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The Deep Connection Between Mental Health and Skin Care

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It’s no secret that women face many pressures and expectations placed on them by today’s youth-obsessed society.

Marketing targets how we feel about our minds, bodies, appearance, careers, and even how we parent our children. And as natural caretakers, many women feel additional pressure to care for everyone around them first. 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for this stress to turn into a cycle that results in leaving self-care behind. When we stop caring for ourselves, we are more susceptible to stress, skin issues, and other health complications. Even our mental health begins to suffer.

This is all part of the deep connection between skin care, mental health, and self-esteem. 

We already know taking care of our skin is important for health and our appearance. I call the skin a magic mirror that gives clues about your overall well-being. Your skin may be trying to tell you something about what’s happening inside your body, from nutritional deficiencies to hormonal imbalances. However, your skin can also be a reflection of your mental and emotional state. If your mental health is suffering, you may see it on your skin. 

The Hormone Connection

When we are stressed, it can show up on our skin in the form of acne, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. Regular stress and anxiety can even result in dermatoses or “disease of the skin.” Two causes of this are imbalanced androgens and imbalanced cortisol. 

When stress triggers the release of cortisol, it can cause inflammation and may even break down collagen. A high level of cortisol can also lead to sugar cravings, which in turn can cause you to eat excess sugar. This increases inflammatory skin issues, so you may get caught in a vicious cycle.

All of this may lead to premature aging and other skin problems. 

Acne can also be caused by androgens such as testosterone and DHEA. High levels of androgens may increase sebum production and in turn, increase acne risk. Testosterone stimulates the sebum-producing glands that are essential for protecting the skin with natural oils. Too much testosterone is what creates sebum overproduction. 

When we experience these issues, our mental health can deteriorate because of our appearance. On the other hand, when we take care of our mental health and our skin at the same time, we can see and feel positive effects.

When we are happy and relaxed, our skin can appear brighter, smoother, and more youthful. When we are in a state of relaxation, our body releases endorphins, which can help reduce stress and inflammation – ultimately promoting healthy skin.

Creating a Meditative Skin Care Routine

Having a relaxing and mindful skin care routine is a soothing way to practice self-care and boost your feelings of well-being. Research shows meditation, mindfulness, and self-care increase self-esteem and promote good mental health. Taking care of your skin also helps boost your confidence – and when you use natural skin care products free of toxins, you’re also caring for your overall health.

To make your skin care routine a meditative practice, I recommend setting aside time each morning and evening at a time when you don’t have to rush. When you do, you’re not only helping your skin but your soul too.

The act of slowing down will pull your body and mind into a calmer state. 

So what does a meditative skin care routine look like? It will vary from person to person. Here are some suggestions to make it a calming and relaxing experience.

  • Play soft and calming music in the background
  • Complete your routine in a clean, decluttered environment
  • Use soft, plush towels and cloths for a pleasant tactile experience 
  • Light a candle 
  • Meditate while cleansing and applying products
  • Repeat positive affirmations or do positive self-talk during your routine

And don’t forget to use natural, non-toxic skin care products like The Daily Essentials, our flagship 4-step system:

  • Step 1: CLEAN Gentle Cleanser: Cleansers that foam tend to have a high pH and strip skin of its natural oils. Our cleanser doesn’t lather. Instead, it thoroughly cleanses makeup and impurities while balancing the skin.
  • Step 2: NOURISH Antioxidant Serum: Leave skin feeling nourished and increase hydration with powerful hyaluronic acid, resveratrol, and chlorella. 
  • Step 3: RENEW Enriched Moisturizer: Our moisturizer is packed with camelina, argan oil, and a green, white, and black tea blend. It protects against oxidative damage and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 
  • Step 4: ENHANCE Glow Boost: This is the perfect finishing touch that hydrates your skin with a beautiful blend of natural organic plant oils. This is my personal favorite – I even used it on my wedding day! 

