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Through my teens and twenties I spent a huge amount of my time devoted to taking care of my skin. My acne was a constant issue and trying to figure out how to get my skin to be presentable was a huge frustration. I tried dozens of different products and treatments. My sister, on the other hand, never washed her face with anything but shampoo or soap (please don’t do this!) and her skin was always glowing and perfect.
Now, as we get older and we’re dealing with a whole new set of skin concerns, I finally have skin care habits that work, and she . . . well . . . she’s still using Dove soap unless I keep her fully stocked on her skin care products. We spent this past weekend together laughing our faces off, and I discovered that she honestly just doesn’t know why she should exfoliate or moisturize. I guess this happens when you’ve been blessed with naturally beautiful skin your whole life. Or when you’re sister has completely failed you. My bad.
As I explained to her the importance of taking care of her skin, not just for graceful aging, but for her overall health, I decided that I would make sure our lovely Dragontree clients also have this information so that at least I’m not failing you.
Even if your skin has been picture perfect your whole life, with no more than soap and water to care for it, the act of exfoliating is good for your health, and it helps you maintain a youthful glow as you age. And whenever we strip, cleanse, or remove a protective surface of the body - inside or out - we must always do a little repair or nourishment, which is why we moisturize afterwards.
When we hear the word “exfoliation,” we usually think of something that is done to remove the surface of our skin. But it’s also a natural process that the skin undergoes on its own to eliminate waste, dead cells, and microorganisms. Our outermost layer of skin, the stratum corneum, is shed as cells move upward from deeper layers of the epidermis. This happens because these cells are being held together in a matrix of desmosomes - basically a skin cell “glue” - and as they move to the surface, this “glue” becomes weaker. Enzymes in the skin and hair follicles accelerate this weakness and break the bonds of the desmosomes, freeing the cells to slough off.
As we age, this cellular “glue” becomes denser, kind of like old Elmer’s glue, and the sloughing off process becomes slower and less efficient. The resulting build-up of cell layers presents as dull, thick, poorly toned skin. Meanwhile, because the body isn’t shedding our old damaged cells efficiently, there’s limited room for new cells to develop. Also, since we rely on this process for detoxification, its impairment translates to a greater toxic burden for our whole system.
Luckily, we have the power to intervene with an exfoliation regimen. This is important not only for our facial skin, but our whole body, especially as it concerns the release of toxins.
There are two ways to exfoliate: mechanically or chemically. Mechanical exfoliation is the process of using a tool, like a brush or a sponge, or an abrasive substance, like salt, sugar, or oatmeal, to remove this layer of skin by scrubbing. There are also more intense mechanical exfoliators, like microdermabrasion, which is incredibly effective, but can cause skin irritation. This method uses suction to lift the skin while it is simultaneously buffed with tiny crystals to loosen and remove surface cells.
Chemical exfoliation employs enzymes and acids to break down the outermost skin and stimulate cell renewal. The enzymes “digest” proteins and are often derived from plants, such as papain from papaya and bromelain from pineapple. Some of the acids used include alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), like lactic acid or glycolic acid, and beta hydroxy acids (BHA) like salicylic acid, or retinol (vitamin A). They vary in terms of their qualities and strength.
Choosing an exfoliant for your face and body - which will be different, by the way - depends greatly on your skin type and sensitivity level. Consult with an esthetician for best results. My favorite body exfoliant is our Dragontree Exfoliating Spa Bar, because it is super easy to use and leaves my skin feeling baby soft. For my face I use Shankara’s Microcrystal Exfoliator, which is so effective that Peter and I both use it, and sometimes fight over it the last of it when we’re running low.
Make sure to exfoliate in a way that renews your skin and increases circulation without causing damage. If you over-exfoliate or use a product that is too harsh for your skin, you can cause micro-tears or chemical burns of your epidermis, which is obviously not what we’re going for. That’s why we don’t recommend nut or shell exfoliants that aren’t highly super refined so that they have an even, non-tearing edge.
