Impaired Enzyme Activity (Dehydration)
There is a very important reason to drink more water and eat more fats.... and use your hydrating serum and moisturizer:
Impaired Enzyme Activity.
"Impaired Enzyme Activity is the new terminology for DEHYDRATION. When skin is dehydrated it there is no "enzyme activity". Without enzyme activity, nothing happens. Enzymatic and chemical activity in the skin happen in the presence of a water based gel or substance like NMFs or GAGs. Without NMFs or GAGs no enzyme activity will occur. In order to retain water for enzyme activity, the skin lipid phases must be intact. The water soluble phases of skin are absolutely necessary for most of a cell's actions and skin health. By ensuring the lipid phases are intact, you can slow down and retain the water movement through the skin." ~Paraphrased from Florence Barrett Hill's Advanced Skin Analysis.
By taking your omega 3s and eating egg yolks and chicken skin, you will build a strong healthy cell membrane and lipid bilayer.
The cell membrane eventually becomes the stratum corneum, and the healthier it is when it is developing, the healthier your stratum corneum will be at the end of the keratinocytes life when it becomes a corneocyte.
Any kind of damage to lipids, or the incorrect fats/oils eaten, will have a significant impact on skin because they are so integral to skin health.
Damage to intercellular lipids, or incorrect fats/oils eaten, weakens the skin’s barrier function. A compromised barrier makes skin more easily irritated and prone to infection. Water loss is also much greater when the lipid barrier is damaged (TEWL). That water loss leads to dehydrated, flaky, itchy, hot, or burning skin.
The most effective lipids for skin are the ones that are most identical to the epidermal lipids: ceramides (sphingolipids), cholesterol, and fatty acids.
The ideal ratio of these lipids is the ratio that they are found in skin, which is roughly:
50% Ceramides 25% Cholesterol 25% Fatty Acids
Ceramides can be gotten from eating chicken skin which contains sphingolipids.
Sphingolipids, also called glycosylceramides: a) are involved in intracellular signaling b) they protect against colon cancer c) they inhibit cholesterol absorption and synthesis in the intestine d) and they are antimicrobial
Butter also contains sphingolipids (as well as butyric acid which heals the colon lining -> see b) above).
They can also be applied topically in the form of creams and serums.
Cholesterol is found in egg yolks. Cholesterol is not only the most common organic molecule in the brain, it is also distributed intimately throughout the entire body.
It is an essential constituent of the membrane surrounding every cell. The presence of cholesterol in this fatty double layer of the cell wall adjusts the fluid level and rigidity of this membrane to the proper value for both cell stability and function.
Applied topically, cholesterol in cosmetics can help maintain the skin’s normal function.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) must be obtained through food or applied topically (the body cannot synthesize it). So it is important to eat a diet with an adequate amount of EFA’s for good skin health.
A deficiency of essential fatty acids can cause skin problems, such as dry skin, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis, as well as numerous health disorders.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 are the Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s). Both Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids act as potent anti-inflammatory agents. Studies have shown they are helpful for people with inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, diabetes, and asthma. But since most people get an over abundance of Omega 6s in their Standard American Diet, reducing the Omega 6s and increasing the Omega 3s is beneficial.
EFA’s are found in hemp oils, grass-fed meat, fish, egg yolks, nuts, and seeds.
Topical Omega 3 oils include kiwi seed oil, flax seed oil, and hemp seed oil.
BOTTOM LINE: Drink plenty of water daily. Half your body weight in ounces minimum because it takes 50 ounces of water daily just to maintain basic internal functions.
Eat plenty of healthy fats to keep your lipid layers intact and hold in your water intake.
The addition of a glucosamine supplement can also help with retaining hydration in your skin and joints as glucosamine helps with building GAGs (glycosaminoglycans).
"The Renegade Esthetician" Cassandra Lanning, LME, NTP, CPE, CLT
Cassandra is a Master Esthetician and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner in the state of Washington. She has 20 years of experience in the beauty industry including electrolysis, laser hair removal, skincare, nutrition, and teaching. She is a member of the International Association for Applied Corneotherapy, the Association for Holistic Skin Care Practitioners, and the National Aesthetic Spa Network. WWW.THERENEGADEESTHETICIAN.COM
Resources: 1. Florence Barrett-Hill, Advanced Skin Analysis, Pastiche Resources, www.pastiche-training.com
2. The Renegade Esthetician, www.therenegadeesthetician.com
3. HealthyEating Politics - High Cholesterol, http://www.healthy-eating-politics.com/high-cholesterol.html