You can also try my at-home self-facial using The Daily Essentials. Facials are an essential part of a healthy skin care routine.

Mental Health Benefits of a Skin Care Routine 

A meditative skin care routine can give you a  serotonin boost. It can make you feel happier and more satisfied to put time and energy into making yourself feel good. Plus, you’ll have something to look forward to in the morning and at night, which increases good feelings and calms your nerves.

Another benefit is that your routine provides structure, which can make you feel in control – even when everything else is out of control. 

The other benefit of how skin care can impact your self-esteem and mental health is that when you feel good about your skin, you feel more confident and self-assured. On the other hand, when you are dealing with skin problems like acne, rosacea, or wrinkles, it can be difficult to feel good about yourself.

I know this all too well from the skin care challenges I experienced as a child and in early adulthood. I was even bullied for the appearance of my skin. 

But make no mistake – those issues do not take away from your natural beauty in any way. Nobody has the perfect, flawless skin we see in magazines, and there is nothing wrong with that. 

If you are experiencing severe mental health challenges, it is essential to seek out a physician, therapist, or counselor for guidance and care. Remember, you deserve to look and feel your most radiant and glowing self no matter what the noise of society has to say about it. 

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on the skin and health care information and offer our guidance to support you on your journey.

We’re offering a free 9-part documentary series – Hormones, Health & Harmony to help you balance your hormones and restore radiance. Register HERE.

Dr. Trevor Cates’ book, Natural Beauty Reset, provides an in-depth look at how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons.

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr.® community, please join us on social media.

Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote harmonized hormones and natural beauty!

 

Is Your Skin Care Hormone Safe? Make These Simple Swaps

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Do your skin care products contain hormone-disrupting chemicals? Today, we’re exposed to more of these chemicals than ever before. 

Unfortunately, there’s a lack of regulation around personal care products. This means there are many toxic ingredients that don’t have to be disclosed on the label. Even the word “natural” may not mean anything in skin care products today. 

For me, creating hormone-safe skin care products has been essential since I want this for my patients and loved ones (that includes you!)

In the United States, only eleven ingredients have been banned in personal care products. In Europe, more than 1,000 ingredients have been banned. The problem with this is that many of these chemicals have hormone-disrupting effects and aren’t safe. 

For example, one of the compounds that have gotten much attention lately is PFAS chemicals, known as “forever chemicals.” They’re known as forever chemicals because they break down very slowly in the environment and they actually bioaccumulate in body tissues. Unfortunately, they’re not just in cosmetics. They are everywhere. They’re actually in our water now too. 

These hormone-disrupting chemicals are a problem because they interfere with how hormones function. For example, although you may think that something you apply to your skin stays only on your skin, the chemicals in our skin care products can actually be absorbed into our bloodstream. These chemicals can then wreak havoc on our endocrine system, leading to problems with thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormone function. 

Using hormone-safe skin care is a simple lifestyle change you can make to avoid these types of toxic chemicals. 

Read the Label 

Even if you like your current skin care routine, be mindful that what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body. This may elevate the level of toxins you’re already exposed to each day. Statistics suggest women use an average of twelve personal care products daily, while men use an average of six. 

Based on the average number of ingredients in a personal care product, we’re exposed to an average of 126 different ingredients daily.

Our skin is highly sensitive to the inflammatory effects of these chemicals, and that can have a huge effect on our appearance. Ingredients found in popular skin care products have been shown to disrupt hormones and some are even carcinogenic.

One of the biggest culprits is fragrance. We like to smell good, and product manufacturers know it.

What’s scary is that fragrance is not a single ingredient, even though it is listed that way. It may contain multiple hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Fragrances are among the top five allergens in the world and contain hormone-disrupting chemicals that research has associated with certain conditions, such as thyroid problems, infertility, early menopause, early puberty, obesity, diabetes, and many more health issues.

