Health Club

Your skin is your largest organ, and it takes a daily beating from the sun, air pollution, chemicals from products, and many other harmful pathogens. Here are some ways to restore and protect your skin.

Sunburn Prevention and Remedy
In the summer we spend lots of time outside under a blazing sun, often mindless of the danger to our skin as we go about our daily business.

However, there is a fine line between a suntan and a sunburn. The skin is very sensitive to ultraviolet rays. Prolonged and repeated sunburns can lead to aging of the skin, loss of skin elasticity, and skin cancer.

However, regular, limited exposure to moderate sunlight stimulates vitamin D production in our skin, which is essential to our bone health and lowers the risks of certain cancers.

The best way to protect your skin is, of course, to avoid being in the sun for prolonged periods of time in the first place. If you keep the following in mind, you will avoid damaging your skin:

1. Limit your exposure to sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

2. Use UVA sunscreens with SPF factor of 30 to 50 during prolonged exposure.

3. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and wide-brimmed hats.

However, if you are already sunburned, here are some good home remedies for healing mild sunburn:

1. Apply a thin layer of plain yogurt to the burn area. It will cool and moisturize the skin.

2. A topical application of aloe vera gel is always a tried-and-true remedy for skin burns.

3. Mix pineapple and black cherry juice together to help reduce inflammation and heat.

The Power of Pearl Powder
For the past 2,000 years, Chinese medicine has used crushed and powdered natural pearl in herbal remedies for its purported anti-aging properties.

Pearl powder is traditionally used in ointments and massaged into the skin to prevent premature skin aging, clear inflammation and acne from the surface of the skin, improve vision, and calm the mind and spirit.

Incredibly rich in minerals, pearl powder cosmetic products can be found in health food stores, spas and some select departments stores.

Go for a Natural Healthy Glow
Every morning, many women put on their face as a daily ritual to enhance their looks. Ironically, achieving that healthy glow with cosmetics is actually diminishing your well-being.

The cosmetics industry is one of the biggest users of harmful chemicals, and there are few regulating laws. Your lash-enhancing mascara may have formaldehyde as an ingredient, and you may find plastic resins in your lipstick.

Eye shadow and blush may use asbestos-contaminated talc, and foundation makeup often includes chemical solvents. These are all suspected carcinogens. Why take risks? Bag the dangerous makeup and opt instead for natural alternatives found in health food stores that use colored clays, vegetable oils, and other natural ingredients.

Exfoliate with Body Brushing
In my research of centenarians, I found one popular practice is body brushing, or using a dry brush with natural bristles to sweep the surface of the whole body. Not only does this eliminate dead skin cells and improve skin hygiene, body brushing can help increase small capillary circulation to the skin, boost skin immunity against infection, and nurture a vibrant skin tone.

An additional benefit is that the gentle pressure is calming to your nervous system. As an alternative, try body scrubbing: use a dry cloth or a moist rag to scrub your body vigorously from head to toe.

I hope these tips have your skin glowing with natural health! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

--Dr. Mao

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To learn more about Dr. Mao and other natural health tips, go to askdrmao.com.

To purchase Dr. Mao's book, "Secrets of Longevity," click here.