The American Academy of Dermatology is committed to educating citizens on ways to maintain healthy skin and enhance its appearance. To support this goal, the Academy has introduced National Healthy Skin Month in 2023, which is celebrated each November.
The prime concern is reducing the risk of developing skin cancer. According to Skin Cancer Foundation:
- 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70
- More than two people in the U.S. die of skin cancer every hour
- Experiencing more than five sunburns doubles the risk of developing melanoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma are the two most common types of skin cancer
- Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, but it is highly treatable if detected early
What is Healthy Skin?
When we think of healthy skin, we tend to envision a youthful, plump, moist, wrinkle-free complexion. While these characteristics do reflect good skin quality, it’s important to remember that, as the largest organ of the human body, healthy skin is one that functions optimally.
Skin health is determined by four key functions:
- Protection: Acts as a barrier that prevents pathogens from being absorbed into the body and safeguards internal organs and tissue.
- Defense against solar radiation: Stimulating melanin production in melanocytes to protect against the harmful effects of UV exposure.
- Regulation of body temperature: Releases water and electrolytes through perspiration to help maintain thermal balance.
- Moisture retention: Slows and reduces trans-epidermal water loss, helping the skin retain moisture and plumpness.
In addition, researchers have found that skin with pH values below 5.0 tends to be healthier and functions more effectively than skin with pH values above 5.0.
How to Maintain Healthy Skin
New England-based dermatology network APDerm® provides the following skin-health routine tips:
- Rest and de-stress: Take time to relax, especially as the holidays approach. Holiday stress, along with parties, alcohol consumption, and calorie-laden die,t can cause skin to break out and lose its luster.
- Get adequate sleep: Aim for seven to nine hours of quality rest each night. Consider using an extended-release melatonin to help you sleep soundly and wake up refreshed.
- Exercise outdoors: Engage in regular physical activity in fresh air to boost circulation and skin vitality.
- Supplementation: Add Vitamin D3 to your diet, especially during months with limited sunlight exposure.
- Stay hydrated: Drink at least eight glasses of water (or more) daily. Adequate hydration helps flush out toxins and reduce wrinkles.
- Apply sunscreen daily: Use a broad-spectrum SPF-30 sunscreen every day. It protects against ultraviolet rays and other environmental factors that accelerate skin aging.
- Perform monthly self-skin exams: Check your skin regularly to notice any changes in moles and spots with unusual shapes or colors, which may indicate skin cancer. Also, be alert to itching or rashes, as these can be early signs of other health issues.
- Include nutricosmetics: Take effective skin health supplements as a part of a daily wellness regimen to support healthy skin from within.
Supplements May Improve Skin Health
Nutricosmetics, or “beauty-from-within” supplements such as fish oils, collagen, carotenoids, and certain botanical extracts, have become increasingly popular among consumers seeking to maintain not only youthful skin appearance but also healthy skin function.
In a comprehensive review about supplements for skin care, the authors wrote: “Nutraceuticals represent a promising strategy for preventing, delaying, or minimizing premature ageing of the skin and also to alleviate certain skin disorders. Among them, bioactive peptides and oligosaccharides, plant polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamins, and polyunsaturated fatty acids are the most widely used ingredients. Supplementation with these products has shown evidence of impacting the signs of ageing and protection against UV radiation ageing in several human trials.”
Research continues to substantiate that nutritional supplements can support and maintain healthy skin. For example, findings from a recent study reveal that vitamin C supplementation may help restore youthful skin function by reactivating genes essential for epidermal renewal. Consumers interested in supplementing Vitamin C for skin health may consider C-Fence™, which features innovative modified-release technology. In a pharmacokinetic study, plasma levels of vitamin C remained significantly above the baseline values for 24 hours post C-fence™ supplementation.
A Unique Supplement for Healthy, Beautiful Skin: TurmXTRA™ glow
Turmeric has long been known for its ability to promote joint comfort and mobility by modulating inflammation.
But now, a consumer-centric and forward-looking innovator has proven that turmeric can also improve skin appearance and health even at a small, once-daily dose.
In the new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 96 healthy women aged 18 to 40 years consumed either TurmXTRA™ glow (250 mg) or a placebo daily for two months. Skin hydration levels were assessed using the MoistureMeter SC, while trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured using VapoMeter. Facial gloss and blemish reduction were evaluated using Antera imaging and Skin GlossMeter.
The results were significant, with participants experiencing improvements in facial hydration levels, as demonstrated by reduced TEWL measurements, along with a more even skin tone and complexion, smoother texture, and an enhanced glow, visible as early as day 15. Additionally, statistically significant reductions in blemishes and dark spots were observed by day 30.
The authors explained, “These benefits may be attributed to the antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-inflammatory effects of curcuminoids present in TurmXTRA™ glow, which may help mitigate oxidative stress, excessive melanin production, and inflammation factors that contribute to the above-mentioned skin concerns. Collectively, these findings highlight the role of TurmXTRA™ glow in improving key attributes of facial skin health, opening new possibilities in women’s skincare as a cosmeceutical ingredient supporting beauty from within while also providing other health benefits.”
Additionally, turmeric’s ability to reduce the expression of inflammatory markers is well studied. For sunburned skin, supplementation with TurmXTRA™ glow may help accelerate healing. Researchers have found that UV radiation activates the nuclear transcription factor NF-kB, which initiates the inflammatory processes associated with sunburn and increases the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α.
Conclusion
According to a published consensus of 10 dermatologists and aesthetic physicians, the key parameters that determine skin quality are evenness of skin tone and surface, firmness, and glow. Dysfunctions that occur in deeper layers of the skin can negatively affect these qualities, leading the authors to assert that “topical approaches may not be sufficient.”
Their statement underscores a clear motivation for consumers to consider supplementing with nutricosmetics such as TurmXTRA™ glow and C-Fence™ to support healthy skin from within.
Reviewed by Sneha Sawant Desai, PhD
