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Estrogen, Progesterone, and Your Skin

Estrogen, Progesterone, and Your Skin

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Has it ever felt like you’ve tried to do everything under the sun to achieve radiant skin? I know how frustrating it can be to try everything and not see results. It takes a big toll on our self-confidence and how we feel about ourselves. 

Modern-day marketing can make it feel like skin issues have a one-size-fits all solution. Try this magic cream, try this miracle serum – it’s easy to be tempted by the ease of it all. However, the solution to clean skin goes a lot deeper than a quick fix or marketing promise. 

For many people struggling with skin issues that seem impossible to solve, the issue is hormones. There are two hormones that play a large role in skin health – and they might surprise you: estrogen and progesterone. 

When Estrogen Levels Decline

Most people know estrogen as the hormone that gives women beautiful curves and fertility. However, it also plays a role in protecting the brain, bones, skin, and heart. We make estrogen in our ovaries, adrenals, fat cells, and other tissues. 

Like other hormones, estrogen levels decline as we age – especially after forty and as we approach menopause. These levels also decline before puberty and right after pregnancy. In addition, women who have had their ovaries removed experience what is called “surgical menopause.” Estrogen levels also dip during certain times throughout the menstrual cycle. Even the time of year plays a role in your estrogen levels. 

Estrogen and Your Skin

Although estrogen has natural fluctuations, when it’s too high or too low, it can impact your skin. For women over 40, declining estrogen levels are the leading cause of dry, sagging skin.

Low estrogen also makes the skin less elastic and more fragile. Low estrogen can also cause bone loss, hot flashes, insomnia, mood changes, night sweats, infertility, and vaginal dryness. 

On the other hand, high estrogen also creates skin problems – most notably issues with hyperpigmentation (melasma). This is something Amber skin types can experience. The benefits of estrogen for skin include enhancing the skin’s ability to retain moisture and maintaining skin thickness. Estrogen also stimulates the production of collagen, a protein that gives skin structure and firmness.

Women who are pregnant or on birth control pills generally have higher estrogen levels. There are also many women who experience what is often called estrogen dominance. This means estrogen is not metabolized properly. It can also happen when progesterone starts to decline around age 35. The key with estrogen – as with all hormones – is balance. 

When Progesterone Levels Decline

Progesterone is mostly produced in the ovaries. It plays an important role in many functions – everything from fertility, appetite, fat storage, and mood. It also provides protective effects for our skin, bones, breasts, and uterus. 

When balanced, progesterone helps us feel calm. When it’s low, we can feel irritable and experience sleep trouble. 

Progesterone helps counterbalance estrogen to support a healthy menstrual cycle. So when

our progesterone levels are low, unpleasant period symptoms such as irregular and/or heavy

bleeding, hot flashes, and night sweats can occur.

Other signs of low progesterone include irregular and/or heavy bleeding, fibroids, endometriosis, anxiousness, sadness, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, difficulty conceiving, and a history of multiple miscarriages. 

Progesterone and Your Skin 

Perimenopausal symptoms, such as irregular cycles, insomnia and night sweats, can start around age 35 when progesterone begins to drop. Knowing when your mom went through menopause can help you plan ahead for hormonal changes. 

Signs of progesterone imbalance can also show up on your skin. Excess progesterone can increase sebum production, which may lead to build-up and breakouts. Low progesterone can cause dry, brittle, and dull hair, skin, and nails. Sage skin types may experience these types of skin issues.

There are progesterone skin benefits. For example, progesterone and skin elasticity are closely linked. As progesterone levels naturally decline, the skin may lose some of its elasticity, leading to sagging and wrinkles. This is one reason to keep your levels balanced.

Optimizing progesterone levels will mean a brighter mood, better sleep, and possibly improved fertility, and more radiant skin, among other results. 

Balancing Estrogen and Progesterone 

Balancing estrogen and progesterone naturally can help you relieve or minimize uncomfortable challenges that come from being out of balance. 

Getting enough vitamin C daily can support progesterone levels. Maca may also help balance estrogen and progesterone, especially in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

When we are free of symptoms like hot flashes, irregular cycles, and vaginal dryness, as well as signs on our skin of melasma to premature aging, we can feel more beautiful inside and out. Everyone deserves to feel vibrant and healthy at every stage of their lives.

A Note About Birth Control 

Birth control has changed our lives as women in a very profound way. It helps many women plan families around their productive lives. However, many girls and women are put on birth control pills for reasons other than birth control, including acne as well as menstrual irregularities and pain. 