One chemical of particular concern commonly used in fragrance is diethyl phthalate (DEP), which is used to make plastics and then used in automobile parts, toys, tools, and to make food packaging more flexible. Diethyl phthalate is not part of the chain of chemicals that compose the plastic, so it doesn’t bind tightly.

This means it can be released easily into its surroundings. Surprisingly, diethyl phthalate is also used in a number of personal care products, including skin care, hairspray, nail polish, deodorant, and perfume. It is used to make smells and colors last longer, but it’s a known hormone-disrupting chemical. 

The Spa Dr. skin care products are either fragrance-free or naturally scented with organic essential oils, so you don’t have to worry about harmful toxins – and you can see this when you read the label. 

Reading skin care labels can be overwhelming if you’ve never looked at one before. But when you start, you’ll become more familiar with chemicals to avoid and the botanical names of plant-based ingredients.

There are also apps available that you can use to check ingredient names to learn what they are and whether or not they should be used on your skin. 

Avoiding all hormone-disrupting chemical exposure is unfortunately impossible. But knowing the potential risks can help you choose personal-care products that are safer. In Clean Skin From Within, you can find the top 20 harmful skin care ingredients you should avoid. This will help you know what you’re looking at on the label. You can also look up products in the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. 

Swap Out Toxins for Hormone-Safe Skin Care

If your routine currently contains hormone-disrupting skin care products, start swapping out toxic ingredients for natural ones. This doesn’t mean you have to do it all at the same time. start with one product and go from there.

Look for products with organic essential oils; aloe vera; green, black, and white teas; rosemary extract; sunflower seed oil; apricot kernel oil; almond oil; jojoba oil; resveratrol; vitamin E; CoQ10; and turmeric. You can find all of these in The Spa Dr. 4-Step Daily Essentials Skin Care System.

In addition to skincare and makeup, replace your deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, and other personal-care products that have toxic ingredients with non-toxic alternatives.

Once we begin to realize how many toxins are in beauty products, it can be scary and overwhelming to try and make a change. Just remember it doesn’t have to be all at once and do the best you can. Every simple action you take is a step toward cleaning up your routine and creating better health and vitality – and supporting radiant skin. 

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on the skin and health care information and offer our guidance to support you on your journey.

We’re offering a free 9-part documentary series – Hormones, Health & Harmony to help you balance your hormones and restore radiance. Register HERE.

Dr. Trevor Cates’ book, Natural Beauty Reset, provides an in-depth look at how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons.

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr.® community, please join us on social media.

Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote harmonized hormones and natural beauty!

5 Scary Toxins to Avoid and Healthy, Natural Alternatives

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How many beauty and body care products do you use on your body every day? The Environmental Working Group notes that women use an average of 12 products a day. Most of these products contain toxic chemicals – and it’s scary to think they’re hiding in your hair, skin, and oral care products! Even products labeled “natural” hide toxic chemicals and ingredients in them. Luckily, we know a lot more today than we did even five years ago about what to avoid. 

Top 5 Toxins to Avoid

1. Fragrance

One of the most important toxins to avoid in personal care products is fragrance. We all like to smell good; however, synthetic fragrances contain hormone-disrupting chemicals. Fragrances are one of the top five allergens in the world and they’re usually listed under other names. The problem here is that multiple ingredients can go into one fragrance. 

2. Formaldehyde 

Formaldehyde is used to make many household products and is commonly used in beauty products as a preservative. It’s also used to extend the shelf life of the product. Some studies show formaldehyde is present in deodorants, cosmetics, skin care, and even toothpaste.

3. Mineral oil

Mineral oil is also called petroleum, petroleum jelly, and paraffin oil. It’s widely considered safe for use and is especially common in lipstick. The issue is mineral oils are derived from crude oil and may contain impurities. Mineral oil can also accumulate in the body.

