5 Ways Boosting Your Metabolism Could Revive a Youthful Complexion
A healthy metabolism is important for healthy skin.
Metabolism is the group of chemical processes that occur within the body on a cellular level. Skin metabolism refers to the biological processes that occur amongst the epidermal and dermal cells to regulate the rate of cell turnover, collagen production, and repair any damage that occurs due to UV light or aging.
And while an infant’s skin does this within 2 weeks and hence the irresistible “baby face”, in older people, and even beginning at age 20, skin metabolism slows and the skin cycle begins to lengthen and can take 50 days or even longer! That disparity means the world when it comes to the look and feel of your skin.
So what can you do about it?
1. PROTECT
UV damage is one of the biggest factors in the deteriorating state of your skin’s metabolism because it breaks bonds between cells, reducing their ability to heal and regenerate. Over time, your body can’t keep up with the damage and wrinkles stay behind.
On one hand, it’s part of the natural aging process and we can’t completely avoid UV rays. On the other hand, there are ways to protect your skin to maintain its vibrancy.
Making sure to wear broad-spectrum, UVA/UVB sunscreen is an easy way to limit cellular damage and thus, premature aging of the skin all the while reducing your skin cancer risk.
For an added antioxidant boost, look to serums. Serums typically have fewer ingredients in higher concentrations than the average cream or lotion. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, meaning it fights harmful free radicals (toxins) that come in contact with your skin from external sources like air pollution, UV rays, or from inside the body as a result of a normal process like your metabolism.
Clinical studies have shown that combining vitamin C with other topical ingredients, namely ferulic acid and vitamin E, can diminish redness and help protect the skin from long-term damage caused by harmful sun rays.
2) NOURISH
A healthy, colorful diet rich in antioxidants from fresh fruits and vegetables gives your body the building blocks it needs for healthy skin. Lean proteins and healthy fats are also essential to the proper functioning of your outermost protective layer. See recipe on Glowing Skin Smoothie!
3) HYDRATE
Your skin needs hydration from the inside out. Make sure to drink plenty of water. Water is a large component of the human body and plays a key role in normal physiological balance. On average, adults need about eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day. Drink more if the weather is hot or you’re physically active.
To slow down the drying out of skin, you can apply a peptide-rich moisturizer. When applied on skin, it acts as a protective layer that locks in moisture and strengthens the skin's barrier.
4) EXFOLIATE
You slough off thousands of skin cells every day, but sometimes those cells don’t want to let go. Your skin can start to look dull, and the moisturizers and serums you apply to the skin might not be able to penetrate into the skin’s deeper layers leaving you frustrated that your skin products aren’t working. Imagine dead skin cells as dust and exfoliants as the “dusters”!
Exfoliants aka dusters are a skincare product that removes dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. Chemical exfoliants contain chemicals that break the bonds between the dead skin cells for easier removal. Physical exfoliants use tiny microcrystals or beads to buff the skin, revealing the new skin underneath.
To improve cell turnover speed on the inside, you can try a chemical peel with alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) such as glycolic acid or lactic acid or beta hydroxy acids (BHA) such as salicylic acid. Some skin types may do better with one type of exfoliant over the other. For example, sensitive skin types often do well with a chemical exfoliant because there’s less risk for skin irritation due to microtears from a physical exfoliant. Those with acne-prone skin may prefer an exfoliant with a light, gentle texture to cut through oil.
If your skin concerns aren’t just dull skin but include enlarged pores, fine lines and wrinkles, you should try microneedling, which is a treatment that creates micro-channels in the skin to kick start a new skin cycle by our skins’ natural healing mechanism. Topical retinoids such as prescription retinoid or over the counter retinol as well as platelet derived exosomes contain ingredients that triggers biological pathways and stimulates cell turnover, boosting the skin’s intrinsic metabolic rate.
5) REJUVENATE
With age your metabolism slows. Your skin follows because it relies on your metabolism for energy and nutrients. A slowing in metabolism contributes to the visible signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. You can help your skin keep up with daily wear and tear by nourishing it and your body with the right nutrients and skincare products, as well as enlisting the help of aesthetic treatments such as medical grade chemical peels, microneedling, radiofrequency technology, infrared and LED light therapy.
If you want to hit that restart button completely, you can consider more powerful energy skin treatments such as Morpheus (radio frequency microneedling) which sends energy to the deeper layers of the skin to trigger cell regeneration without causing harm to the outer skin, while improving skin tone, removing fine lines or lessen wrinkles with minimal down time.
We look forward to taking care of your skin at Wellness Insights from the inside out!
Sources:
Murray, J. C., Burch, J. A., Streilein, R. D., Iannacchione, M. A., Hall, R. P., & Pinnell, S. R. (2008). A topical
against damage caused by ultraviolet irradiation. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 59(3), 418–425.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2008.05.004
Valacchi, G., Pecorelli, A., Belmonte, G., Pambianchi, E., Cervellati, F., Lynch, S., Krol, Y., & Oresajo, C. (2017).
Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 137(6), 1373–1375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2017.01.034
*This blog and website do not provide medical advice. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Always check with your own healthcare provider before taking a new supplement and before making any significant diet, lifestyle, exercise or other changes. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on this site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.