Unfortunately, hormonal birth control pills contain synthetic forms of estrogen and progesterone and suppress our testosterone levels, deplete us of certain nutrients, and disrupt our gut microbiome. 

They also come with a number of potential side effects, including an increased risk for blood clots, stroke, certain types of cancer, and hormonal imbalances — including low testosterone and low thyroid hormones. This is why it’s important to not use birth control as a Band-Aid approach for hormonal imbalances.

I know the subject of hormones can be intimidating and even confusing. There’s a lot to learn and understand. However, it’s important to know that balancing hormones isn’t a one-time pill, cream, or action. It’s a series of consistent actions that you may need to shift at different points throughout your life. 

For example, certain lifestyle habits can make a big difference. Use natural beauty products and skin care with organic ingredients such as the 4-Step Age-Defying Skincare System.

Buy organic foods and when something seems off, keep track of what you’re feeling. That way you can present your symptoms to a healthcare professional. 

Want to learn more about hormones? Watch episode 1 of Hormones, Health & Harmony for FREE!

4 Common Skin Problems in Women and 4 Ways to Solve Them

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Have you ever visited a dermatologist or other health care provider who gave you a prescription for a topical or oral medication for skin woes, such as acne, rashes, bumps, or wrinkles?  

Many people find themselves in a situation where the practitioner looks at skin problems through a singular lens and suppresses the symptom instead of getting to the root cause of the issue. This is especially common for women. 

I have personal experience with this type of treatment and know how frustrating it is. I had hives and eczema during childhood, acne as a teenager, and rosacea in my thirties –  you name it and I’ve probably had it! I know how isolating these issues can feel and how they take a toll on self-esteem. 

Your skin is your magic mirror and gives you important clues about your overall health and vitality. There is a better approach than covering up skin problems. 

By getting to the root cause of skin issues, you’ll not only clear up your skin and reduce accelerating aging, but you’ll also promote radiant health and feel better than ever. 

Most Common Skin Conditions for Women 

Acne

Acne is an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles of the skin. It is marked by the eruption of pimples or pustules that can appear on the back, chest, arms, and more commonly on the face.

This issue is very common, impacting more than 40 million people – and over half of those people are women older than age 25. Sometimes acne is viewed as a superficial health concern. However, those of us who’ve had it know breakouts can cause permanent emotional and physical damage, including skin scarring and discoloration.

Stress is one of the triggers for acne. When we’re stressed, the adrenal glands release cortisol, known as “the stress hormone.” A surge in cortisol causes increased sebum production and this triggers acne. Chronically high levels of cortisol can lead to sugar cravings, which also increases breakouts. 

One of the biggest underlying causes is actually in the gut. Our gut microbiome impacts our skin microbiome. When our gut microbiome is out of balance, our skin microbiome can also be negatively impacted and trigger acne breakouts.

Eczema

Eczema comes in many different forms, but it typically emerges in the form of a red, itchy rash or raised skin. This typically occurs on the cheeks, arms, and legs. The word “eczema” is Greek for “to boil over,” describing how inflamed eczema can look.

Regular stress from work, school, and home can make eczema flare. This is partly due to high cortisol levels, which trigger inflammation and aggravate skin inflammation issues, including itchy, irritated skin conditions. 

Research shows a lack of sleep from stress also plays a role because it affects our skin’s ability to heal. The itching and discomfort eczema causes are stressful and may even keep you awake at night. The issue here is that this becomes a cycle and the problem of eczema becomes worse. 

Rosacea 

Rosacea is estimated to affect over 16 million Americans and is common in women over thirty. It appears as redness, small visible blood vessels, and eruptions on the nose, cheeks, and forehead.

Left untreated, rosacea only gets worse – and dealing with its visible signs can trigger more flushing, which can lead to more stress! Many people with rosacea report their condition causes so much stress they cancel plans and do not want to be seen. 

What’s more frustrating is it’s challenging to pinpoint the exact cause of rosacea. Research suggests it could be hereditary, from environmental factors, an overactive immune system, certain foods, or a combination of these possible triggers. Other root causes of rosacea may include hormonal imbalance, inflammation, and microbiome disturbances.

Premature Aging 

Getting older is something to celebrate. Fine lines and wrinkles are a sign of living and laughing! However, nobody wants to look older than they are. Fine lines and wrinkles are most likely to occur with chronic stress. High levels of cortisol are likely to cause insomnia, belly fat – and an inability to roll with what life brings our way. 

