Bye Bye Blemishes

For many of you, fall generally means that it’s time for the kids to go back to school. To make sure they are prepared, you may be getting their school supplies and fall wardrobe in order. During this time, they are also paying close attention to their skin, or blemishes rather, so you may find yourself searching for blemish-fighting products. To make sure they go back to school with the confidence they need to look and feel their best, I would like to share with you why the natural approach really is the best approach when helping your kids achieve clear, healthy skin. 

What you see as a pimple has actually taken days or weeks to create. Deep in the pore, for a variety of reasons, an accumulation of dead skin cells mix with sebum to form a plug and that creates a whitehead. If the plug is in contact with the air, it darkens and a blackhead results. The plug continues to grow until the duct bursts. In combination with bacteria that can cause infection, you then have a red inflamed papule or zit.

To start, choose skincare products for your kids that contain gentle yet effective herbs that have been scientifically proven effective on blemish-prone skin. Tea Tree, one of my favorite natural first-aid remedies, contains powerful antiseptic and antibacterial properties that help clear blemishes and prevent breakouts. Willow Bark, the natural source of salicylic acid, is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter blemish-fighting products. It can help remove dead skin, dirt and toxins, and unclog pores. Rosewood acts as both an antiseptic and an astringent and can help balance both dry and oily skin. Lavender, another one of my favorites, contains astringent and antibacterial properties to help fight breakouts. Lastly, Chamomile has strong anti-inflammatory properties making it ideal for helping reduce redness and calm skin. These herbs work very well together in skincare products to help clear and prevent breakouts.

As for their skincare routine, because blemishes can also be the result of too much bacteria, make sure they cleanse skin 2-3 times a day with a gentle anti-bacterial cleanser. Then, have them follow with a moisturizer that is formulated to balance yet hydrate the skin. Breakouts do not occur because of too much moisture from a facial moisturizer, they result from skin that is not balanced. A spot blemish treatment is also good for those that have specific breakout areas. Exfoliating at least once week will also be beneficial because it prevents build-up of older skin cells and stimulates new cell growth.

Since hormones and nutrition can also cause blemishes, helping your kids make healthy lifestyle choices will also make a difference. To help prevent hormonal fluctuations, any type of exercise such as joining a school sports team or participating in outdoor activities are good. If they are easily stressed, maybe take walks together, or practice stretching and breathing exercises. A good night’s sleep, about 7 to 8 hours is also ideal. Because food can trigger the occurrence of blemishes, help your kids eat a balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables and very few processed foods that can be high in sugar and salt. Drinking plenty of water is also very important. If possible, pack a water bottle in their lunch, or make sure they have one with them at all times so they are less likely to give in to sugar-laden drinks.

While blemishes can zap your kid’s confidence this time of year, hopefully this natural approach will help them look and feel good on the inside and out.

Yours in Health,
Dr. Linda Miles, DOM, LAc

Ready, Set, Summer!

Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, is just around the corner. Stores have had their bathing suits, shorts and flip flops on shelves since Valentine’s Day. And of course, flowers are blooming, trees are leafing-out, and the grass is now growing at nearly 100 miles per hour it seems; all sure signs that summer will soon be here.

Now too is the time that we look in the mirror and go "OMG" and then try to figure out how we are going to get into our swim suit of last year gracefully. Or for some of us, we’d be happy with just shorts and a tank top. Many of us are still packing a few extra pounds from our winter hibernation (yes, your body does try and add some fat in the winter as a reserve). The problem is we usually don’t need the extra weight, and we really don’t like the “muffin-top” or “love handle” look.

Well don’t despair. There are lots of things that can be done to look and feel your best for summer. Here are a few simple tips to help you drop the weight somewhat painlessly:

1. Drink one full 8 oz. glass of water 10 minutes before each meal. Most of us don’t drink enough water anyway, so this adds to our healthy lifestyle and the water will help you feel full. However the real trick is to only eat enough to feel satiated and then get up from the table, or at least remove your plate so that you are not tempted to keep nibbling.
2. Avoid sugar. Period. Sugar is responsible for so many health problems from obesity to diabetes. We would all be well-served to eliminate it from our diets, but life is about balance so eat less of anything sugary like sodas, that morning cup of coffee with a hefty spoonful, or the granola snack loaded with sugar. Sugar seems to be everywhere so start reading labels and avoid it where you can. High fructose corn syrup is another form of sugar that needs to be avoided. Stevia or honey is an acceptable alternative if you can’t live without the sweet taste.
3. Increase your exercise level. I’m not talking about joining a gym and pumping iron for an hour. Little changes give huge benefits. If you’re already walking or working out regularly then just increase the time by 10 minutes a day. And if you’re not, then start. An easy way to increase your walking is when you go to a store or mall, always park in the furthest parking spot and use the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator.
4. Increase your intake of vegetables. This doesn’t just mean salads. Many of us shouldn’t be eating cold vegetables and would be better served eating a hearty vegetable soup. Listen to your body and you’ll know whether hot or cold is better for you.

The second biggest “issue” when looking in looking in the mirror is those spider veins that make your legs look a little like a roadmap of the state. Spider veins and varicose veins are there because your body has a weakness and the blood isn’t being held in the vessels correctly. Strengthening your body with your acupuncturist or naturopath would be ideal, but there is an easy at-home solution to the spider veins themselves. A combination of Horse Chestnut, Witch Hazel, Pycnogenol® and Grape Skin extract applied topically will work to help support the veins and diminish the leakage. In Europe a high dose of Horse Chestnut is given internally to actually diminish varicose veins. While derma e®’s Clear Vein® Crème doesn’t promise to work on varicose veins, it does a great job on spider veins. Within 4 weeks of twice a day usage, spider veins will seem to have disappeared. Just in time for summer!

Summer is truly a magical time to enjoy the gifts of nature. Be sure to get out there and enjoy yourself.

Yours in health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D. O. M.

The Power of Natural

The skin is the largest organ system in the body responsible for thermoregulation, waste removal, and protection. To perform these functions, skin needs to be healthy and by being healthy, it in turn also will look its best. Skin is the outward expression of our inner health and we cannot discount the importance of a healthy lifestyle which should include a balanced diet, exercise, plenty of sleep and minimizing stress.

However the most important thing that we can do to achieve healthy skin is to use powerful natural ingredients topically. Dr. Lester Packer, of the Packer Lab at UC Berkeley, California has proven that the very best way to provide essential vitamins and nutrients to the skin is to apply them topically.

Yet, are natural ingredients really that powerful? The answer is an undeniable “Yes”. Medicinal plants have been used for centuries in Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine and many Western drugs are derived directly from plants. A good example of this is Salicylic Acid from White Willow Bark. One of the main reasons that natural ingredients are so powerful is their complexity. One ingredient may contain a mixture of antioxidants, carotenoids, bioflavonoids, oligomeric proanthocyanidins, volatile oils, and even more. The body responds better to this complexity and many natural compounds work synergistically so that the total effect is greater than either one alone.

Natural ingredients often are anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and antiseptic yielding a vast array of benefits. They can stimulate the body’s own healing powers, restore balance, fight inflammation, and sooth irritation to mention a few.

Of course in the fight to maintain young, great looking skin, there is nothing as powerful as super antioxidants that can counteract free radical damage. The key to anti-aging is the wide array of amazing natural antioxidants.

So look to the power of natural for young, healthy and great looking skin!!

Yours in health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L. Ac., D.O.M.