4. Parabens

Parabens are used to extend the shelf life of products. For manufacturers, they’re very inexpensive to use. However, parabens are widely debated in skin care and other personal products. There’s evidence that parabens are estrogen-mimicking chemicals that pose certain health risks. To find parabens on the label, they can be found under many names, such as propylparaben, benzylparaben, methylparaben, isobutylparaben, and butylparaben.

5. DEA, MEA, and TEA

DEA, MEA, and TEA are used to make skin care products creamy and foamy. These ingredients can react with other chemicals to form carcinogens. DEA is actually banned in Europe and Canada. However, it is still used regularly in the United States. On the label, DEA, MEA, and TEA might also be listed by names such as triethanolamine and diethanolamine. 

You can find other ingredients to avoid in my books, Clean Skin From Within and Natural Beauty Reset– or you can download this Skin Care Ingredients Shopping Guide.

Natural Choices for Skin, Hair, and Oral Care 

The good news today is that we know more than we ever have about toxins in beauty products and how they damage our bodies on the outside and the inside. That means there are more natural products on the market than ever to choose from for skin care, hair care, and oral care. 

One of my favorite brands for hair care and oral care is Wellnesse – founded by Katie Wells of the Wellness Mama blog. Katie is a mom who has spent more than a decade creating and perfecting safe, all-natural formulas in her kitchen. Her work started because she wanted to create products for her own family. Now, she’s making non-toxic toothpaste, hair products, and more. Katie has created toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and other products that are  GMO-free, paraben-free, and sulfate-free. 

Hair Care

It’s hard to find a dry shampoo that is just right. One issue is that most dry shampoos include harsh chemicals. These toxins and chemicals can actually make the hair and scalp unhealthier. They can clog pores, create dandruff, and cause other skin issues. 

Wellnesse dry shampoo uses natural kaolin clay and volume-boosting tapioca instead of toxic chemicals. In addition, Wellnesse has cleansing shampoos that contain nettle leaf extract to support growth and prevent breakage, while keratin and quinoa smooth and condition hair. 

For those with wavy hair, you probably know how hard it is to find something that enhances your beautiful, bouncy waves. Most hair care products are tailored to straight hair or curly hair, so it can be challenging to find something both healthy and made for wavy hair. Wellnesse’s smoothing formula for waves locks in hydration and tames wild hair. With chamomile and rice extract, along with keratin amino acids, this is the perfect duo to help moisturize and give your curls a boost. 

Oral Care

Whitening toothpaste often contains harsh ingredients such as abrasives and bleaching agents. Wellness all-natural mineralizing toothpaste cleans and whitens teeth, soothes sensitive gums, and leaves your breath feeling minty. Wellnesse Whitening toothpaste has a naturally-occurring compound called hydroxyapatite, which helps support tooth enamel. 

Natural Skin Care 

To swap out skin care for an option without toxins, try out The Daily Essentials Skin Care System. At The Spa Dr., we use a nourishing blend of more than 30 organic and natural ingredients for products that nourish, protect and revive the skin in four simple steps. Our products are certified clean and EWG Verified™ – which means you’ll know exactly what’s going on your skin. 

The Daily Essentials Skin Care System contains ingredients that your skin will love – and you’ll have peace of mind that you don’t have to worry about harmful or scary chemicals. Every step is  pH-balanced between 4.5-5 to protect, hydrate, and enhance healthy, glowing skin. This is important because using products with a pH level over 5.5 can dry it out – and make it prone to rashes, eruptions, and premature aging.

Toxins might be hiding in our beauty products, but there are many natural alternatives available. Empower yourself to make safer choices by learning about these toxins and examining the ingredients you use in your personal care routine. Wellnesse and The Spa Dr. do not contain toxic ingredients, so you can feel confident about what you’re using.

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on the skin and health care information and offer our guidance to support you on your journey.

We’re offering a free 9-part documentary series – Hormones, Health & Harmony to help you balance your hormones and restore radiance. Register HERE.