Excess wrinkles and sagging skin before our time are signs that something needs to be addressed. Ignoring the root cause behind the signs of premature aging will likely show up in your health in some other way, so don’t ignore this sign. The good news is there are many causes of premature aging, such as oxidative damage and hormonal imbalances, that can be slowed with lifestyle changes. 

How to Address the Root Cause of Skin Issues

When you address the root cause of your skin issues, you take a tremendous step to improve your overall health. As your skin begins to heal, you will feel more confident and less stressed about your appearance. The best part is you will get to the true root cause and improve your well-being!

Talk to a Healthcare Professional 

The first step is to discuss your skin issues with a healthcare provider who you trust. Find someone who will listen and address everything you are experiencing, not just the skin issue itself. Although there are some short-term solutions for these skin issues, it is essential to get to the bottom of why they happen in the first place.

Clean Up Your Diet

With my patients, I have seen over and over again how certain foods trigger skin issues and other problems. 

The most common foods I see causing skin issues are: 

  • Sugar
  • Dairy
  • Gluten-containing grains
  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Eggs
  • Corn
  • Nightshades
  • Peanuts
  • Soy

I lay out a full plan in my book, Clean Skin From Within, that you can use to get started. 

Choose Toxin-Free Skin Care 

There are many skin care products on the market that claim to be “natural” and advertise their beneficial ingredients – like aloe vera, oats or oatmeal, or essential oils. The problem is they often still contain other ingredients that are not natural like fragrance – and these can build up in the body and disrupt your hormones. 

There are many different endocrine-disrupting chemicals that we are exposed to on a day-to-day basis, and your skin care is a place you can avoid them! All skin care products at The Spa Dr. are free of harmful toxins. Our bestseller is the 4-Step Age-Defying Skincare System.

Reduce Stress

Here’s a tough truth: Chronic stress ages us rapidly from the inside out.

Ongoing stress increases cortisol – and our neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine drop. We may develop mood disorders, skin issues, and many other health problems and not even know it. That’s one reason stress is called “the silent killer.” Many of us even get so used to feeling stressed that we may not remember another way of life. 

Reducing stress is not a one-time action. It is an ongoing commitment to your self-care. create a plan to find ways to reduce stress in your daily life. you can try exercise, a meditative skincare routine, painting, or gardening – the choice is yours! Personally, I enjoy meditation, breathwork, and journaling to reduce stress. 

A Final Note 

Starting to take control of your skin issues may be overwhelming at first. Just remember you cannot change everything all at once. Creating radiant health and well-being is a journey you will be on for your entire life. 

Nobody has everything perfectly together, no matter what appearances may make it seem! And we all go through different seasons and experience different challenges at different times. The most important part is to take small steps every day that support your health and skin. Not only will you be helping yourself in the short term, but the healthy changes you make today will also shape a thriving future and a more confident you. 

 

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 our 4-Step Age-Defying Clean Skincare 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. 

Real Skin Stories

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In celebration of The Spa Dr.’s fourth birthday, we’re highlighting skin stories from women in our community. Last week, you read my story as the founder and today it’s time to hear skin stories from other women.

We think every woman is beautiful, but most of us have a few blemishes that concern us or that we may even ignore. We asked our customers to participate in a before and after program.

These women were brave enough to share their stories and pictures. They took their own pictures before using The Spa Dr.’s 4-Step Age-Defying Skincare System and then another selfie after 30 days of using the 4-step system twice daily for 30 days. Here are their unedited stories after participating in the 30-day program.

These stories are so important to me because providing real skin care solutions to real skin care challenges is what we aim to do here at The Spa Dr.! I hope that you enjoy these stories, but most importantly, my wish is that you find inspiration to overcome your own skin care challenges. By using clean and natural skin care and mindfully tending to your diet, exercise, and self-care, you can improve the condition of your skin. 

Angela’s Story

“As a 58-year-old woman who works outdoors, I have tried it all. I have been using various skin care systems since my teens. As I have been growing older and realizing the negative effects of the environment and what I eat on my skin, I decided to try organic skin care and eating cleaner. Over the past 5 years, I have tried many nice organic skin products, but I was so happy to finally discover the 4-Step Age-Defying Skincare System. I really appreciate the research that went into creating the products, the wonderful cruelty-free ingredients, and the fact that these products are EWG-verified. Since beginning to use these products, my skin feels softer and my uneven facial skin tone, with age spots, has brightened. Combining the system, wearing 50 SPF, and always wearing a hat while outdoors this past summer, I have noticed that my facial age spots have also begun to fade. I am very happy with the results and I will continue to use these products. Highly recommend!”