When you exfoliate regularly you improve your skin’s appearance, feel, and texture as well as enhancing your circulation and detoxification processes - it’s a win, win, win, win, win. After removing this outer layer, it’s important to nourish your skin with a layer of high quality moisturizer. For your body we suggest our Dragontree Lotions, which have tons of herbs and nutrients to heal and replenish, or our Dragontree Massage Oil. For your face, the selection of moisturizer is more individual, so definitely see an esthetician to get the best recommendation for your unique skin.
Whether you’ve had perfect skin your whole life, like my sister, or you’ve struggled to keep your glow on, like me; and whether you’re a woman or a man (yes, you men need to exfoliate, too, if you want to age like George Clooney rather than Mickey Rourke), exfoliating needs to be part of your weekly routine. Two to three times a week should do you well.
In our Rituals for Living Challenge last week, we challenged people to try out skin brushing, which is an incredible option for body exfoliation. If you want the details on that - just sign up for our Challenge here and you’ll have access to all the past challenges and information, along with the next couple weeks of goodies.
In skin and in life, if it’s not serving you, remember to brush it off.
With love,
Briana and Everyone at The Dragontree
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[post_content] => Garshana is the exfoliating treatment of Ayurvedic dry skin brushing with raw silk gloves. Garshana literally means "rubbing". During a garshana treatment, your massage therapist will vigorously rub your skin, using circles and long strokes in the direction of your heart. This is done while wearing raw silk gloves, which has an exfoliating effect.
There are many benefits to receiving garshana. The vigorous movements promote circulation, blood flow, and lymphatic drainage. The pores open, and stored toxins are released. Muscle tension is reduced, and vitality is enhanced through improved metabolism. The meditative action of rubbing the skin relieves stress and calms the mind. These detoxing effects make it the perfect treatment to try this spring!
Garshana can be done on its own, or in conjunction with other treatments. I would recommend following your garshana treatment with an Abhyanga massage if you would like to keep your experience Ayurvedic, or even a Swedish massage. In between massage appointments, you can use exfoliating gloves or a dry body brush at home. Try this at home for 20 minutes each day, and see how your skin, and also your stress level, improves! If you prefer a more sensory experience for your at home exfoliation, you can also try one of our Dragontree exfoliating soap bars. My favorite is Balance, a blend of vanilla, black pepper, and cardamom.
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Here's a favorite from the Best of The Dragontree archives! We'd love your input about what works for your skin in the comments below!
When you think about people, chances are you think about skin. Most of what we see that isn’t covered up by clothing is skin, after all. Humans are skin bags. Sorry, did that make you feel kind of gross? Anyway, like it or not, the quality of our skin can have a big influence on how others perceive us. It’s why we get so distressed by things like acne, wrinkles, birthmarks, warts, and scars, even though they don’t actually compromise our function or health.
When people come to me for help with a cosmetic skin issue, they often act a bit sheepish about it, as if they believe I’ll consider them shallow for caring about their appearance. But I recognize how much our feelings about our appearance affect our happiness and the way we relate to others. I think that as long as we’re not obsessive about it, we should do whatever we need to do to feel pretty or handsome.
Skin health is an expression of overall health. This doesn’t mean you won’t get wrinkles if you’re healthy, but even a wrinkly face can look vibrant if it’s part of a vibrant body and spirit. Last month I discussed some basics of vehicle maintenance – i.e., taking care of your body – with regard to nutrition and digestion. Now I’m going to cover basic mechanics and maintenance of your skin.
There are a number of factors that affect skin quality, including genetics, climate (wind, dryness, sun, chlorine, smoke, pollution, etc.), and our internal environment, to name just a few. We have more control over certain factors than others. Obviously, your skin will need different things in a dry, windy place than in a hot, damp place. But regardless of your particulars, there are two main things worth focusing on for healthy skin: good nutrition and good detoxification.