My next book, Natural Beauty Reset, provides an in-depth look at how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons. You can order my book now on Amazon.

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr.® community, please opt-in to receive our newsletter and join us on social media.

Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote harmonized hormones and natural beauty!

How Do Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals Impact the Skin?

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We’re commonly exposed to toxins and hormone-disrupting chemicals through our personal-care products, food, water, home environments, hobby supplies, work environments, and more. We must be aware of potential toxin exposures so we can reduce our exposure to them and not only keep hormones balanced, but also maintain radiant and glowing skin.

With the boom of the global population and advances in technology, our environmental exposure to toxins has increased as manufacturers create new toxic chemicals and put them into products. On top of that, many already exist in our air, water, food sources, and personal-care products, including our skin care products. These toxins include lead, mercury, arsenic, bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalates, and much more.

What’s scary is these exposures can trigger hormonal imbalances. 

Our bodies were designed to eliminate harmful invaders. The skin, liver, kidneys, and lymphatic and digestive systems naturally work to protect us, but sometimes the influx of toxins is too great a burden to bear. Some toxins including lead and mercury can be stored by the body more easily than others. And when these levels increase, we can develop hormonal imbalances and experience accelerated aging – not to mention other serious issues. 

How Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals Impact Skin

One of the biggest accelerators of premature aging is oxidative damage. This occurs internally from exposure to toxins and unhealthy lifestyle choices such as eating processed foods and too much sugar. Beyond aging, oxidative damage plays a role in the development of significant health challenges.

In the skin, free radicals damage collagen. Collagen is the protein that gives skin its structure. This damage results in sagging, dullness, and uneven tone. External exposure to pollutants in the air and skin care products and excess sun exposure can all trigger oxidative damage, accelerating premature aging.

Oxidative damage already happens naturally with age, so we don’t want to accelerate it! In the skin specifically, antioxidants decline as the years pass. Eating foods high in antioxidants is a  simple way to help protect the body and the skin from the harmful effects of this process.

If you’re concerned that toxins are disrupting your skin and hormones, take this hormone quiz to find out if hormonal imbalances could be the root cause of your skin issues. 

Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals in Skin Care

How many lipsticks, mascaras, eyeshadows, foundations, sunscreens, masks, cleansers, creams, and lotions are in your bathroom drawers and cabinets? According to the Environmental Working Group, women use an average of 12 personal-care products each day.

Even if you like your thorough skincare routine, be mindful that what you put on your skin can be absorbed into your body and may elevate the level of toxins and hormone-disrupting chemicals you’re already exposed to each day. 

Ingredients found in popular skincare products have been shown to cause endocrine-disrupting effects, and some are even carcinogenic.

Unfortunately, the FDA in the United States does not require safety testing of skincare ingredients.

They’ve only banned 11 ingredients for use in personal-care products while the European Union has banned over 1,300 ingredients in personal-care products.

It’s ultimately up to you to take a closer look at what you’re putting on your body.

Here are three examples of potentially toxic ingredients in skin care products that may disrupt hormones.

Parabens: We know from research that parabens are absorbed through the skin and can be stored in our body’s tissues. Used in many personal-care products as preservatives, parabens have been detected in tissues and are known to have estrogen-mimicking effects. To identify parabens on skin care labels, look for propylparaben, benzylparaben, methylparaben, or butylparaben.

Fragrance: We all like to smell good. Unfortunately, fragrance is not a single ingredient even though it is listed that way – and fragrance can contain many hormone-disrupting chemicals. Instead of synthetic fragrances, choose pure essential oils such as ylang-ylang and bergamot.

Oxybenzone (benzophenone): Benzophenone-type UV filters are a common active ingredient in chemical sun protection products such as sunscreen and lip balms. Research suggests these have hormone-disrupting effects. Oxybenzone isn’t the only sunscreen ingredient linked with hormone-disrupting effects though. Steer clear of octinoxate, homosalate, and avobenzone. It’s safer to swap to mineral-based sunscreens. Protect your skin with a zinc oxide-based mineral.

