HOLISTIC SKIN CARE WITH DR. DEBBIE WHITTINGTON, ND

Did you know that your skin is one of the largest organs in the body and it reflects your overall health? Your digestion, environment, allergies, immune system function, hormones, metabolism, nutrition, lifestyle, psychological and emotional states all affect your skin. Because your skin is influenced by how your whole person functions, it is important to consider all aspects of your health and well-being when managing a skin condition. Naturopathic Dermatology offers this approach to skin health.

I work with patients to determine food sensitivities, toxin overload, hormone imbalances and immune system dysfunction that can contribute to unwanted skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, rashes and itchy skin.

Along with supporting your skin’s health from the inside, I am utilizing Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL) technology to affect change from the outside.

IPL treatments provide a non invasive and safe cosmetic treatment to improve the look and feel of your skin. Skin rejuvenation with IPL removes and repairs:

• Pigmented spots: freckles, liver spots, age spots and sun damage.
• Broken capillaries on the nose and cheeks.
• Signs of premature aging: uneven skin texture, fine lines and wrinkles, enlarged pores.
• Redness of Rosacea and other red discoloration of face.
• Acne papules.
• Psoriatic lesions.
• Unwanted facial, underarm and bikini hair.

DR. WHITTINGTON'S TOP 10 HEALTHY SKIN TIPS:

1. Drink ½ your weight in pounds in ounces of water plus 8 ounces for each cup of coffee and alcohol. Ex: 140 lb woman should drink 70 ounces of water/day.

2. Always wear sunscreen- at least 30 spf. Wear sunglasses to protect the fragile skin around your eyes.

3. Wash and moisturize your skin daily. Be careful not to scrub your facial skin because that can cause damage and signs of aging. Make sure to always wash your face at night to remove dirt and makeup. We have introduced a wonderful skin care line to the clinic that is all-natural, plant based with no preservatives, added hormones or chemicals. I am seeing great results with my own skin and have had fabulous feedback from patients that have tried the products. I’d be happy to walk you through the line to see what is right for you.

4. Take appropriate supplements including Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and other antioxidants- speak with your naturopathic or medical doctor about what is best for you.

5. Avoid foods that you are sensitive or allergic to- you can find this out with a simple food allergy test or elimination diet. Remember, your skin is a window into your inner health!

6. Eliminate saturated fats in your diet these can clog your pores and cause overproduction of oxidative damaging stress to the skin. Also, avoid refined sugars and refined carbohydrates.

7. Exercise can help increase skin tone and maintain elasticity. Exercise can also increase the blood flow to your skin and give it a healthy glow.

8. Eat a daily serving of foods high in antioxidants such as dark berries (blueberries, blackberries etc), pomegranate, dark leafy greens (kale, chard, spinach), beets, and broccoli.

9. Get plenty of sleep- at least 7-8 hours per night! The best way to get rid of those tired looking bags under your eyes may be to get a better-and longer-night's sleep on a regular basis. Nighttime is when your skin gets to rejuvenate itself!

10. Increase omega 3 & 6 fatty acids in your diet with fish, ground flax seed and walnuts. You can also take cod liver oil or fish oil that is rich in mega 3 fatty acids.

If you are interested in setting up an IPL consult with Dr. Whittington or a visit to review the health of your skin, please call the front desk and Travis or Triauna will assist you.