skin side by side

Carrie’s Story 

“I truly love everything about this skincare. I love that it isn’t full of scary ingredients, it doesn’t have an overwhelming scent, and it feels so good on my face! I have noticed better overall skin tone and more even skin color, a decrease in acne, fine lines, and dark spots reduced. It lasts a long time, as you don’t need a ton of product to get the job done. I would definitely recommend this to anyone. My kids (14 and 12) have even told me I look like I’m glowing!!”

skin care side by side

Brianna’s Story

“My skin was cracked, dry, and it hurt to even smile! After one week of using The Spa Dr. Age-Defying Skincare System., I could smile again without pain. I love the feel of the products on my skin and how the serum and moisturizer absorb well. My skin always felt “tight” using the conventional cleansers but not with The Spa Dr. cleanser. My skin feels great, and the texture is getting better, but I was expecting more of a change in my appearance after using the products for 30 days. I definitely saw a reduction in my acne, but I have a lot of post-acne marks. I still had small breakouts while using the products, so I am working to find out my root cause. I had truly hoped that using the Age-Defying Skincare System. alone would fix my face. It would be insanely wonderful to just use miracle products and have great skin without considering your diet and overall lifestyle, but this is definitely not the case for me. I do feel a lot better using the products since they feel great, smell good, and have safe ingredients, so I suggest that people try the 4-Step Age-Defying Skincare System out.”

skin care before and after

Nadia’s Story 

“So far, I’m impressed! The only thing that has not irritated my skin! My skin has noticeably improved and I have fewer breakouts. Still have work to do on my skin, so I’m excited to see how the end result will be!”

skin care side by side before and after

Jocelyn’s Story 

“I tried the four-step system, and overall it is a really great product. Step 1 is my favorite product. My face is very sensitive and becomes dry very easily. This is the only face wash I’ve ever used that didn’t dry out my skin. It’s light, creamy and wonderful! Step 2 and 3 have great texture and smell, but I found that after using them for a week my face felt a little irritated (but like I said, I am super sensitive!). Step 4 facial oil is my next favorite in this system, the oil is light, has a great smell and really does give a little glow. The whole system is definitely worth a try as what we put on our skin matters, and this is a truly great product. As for me, I’m sticking with Step 1 and 4, they are great!!”

skin care before and after

Jennifer’s Story

Lastly, I want to share a story with you from Jennifer Garn. Jennifer has been on The Spa Dr. Podcast and has shared her story before. She first reached out to me with a comment on The Spa Dr. Facebook page, and I was inspired by her story and her skin care challenges because they were so similar to the stories I have heard through the years from my patients. You can learn more about her story in her own words below. 

“I was very, very oily. I couldn’t go a day without a shower. I would wake up and it was just like my body had just unleashed oil all night long, and I couldn’t wait to wash my face. I couldn’t dream of going anywhere without showering my hair. I was desperate. If there was a skincare system advertised, if you had skin care for clear skin, and you sent me samples in the mail, I was signing up. I mean, I don’t even want to think about how much money we spent on skincare solutions. I also knew that I wasn’t healthy in general, and on YouTube, a video popped up about the impact of food on your skin. I thought this is what I have been searching for! I listened to that video and it was by Dr. Cates. She explained not only which foods may trigger skin and why they are a trigger. I have a biology degree, but something spoke to me hearing how food literally impacted my insides. It’s was truly empowering in my path to healing, just having that knowledge. That was what started my skin care journey.

Being able to put on a skincare system that really helped to heal wasn’t the only solution. I couldn’t just use the skin care system and say, voila, no more acne or eczema! Instead, what I was able to experience was a cleanser that wasn’t stripping my skin. It was instead allowing my microbiome to begin to heal and my skin. Ultimately, if you believe that it’s possible, then I think you’re willing to do what it takes to heal your skin.”

If you want to hear Jennifer’s full story, you can watch the video below.

What is your skin story? I would love if you shared your personal skin story in the comments section and what you are doing to improve your skin and health.

The Ultimate The Spa Dr. Gift Guide

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Spirits are bright and the giving season has arrived. It is a time when we can spend time with our cherished loved ones and gift them with their favorite things. If you are in the holiday spirit but need extra help, our gift guide has something for everyone, whether it’s the skin-obsessed friend or skin care newbie. The Spa Dr. has something for just about everyone.

