl for ten minutes, remove them and then decide for yourself whether water is a moisturiser or a dessicator. You'll quickly notice the wrinkled, deformed epidermal barrier which occurs, despite the skin not yet even being subjected to any chemical attack from soaping agents or detergents.

It is clear from this that it is important for your skin's health to minimise water exposure and to restore moisture as rapidly and effectively as possible; the key ingredients of which are used up in defence of your body's integrity.

Use of a quality protective and moisturising hand cream and an all-over daily body moisturiser formulated with advanced tissue delivery systems, such as those found in the Healthspan nurture® range, is vital for replacing those essential elements and vitamins that can dampen tissue inflammation from microbial, allergic and chemical attack.

A high concentration of essential moisturising agents and key vitamins, within the cream, is essential in helping to ensure restoration of the lipids and ceramides necessary for epidermal rebuilding. You should also consider the use of an oral skin nourishment supplement which, in combination with topical treatments, can help all-over body moisture levels and target micro-deficiencies which, if left unchecked, could become harmful to the skin's barrier function. However, we should not forget the effects of ultraviolet light which can also have a significant impact on the skins overall health, surface and texture, causing premature photo-ageing, increased blotchy pigmentation, wrinkle formation and skin tumor formation. Appropriate sun protection, even in the winter, combined with the use of supplementation to provide natural protection from the inside, should also be considered. Look for hand-care products also containing an SPF factor.

By taking some simple steps today, you can begin to radically change your skin's future outlook for the better.