Our skin is a magic mirror and gives us great clues about our overall health. One of the messages your skin (or your hair and nails) may be trying to tell you is nutritional deficiencies.
Many people don’t realize that if you have brittle hair, weak nails, or skin that doesn’t heal quickly — those are signs of nutritional deficiencies. The great news is that these deficiencies are easy to see!
As an added bonus, many of the nutrients that improve your overall nutritional health are also essential for your immune system. As we head into the Fall and Winter, you’ll want your immune system in top shape! Please pay careful attention to these nutrients, because we can all use healthy immune systems right now.
Supplements
Vitamin D – is a hormone produced in the liver and modulates keratinocytes’ (skin cells) growth and differentiation. Vitamin D also plays a role in hair follicle growth, making it a critical vitamin for hair regeneration. Healthy Vitamin D levels are vital for essential processes, including regulating insulin and blood sugar, supporting a healthy immune system. Sun exposure, certain foods, and supplementation are the best ways to get Vitamin D. Your body needs at least 2000 IU daily of Vitamin D3, more if your levels are low.
Vitamin A – is a powerful antioxidant that helps support the immune system and prevents oxidative stress from free radicals, damaging the skin. It is essential for the maintenance and repair of tissue, such as skin.
A healthy dose is about 5000 IU daily of Vitamin A, also known as retinol. In addition to taking Vitamin A internally, it’s great to use on the skin topically because it is a key for healthy cell growth and as an anti-aging treatment. You can get preformed Vitamin A from fish, meat, eggs, and dairy. Provitamin A, like carotenoids, is converted by the body into vitamin A. Provitamin A is a naturally occurring form found in plants, plant-oils, and many of The Spa Dr. skin care products.
Zinc – can help maintain your skin’s integrity and is well known for its wound healing support. Substantially high levels of Zinc are found in the skin, especially in the epidermis. Many dermatologic conditions are associated with insufficient Zinc. Our need for Zinc appears to increase as we age. In your diet, you can get Zinc from eggs, meat, and seafood. If you’re vegan, you may be deficient in this skin-essential nutrient, 30 mg is a good dose to be taking. Superficially, zinc oxide is often a key ingredient in sunscreen and soothing agents – like in diaper creams. Zinc is often used topically to treat several skin conditions, including dandruff, dermatitis, warts, fungal skin infections, acne, rosacea, and melasma.
Vitamin C – is needed by your body to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle, collagen, and support a healthy immune system. A deficiency in Vitamin C can result in poor wound healing, defects in connective tissue repair, and easy bleeding. Vitamin C helps boost glutathione levels, which supports good liver detoxification. Vitamin C is a natural component in the skin’s dermis and epidermis layers, but the antioxidant production begins to lag as you age. In addition, its antioxidant properties may help reduce the UV light-induced oxidative damage that leads to skin photoaging and hyperpigmentation. You’ll want to take at least 500 – 1000 mg daily. Many recipes in my book Clean Skin From Within are rich in Vitamin C.
Vitamin E – is a powerful antioxidant and helps cells fight off infection. It is a potent free radical scavenger and an excellent skin protectant — this vitamin also helps protect eyesight! Vitamin E can be in the form of tocopherol or tocotrienol. The Spa Dr. uses a mix of tocopherols made from GMO-free sunflower oil to support reducing inflammation and to promote anti-cancer, anti-aging, and other benefits potentially through the antioxidant properties. Vitamin E is one of the oil-soluble vitamins used therapeutically to treat numerous conditions such as sunburn, acne, rheumatic diseases, and itchy skin conditions.
B Vitamins – include B1, B2, B3 (Niacinimide), Pantothenic Acid, B6, Folate, B12, and Biotin. All of these vitamins are essential for healthy connective tissue, collagen, and metabolism. About 50 mg of each will do for all of these, except B12 and folate, which you’ll need at least 100 mcg. Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that’s a part of the vitamin B family. Biotin is a required cofactor in fatty acid synthesis, as well as a healthy inflammatory response. Biotin deficiency is implicated in hair loss, eczema, and severely dry skin. Due to its fatty acid synthesis role, Biotin may indirectly contribute to sebum production, which lubricates and protects skin and hair. Supplementing Biotin has shown to support the growth of healthy nails and hair by contributing to the production of keratin, the primary structural protein. Niacinamide is also known as vitamin B3. B3 offers a wide array of skin benefits. The topical use of B3 can dramatically improve skin moisturization and prevent transepidermal water loss (barrier function) by increasing fatty acids and ceramide levels. B3 stimulates microcirculation and boosts collagen and elastin production, translating into a more youthful and radiant complexion. It can also help achieve a more even-looking tone, making it perfect for hyperpigmented skin types.
Amino Acids – there are 9 essential and 11 non-essential amino acids. NAC, Glycine, Proline, L-Lysine – are all building blocks necessary for healthy hair, skin, and nails. Some amino acids work as an antioxidant, but most help your skin to reproduce its own antioxidants. Whether produced internally or applied topically, amino acids help strengthen the immune system and maintain the skin’s hydration, resilience, and overall appearance. Collagen, the main structural protein in the body, is comprised of various amino acids, with two of the main ones being glycine and proline — both of which can be found The Spa Dr.® Skin, Hair & Nails Support.
When looking for specific products to support your nutrient needs from the inside, make sure to choose pure, high-quality products. At The Spa Dr., we’re dedicating to sourcing the purest all-natural ingredients to use in our formulations. We strive to provide our customers with the very best products to address any imbalances through our holistic approach to skin care.
Here are a few product suggestions that can promote balanced nutrient levels and boost immune health:
The Spa Dr.® Skin, Hair & Nails Support supplement contains many of the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids I discussed above. The Spa Dr. takes great care to provide the optimal level of nutrients to our skin care products — it’s like taking a multivitamin for your skin!
Healthy skin starts with a healthy gut. The Spa Dr.® Microbiome Builder promotes balance to beneficial gut microorganisms while supporting healthy GI, skin, and immune function. This dairy-free formulation is featured in a delayed-release capsule to increase intact delivery to the small intestine by protecting these organisms from stomach acid.
The Spa Dr.® Astaxanthin + Omega Krill has a high phospholipid content to enhance astaxanthin absorption. Many studies suggest that high astaxanthin levels, like the levels found in TSD Astaxanthin + Omega Krill, offer an array of benefits, including powerful antioxidant properties and skin health anti-inflammatory, and gastric health support.
The Spa Dr.® Daily Nutrients Packets make it easy for you to receive your daily essential nutrients. No need to count, sort, or measure. Just grab a packet and go. The Daily Nutrient Packets will help nourish your body from within for an excellent foundation for glowing skin and vibrant health.
At The Spa Dr.® – our approach is to help shine the light on skin care information and offer guidance to nurture your skin care journey. We believe the information we provide will help support your self-care and healing, and we want you to feel safe and cared for within our community!
If you are not already part of The Spa Dr. community, I invite you to join us on social media.
I hope you enjoyed these natural beauty tips. Feel free to share them with your friends, and spread the word to promote natural beauty.
Have any natural beauty tips of your own? Please share them in the comments below.
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