This week I’ll focus on detoxification. Most naturopathic physicians see dull skin and chronic skin problems as an expression of internal toxicity, which often results from digestive imbalance and/or a sluggish liver, plus a history of exposure to chemicals and/or problematic foods. When we cleanse the liver and gut (and support the lungs and kidneys while we’re at it) skin problems frequently clear up. Even without rashes or other obvious problems, our skin tends to be flat, dry, or irritated when our detoxification mechanisms aren’t at their best.
Here are five basic starting points for supporting internal and external detoxification:
- Drink plenty of water. The body functions better when well hydrated, and this includes our detoxification mechanisms. I recommend drinking half the number of pounds you weigh as ounces of water per day (thus, a 100 pound person would drink 50 ounces of water). And this should be consumed evenly over the course of the say, and should not be ice cold.
- Make sure your bowels are moving regularly. Constipated people are retaining toxins in the colon for longer than is healthy. If you’re not having at least one big, complete feeling bowel movement a day, here are some measures you can take. Try drinking a glass of hot water first thing in the morning. Adding some honey may help. Consider prune juice if necessary. As I mentioned above, be sure to get enough water throughout the day. Eat plenty of good fats for lubrication (olive oil, walnuts, chia seed, flax seed, oily fish, coconut and coconut oil, avocado, etc.) and plenty of fiber to scrub your colon. Get exercise that engages your abdominal muscles. Stop tensing your abdomen throughout the day if this is a habit of yours. If you need more help, get some powdered magnesium (such as Natural Calm) and gradually increase the dose until your bowels start moving more freely.
- Practice dry skin brushing. Get a natural fiber skin brush and brush over all of your skin, always working toward the heart. Start at your toes, brushing firmly up your feet and legs, going over the same area a few times, and gradually coming up the legs to the torso. Work from the fingers to the torso next. Then cover the torso itself. Be gentle over delicate areas, and don’t brush so hard that it hurts. When done, jump in the shower, finish with cool water, and then give yourself a quick massage with a high quality oil, like jojoba, coconut, or sesame.
- Sweat. You can induce sweating through exercise (a great option) or through heat (sauna). Take a cool shower afterwards. Sweat carries toxins, including heavy metals, out of our bodies. Spending a long time in a medium hot sauna, just to the point of glistening skin, is more sustainable than going into a very hot sauna and dripping sweat.
- As a basic cleanse, consider abstaining from all grains, meat, dairy products, nightshade family vegetables (tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, peppers), and anything processed. The bulk of your diet should be vegetables, including some raw greens (bitter ones are good), and basic homemade soups. Some fruit is ok, but veggies are best. If you need something starchy, bake a sweet potato in foil at 400 degrees for 90 minutes. Try it for one to seven days. You’ll feel great, and your skin will become more clear. On an ongoing basis, try a low dose liver cleansing formula such as silymarin (milk thistle), artichoke, and turmeric (you can get this as a premade formula called S.A.T. made by Thorne), or just take plain milk thistle or dandelion.
Give these strategies a try and report in the comments section on your results. Stay tuned for more on nutrition for healthy skin next week.
Be well,
Dr. Peter Borten
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Through my teens and twenties I spent a huge amount of my time devoted to taking care of my skin. My acne was a constant issue and trying to figure out how to get my skin to be presentable was a huge frustration. I tried dozens of different products and treatments. My sister, on the other hand, never washed her face with anything but shampoo or soap (please don’t do this!) and her skin was always glowing and perfect.
Now, as we get older and we’re dealing with a whole new set of skin concerns, I finally have skin care habits that work, and she . . . well . . . she’s still using Dove soap unless I keep her fully stocked on her skin care products. We spent this past weekend together laughing our faces off, and I discovered that she honestly just doesn’t know why she should exfoliate or moisturize. I guess this happens when you’ve been blessed with naturally beautiful skin your whole life. Or when you’re sister has completely failed you. My bad.
As I explained to her the importance of taking care of her skin, not just for graceful aging, but for her overall health, I decided that I would make sure our lovely Dragontree clients also have this information so that at least I’m not failing you.