Konjac Sponge and Facial Cleanser

Small enough to slip into the stockings hanging from the mantle, our Konjac Facial Sponge gently exfoliates skin and is made out of natural, eco-friendly, konjac plant root and red clay. Gentle enough for sensitive skin, it pairs perfectly with Step 1: CLEAR & REFRESH Facial Cleanser. Wrap these up with a bow for a luxurious and spa-like experience right at home with this convenient bundle featuring both items. 

The Spa Dr. Daily Essentials Sample Kit

For the jet setter in your life, The Spa Dr. Daily Essentials Sample Kit is TSA-friendly and ideal for overnight travel on a quick getaway weekend. Each product is perfectly pH-balanced and designed to cleanse, nourish, protect and revitalize your skin — must-have traits after spending a long time driving or on an airplane or in the car. Plus, they’re a great way to try the entire system before you buy the full-sized products.

Purifying Mud Mask

Our Purifying Mud Mask is the perfect way to make someone feel pampered. Our special ingredient is Moor Mud, a therapeutic Austrian peat produced through the natural decomposition of approximately 300 different medicinal species of herbs, flowers, and reeds. Pair it with the invitation to have a spa night with a loved one and use my self-facial routine for a relaxing night of skin- and self-care.

Natural Beauty Reset Book

After over twenty years of seeing patients and writing my first book, Clean Skin from Within, I heard from women who still had questions about the connection between their hormones, skin, health, and aging. That’s why I wrote Natural Beauty Reset – to provide women with a step-by-step seasonal guide to address the underlying causes that are holding their bodies captive. During the holidays we’re just stepping into a new season, making it the perfect time to begin transitioning with the seasons. Get a copy for you and a friend to complete these seasonal plans together.

Clean Skin from Within Book

With the new year on its way, many people enjoy the spirit of turning over a new leaf to improve their health and well-being. Clean Skin from Within contains The Spa Dr.’s two-week program to reveal your most radiant and youthful skin. This book is jam-packed with recipes to nourish your skin from the inside out, including recipes for DIY skin care. And, it will give you ideas about other items to gift, such as nourishing essential oils for skin, a dry brush, and more. Plus, our Glowing Skin Bundle includes Clean Skin from Within, CLEAR: Gentle Cleanser, and konjac sponge!

The Body Essentials Collection

Your skin deserves to shine from head to toe, and that’s why we created the Body Essentials Collection featuring our CLEAN Body Wash and HYDRATE Body Moisturizer. CLEAN is a luxurious body wash that leaves skin feeling clean, fresh, and nourished, while HYDRATE quenches your skin’s thirst and replenishes the skin’s natural barrier. And they’re both available in Unscented or Lemon Zest.

4-Step Age-Defying Skin Care Subscription

Do you like to “go big” when it comes to gift-giving? If so, The Spa Dr. Subscription Program automatically replenishes the 4-Step Age-Defying Clean Skincare System every 4, 6, or 8 weeks. Each step is designed to help achieve visible results by balancing the skin. Plus, it helps create the appearance of a smoother complexion and leaves behind a luminous glow. If you know someone who is passionate about skin care and looking for a healthier alternative to standard skin care products, you can’t go wrong with the EWG-verified 4-Step Age-Defying Clean Skincare System! This skin care system can also be purchased individually. 

Enjoy these ideas to give the gift of glowing skin this season, and don’t forget to take time to be in the moment with your loved ones.

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 new 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 join us on social media.

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

Your Skin and Oxidative Damage: What You Can Do to Avoid It

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Have you ever noticed the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles sooner than you expected? Fine lines and wrinkles are rewards of aging and signs that we’ve been living and laughing. However, nobody wants to look older than they are. One of the biggest accelerators in premature aging is due to oxidative damage. 

Oxidative damage can lead to DNA telomere shortening and genetic alterations, accelerating signs of aging. Beyond aging, oxidative damage plays a role in developing significant health challenges. The good news is there are many action steps you can take to reduce oxidative damage with healthy lifestyle habits. 

What Causes Oxidative Damage?

Oxidative damage happens to cells and tissues when the production of free radicals exceeds the body’s ability to counteract their damaging effects with antioxidants. This process occurs internally from unhealthy lifestyle choices such as eating processed foods and too much sugar. 

Other common causes of oxidative damage are sun exposure, smoking, and toxin exposure. We are exposed to a number of toxins on a daily basis internally that harm our organs, including the skin. Exposure to chemical toxins in your air, water, and food can trigger not only oxidative damage, but other root causes of health issues such as microbiome disturbances, nutritional deficiencies, and hormone imbalances. 