There are many other toxic hormone-disrupting chemicals in skin care products. Avoiding all exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals is impossible in today’s modern world. But knowing the possible risks, why would we want to worsen the problem by using affected personal-care products when we have alternative choices? 

Originally, I couldn’t find a natural skin care line on the market that met my criteria:

  • Free of hormone-disrupting chemicals and other toxins
  • Contained key nutrients in their pure, active form
  • Perfectly pH balanced for healthy skin

That’s when I decided to create my own clean skin care line starting with The Daily Essentials 4-Step Skin Care System.

Switching your conventional beauty and skin care products to clean and natural products is a simple lifestyle change to help you avoid exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals. 

My new book, Natural Beauty Reset: The 7-Day Program to Harmonize Hormones and Restore Radiance, is all about how you can support your hormones and create balance all year long. Not only will you improve your skin, but you’ll improve your health at the same time with these tips. They support balance as each season changes so you can avoid hormone-disrupting chemicals and make positive changes.

When you read it, you’ll also uncover the real, overlooked causes of many other issues women face and use my step-by-step 7-day plan to eliminate frustrating issues without “Band-Aid” solutions that usually cause more harm than good.

Ready to get started? Order your copy now – it’s already a #1 best-seller on Amazon!

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on the skin and health care information and offer our guidance to support you on your journey.

We’re offering a free 9-part documentary series – Hormones, Health & Harmony to help you balance your hormones and restore radiance. Register HERE.

My next book, Natural Beauty Reset, provides an in-depth look at how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons. You can order my book now on Amazon.

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr.® community, please opt-in to receive our newsletter and join us on social media.

Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote harmonized hormones and natural beauty!

Can Hormonal Imbalances Cause a Lack of Sleep?

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Most of us have been there: We’re staring at the ceiling, watching the clock, going through the to-do list in our head, and knowing we have to sleep. And then we just can’t!  

Unfortunately, lack of sleep is a guaranteed way to feel and look tired. I’ve lost count of the number of patients who have struggled with sleepless nights and the health issues caused by a lack of sleep. 

High-quality sleep is essential for us humans to survive, thrive, and age gracefully. However, most of us don’t get enough sleep, and it puts stress on our bodies. The good news is being aware of sleep issues and making adjustments in our lifestyles can significantly improve how we sleep. 

Sleep and Your Skin 

Sleep deprivation can have immediate unwanted effects. It can make us feel cranky, angry, and sad and contribute to an increased likelihood of making mistakes. Lack of sleep can also increase the risk of serious health ailments and hormonal imbalances. 

As if that isn’t enough incentive to get more shut-eye, a lack of sleep can cause puffiness and dark circles under the eyes as well as dull skin.

In addition, elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol can cause a breakdown in collagen over time. This leads to more fine lines and wrinkles. With a lack of sleep, our bodies cannot produce an adequate amount of growth hormone, which helps maintain skin thickness in addition to muscle mass and bone strength.

The Role of the Melatonin Hormone 

In 1958, American physician and professor Aaron Lerner and his colleagues successfully isolated and discovered melatonin, known as the sleep hormone. Since then, melatonin has been extensively studied by researchers for its role in rest and more.

When it’s dark, the pineal gland in the brain releases melatonin. On the other hand, when it’s light (whether artificial or natural), the pineal gland inhibits melatonin. 

This hormone is designed to help us feel sleepy when the sun sets, and it peaks between 2 and 4 a.m. to help us stay asleep. After that time, melatonin gradually decreases. When the sun rises, our levels drop and the sleepiness wears off, triggering wakefulness. 

Interestingly, melatonin can potentially reach every cell of the body. This creates many protective benefits and relays communication about the circadian rhythm throughout the body.