Even if your skin has been picture perfect your whole life, with no more than soap and water to care for it, the act of exfoliating is good for your health, and it helps you maintain a youthful glow as you age. And whenever we strip, cleanse, or remove a protective surface of the body - inside or out - we must always do a little repair or nourishment, which is why we moisturize afterwards.
When we hear the word “exfoliation,” we usually think of something that is done to remove the surface of our skin. But it’s also a natural process that the skin undergoes on its own to eliminate waste, dead cells, and microorganisms. Our outermost layer of skin, the stratum corneum, is shed as cells move upward from deeper layers of the epidermis. This happens because these cells are being held together in a matrix of desmosomes - basically a skin cell “glue” - and as they move to the surface, this “glue” becomes weaker. Enzymes in the skin and hair follicles accelerate this weakness and break the bonds of the desmosomes, freeing the cells to slough off.
As we age, this cellular “glue” becomes denser, kind of like old Elmer’s glue, and the sloughing off process becomes slower and less efficient. The resulting build-up of cell layers presents as dull, thick, poorly toned skin. Meanwhile, because the body isn’t shedding our old damaged cells efficiently, there’s limited room for new cells to develop. Also, since we rely on this process for detoxification, its impairment translates to a greater toxic burden for our whole system.
Luckily, we have the power to intervene with an exfoliation regimen. This is important not only for our facial skin, but our whole body, especially as it concerns the release of toxins.
There are two ways to exfoliate: mechanically or chemically. Mechanical exfoliation is the process of using a tool, like a brush or a sponge, or an abrasive substance, like salt, sugar, or oatmeal, to remove this layer of skin by scrubbing. There are also more intense mechanical exfoliators, like microdermabrasion, which is incredibly effective, but can cause skin irritation. This method uses suction to lift the skin while it is simultaneously buffed with tiny crystals to loosen and remove surface cells.
Chemical exfoliation employs enzymes and acids to break down the outermost skin and stimulate cell renewal. The enzymes “digest” proteins and are often derived from plants, such as papain from papaya and bromelain from pineapple. Some of the acids used include alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), like lactic acid or glycolic acid, and beta hydroxy acids (BHA) like salicylic acid, or retinol (vitamin A). They vary in terms of their qualities and strength.
Choosing an exfoliant for your face and body - which will be different, by the way - depends greatly on your skin type and sensitivity level. Consult with an esthetician for best results. My favorite body exfoliant is our Dragontree Exfoliating Spa Bar, because it is super easy to use and leaves my skin feeling baby soft. For my face I use Shankara’s Microcrystal Exfoliator, which is so effective that Peter and I both use it, and sometimes fight over it the last of it when we’re running low.
Make sure to exfoliate in a way that renews your skin and increases circulation without causing damage. If you over-exfoliate or use a product that is too harsh for your skin, you can cause micro-tears or chemical burns of your epidermis, which is obviously not what we’re going for. That’s why we don’t recommend nut or shell exfoliants that aren’t highly super refined so that they have an even, non-tearing edge.
When you exfoliate regularly you improve your skin’s appearance, feel, and texture as well as enhancing your circulation and detoxification processes - it’s a win, win, win, win, win. After removing this outer layer, it’s important to nourish your skin with a layer of high quality moisturizer. For your body we suggest our Dragontree Lotions, which have tons of herbs and nutrients to heal and replenish, or our Dragontree Massage Oil. For your face, the selection of moisturizer is more individual, so definitely see an esthetician to get the best recommendation for your unique skin.
Whether you’ve had perfect skin your whole life, like my sister, or you’ve struggled to keep your glow on, like me; and whether you’re a woman or a man (yes, you men need to exfoliate, too, if you want to age like George Clooney rather than Mickey Rourke), exfoliating needs to be part of your weekly routine. Two to three times a week should do you well.
In our Rituals for Living Challenge last week, we challenged people to try out skin brushing, which is an incredible option for body exfoliation. If you want the details on that - just sign up for our Challenge here and you’ll have access to all the past challenges and information, along with the next couple weeks of goodies.
In skin and in life, if it’s not serving you, remember to brush it off.
With love,
Briana and Everyone at The Dragontree
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