Avoiding toxins is essential for clear, glowing skin. Unfortunately, the number of chemicals and toxins in our environment is increasing at an alarming rate, and our bodies soak them up like sponges. When it rains, air pollutants, pesticides, and other chemicals are washed into our water supply. The crops we eat absorb this water, and the animals we eat also live off the contaminated water, plants, and feed, so chemicals concentrate in their bodies. 

One toxin of particular concern is endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs include substances in our environment, water, food, and personal care products that interfere with the production, transport, breakdown, binding, and elimination of hormones. Exposure to EDCs ultimately affects the hormonal system and the skin. 

What Oxidative Damage Does to the Skin

In the skin, free radicals damage collagen, resulting in sagging, dullness, and uneven tone. External exposure to pollutants in the air and skincare products, as well as excess sun exposure, trigger oxidative damage. This accelerates the signs of premature aging.

Oxidative damage already happens naturally with age.

Levels of antioxidants that help combat oxidative damage decline as the years pass.

This makes a healthy diet and making healthy lifestyle changes even more important. Eating foods high in antioxidants is one of the easiest ways to support the skin and minimize the harmful effects of this process.

In addition, because the skin acts as an external barrier, it is directly exposed to environmental stress, such as sunlight and pollutants. Excessive exposure to the sun’s UV radiation generates free radicals in the skin. When their levels exceed natural antioxidant defenses, oxidative damage occurs. It also causes the depletion of antioxidants, such as vitamins E and C. 

Hyperpigmentation and Dark Spots

In general, we want to prevent pigmentation changes to the skin because they’re signs of sun damage, and they also signal internal disturbances. 

To explain this further, here’s a brief anatomy/ physiology lesson:

  • The epidermis is the top layer of skin and is very thin
  • The flat cells of the upper layer are called squamous cells; below this are basal cells
  • Melanocytes are cells that also reside in the epidermis
  • These cells make the brown pigment melanin, which gives skin its tan or brown color and helps protect against the damaging effects of UV rays

Increased melanin production leads to hyperpigmentation. Excess production is usually caused by sun exposure, inflammation, free radicals, and hormonal changes. When we experience oxidative stress from sun exposure, oxidative damage occurs. This spirals into increased melanin production to protect the skin and thus worsens hyperpigmentation. 

Collagen Breakdowns

Oxidative damage also speeds the breakdown of your skin’s elastin and collagen. As we age, elastin fibers in the skin deteriorate, causing a loss in elasticity.

Collagen comprises 70 to 80 percent of the skin’s dry weight and gives the dermis its structure.

Elastin is a relatively small part of the dermis, but its function is important. 

With age, collagen production gradually declines, and our skin becomes thinner. Sun exposure also causes skin to lose elasticity and age quickly. The biggest changes typically occur after age sixty, but with excessive sun exposure, changes can occur as early as our twenties. You can’t stop the clock, but you can reduce oxidative damage through certain dietary and lifestyle changes. 

How to Minimize Oxidative Damage

Choosing clean water, food, personal care products, and other items in our immediate environment is the most effective way you can avoid oxidative damage.

We know what we eat can nourish our bodies, including the skin. The most important foods to eat for clear, glowing skin are those rich in:

  • Skin-loving fatty acids
  • Antioxidants
  • Probiotics and prebiotics
  • Collagen-boosting nutrients (If your diet lacks collagen-rich foods, consider a collagen supplement such as The Spa Dr. Collagen Plus)
  • Cleansing and anti-inflammatory properties 

These quality foods boost your body’s detoxification pathways and reverse oxidative damage.

Choosing fresh, local, and seasonal produce that is rich in nutrients like antioxidants can help protect us against harmful oxidative damage. 

Another simple way to minimize oxidative damage is to choose toxin-free skincare products. Be mindful that what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body and may elevate the level of toxins you’re already exposed to each day. In the United States, safety testing of skincare ingredients is not required and only 11 ingredients are banned for use in personal-care products.

On the other hand, the European Union has banned more than 1,300 ingredients in personal-care products due to toxins. That’s why we make The Spa Dr. skincare products to EU standards. 

As we go through this life it may seem challenging to avoid oxidative damage. However, by making healthy choices in your daily life, you can promote glowing skin and radiant health. This journey is not about being perfect, but it does involve making conscious choices. 

If you need extra help on this journey, check out my book, Natural Beauty Reset. There you’ll find a step-by-step, 7-day plan for each season to promote balance and your natural beauty. 

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.

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.

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