Seasonal changes in light, such as long summer days and shorter winter days, affect melatonin production. Mammals, including us humans, have higher melatonin levels in the winter compared to in the summer. 

In addition to light, exposure to cold temperatures appears to increase our production of melatonin. This is one reason you may find yourself feeling more tired in the early evening during the fall and winter seasons. 

How Hormones Impact Melatonin Production and Sleep

Can hormonal imbalances cause a lack of sleep? The answer is yes – if you’re struggling with insomnia regularly, there can be a variety of hormonal causes. When people can’t sleep, they often resort to relying on sleep aids. As a result, they miss out on addressing the root causes of their sleep troubles and may even make the problem worse. Addressing hormonal imbalances can help resolve these sleep issues. 

You can take this hormone quiz to find out if hormonal imbalances could be the root cause of your sleep challenges. 

Thankfully, when our hormones are balanced, we wake up feeling rested before our alarm goes off thanks to a healthy elevation in cortisol. Ideally, we don’t need coffee or naps because we have energy throughout the day. At the end of the day, we start to feel sleepy when cortisol drops and melatonin rises. Balanced progesterone helps us feel calm, instead of experiencing sleep trouble when it’s low. 

That doesn’t mean you’ll never have another sleepless night. Occasional sleeplessness may occur due to stress, health issues, shift work, or jet lag. The Spa Dr.® Serene Sleep is designed to help with this. These great-tasting, lemon-flavored tablets are formulated to support a relaxed mind and full night’s rest and are made with Vitamin B6, inositol, and L-theanine for additional help in supporting the body’s natural ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.* 

Get Better Sleep with Lifestyle Changes in Natural Beauty Reset

My new book, Natural Beauty Reset: The 7-Day Program to Harmonize Hormones and Restore Radiance, is all about how you can support your hormones and create balance all year long. 

By nourishing your body and supporting your health and hormones through the seasons with a lifestyle tailored for balance as each season changes, you can improve your sleep hygiene. 

And when you read it, you’ll uncover the real, overlooked causes of many other issues women face, such as acne, bloating, mood swings, weight gain, chronic pain, and fatigue. Every season you can use my step-by-step 7-day plan to eliminate frustrating issues without “Band-Aid” solutions that usually cause more harm than good.

To start taking steps toward better sleep and health, Natural Beauty Reset is the best way to start. 

You can also learn more about sleep and hormones in my free 9-part docuseries, Hormones, Health & Harmony. Sign up today – it starts on September 13!

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on the skin and health care information and offer our guidance to support you on your journey.

We’re offering a free 9-part documentary series – Hormones, Health & Harmony to help you balance your hormones and restore radiance. Register HERE.

My next book, Natural Beauty Reset, provides an in-depth look at how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons. You can pre-order my book now on Amazon.

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr.® community, please opt-in to receive our newsletter and join us on social media.

Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote harmonized hormones and natural beauty!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Adrenal Imbalance Impacts Skin Health

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Most of us know we shouldn’t stress. However, when life throws challenges our way, from work to our social lives and home lives, our thoughts can be toxic and block our path to confidence and good health. 

In addition, negative thoughts and unmanaged stress put a burden on our adrenals, which can create hormonal imbalances. The good news is there are steps you can take to reduce this burden and support healthy hormones – even if it feels impossible right now.

How Adrenal Imbalance Impacts Your Skin and Health

The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys and they make hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. They also make hormones your body uses to make other hormones, like testosterone and estrogen. 

If you’re overly stressed and often feel wired or tired, you may have imbalances in cortisol – or adrenal fatigue. And when the adrenal hormones are imbalanced, they can cause many issues in the body – and they can create skin issues. Excess belly fat, sugar cravings, and insomnia are all associated with adrenal hormone imbalance. 

On the skin, imbalanced adrenal hormones can show up as acne, eczema, or rosacea. Acne often forms because when we’re stressed, the adrenal glands release the hormone cortisol. A surge in cortisol causes increased sebum production, which triggers acne. Chronically high cortisol levels can lead to sugar cravings, and eating sugar also triggers acne breakouts.

Adrenal imbalance and fatigue can also cause dark patches to appear on multiple areas of the body. Adrenal imbalance can also drive melanin production to increase, which causes hyperpigmentation. And if you have spikes in cortisol, that can trigger inflammation and cause your skin problems to worsen.

So if you’re experiencing some or all of these issues, your adrenal glands may be producing higher than normal levels of cortisol. This could be happening around the clock or during specific times of the day – usually in the evening – and this is the opposite of healthy adrenal function. 

The good news is it’s possible to balance your adrenal hormones. 

How to Balance Adrenal Hormones

Like everything, when it comes to balancing hormones, it’s about creating balance in your life. Stress is unavoidable, and it must be managed. And when you’re already stressed, pushing yourself too hard physically will tax your adrenals even more. 

To help balance adrenal function, focus on healthy eating, movement, and mindset practices. To minimize stress, find a way to take it easy. I’ll be the first to admit this is more challenging than it sounds! 

Yoga

One way I like to unwind to support adrenal balance is with yoga. Yoga has many benefits, including reducing stress in your mind and creating strength in your body. 

Ready to get started on your yoga journey? Getting started is as simple as choosing your yoga location, temperature, and poses. Also, be sure to drink extra water with electrolytes if you’re doing hot yoga, especially in the winter when the air is dry and you have a greater chance of dehydration.

Breathwork

Breathwork can help you improve your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. It involves breathing consciously and systematically by intentionally changing your breathing pattern to create relaxation. But it’s not only relaxing – there’s evidence that breathwork benefits the immune system, nervous system, digestion, and heart. It’s simple to get started – try a breathwork video on YouTube or a streaming app.

Nutrition

Eating to support healthy adrenal balance will vary based on the time of year. For example, cortisol levels tend to be higher in the winter months. Choosing seasonal foods when you can is another way to promote a healthy balance. 

In addition, consider looking into supplements to help complement your diet and balance adrenals. Extra support for your adrenals to balance your levels can come from adaptogenic herbs such as rhodiola, ashwagandha, astragalus, and ginseng. Amino acids l-theanine and l-tyrosine are also useful. 

The Spa Dr. offers Stress Adapt – a comprehensive blend of three unique and well-researched forms of ashwagandha extracts that help support a healthy mood and normal response to perceived stress.* Stress Adapt is carefully formulated with industry-leading ashwagandha sources and a high-quality standardized extract that is derived from whole-plant extracts (root and leaf) to provide optimal efficacy.* This is another great way to add adaptogens to your routine.

Adaptogens can also be applied topically for support. For example, ginseng root extract is a powerful adaptogen that increases the overall resistance to all types of stress and helps rejuvenate and invigorate tired-looking skin. 

Read Natural Beauty Reset

My new book, Natural Beauty Reset: The 7-Day Program to Harmonize Hormones and Restore Radiance, is all about how you can support your hormones and create balance throughout the year. It shares how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons. 

When you read it, you’ll uncover the real, overlooked causes for women of acne, bloating, fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, chronic pain, and sleeplessness. And you’ll receive a step-by-step 7-day plan for each season to finally eliminate frustrating issues without “Band-Aid” solutions that cause more harm than good.

If you need help balancing adrenals and other hormones, Natural Beauty Reset is the best way to start. 

Not sure if you have high, low, or normal cortisol? Take my hormone quiz to learn more about your possible hormonal imbalances.

 

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on the skin and health care information and offer our guidance to support you on your journey.

We’re offering a free 9-part documentary series – Hormones, Health & Harmony to help you balance your hormones and restore radiance. Register HERE.

My next book, Natural Beauty Reset, provides an in-depth look at how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons. You can pre-order my book now on Amazon.

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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