Deep and Meaningful Pty Ltd

P.O.Box 427
Ascot Vale
Victoria, 3032
Australia
ABN 33 080 145 795

How healthy is your skin?

Adopt a healthy relationship to life as well as a natural skin care treatments
regime and it will show in your skin:

Healthy skin depends as much upon your lifestyle and health choices as it does upon the use of natural skin care
treatments.
Many people do not understand the correlation between lifestyle and/or health and the condition of their skin and
as a result are searching for ageing or acne solutions without first assessing what the cause of the problem may be.

Using natural skin care treatments will certainly improve your skin but if the condition is due to lifestyle and/or
health it will not cure the problem and it is just as important to treat the cause for a long term solution as it is to
seek an interim measure to help with the issue.

D&M have products that can help with all skin types and conditions, including acne solutions, but it is good for you
to understand the possible contributing factors to your skins condition and adjust your lifestyle to obtain the best
(and lasting) results possible.

Alcohol, Diet, Pregnancy, Stress, UV - The overall health and condition of your skin is affected by many factors. In
this article, you will find an alphabetical list of influencing factors and their typical reaction on the skin.

Influencing Factor Skin Reaction

Alcohol/Drug Abuse Excessive consumption of alcohol and/or drugs can

cause dehydration, free radical formulation (that can
lead to premature ageing) and congestion under the
skin due to the increased toxin levels in the body.

Heavy drinking causes constant blood vessel dilation

which can lead to permanent capillary damage
(Telangiectasia) giving the skin a reddish appearance,
commonly on areas of the nose and cheeks.

Analgesics Some analgesic medications can produce skin irritations

such as itching and dermatitis may occur when exposed
to UV whilst taking analgesics.

Page 1 of 7 Copyright © D&M 2009

 Deep and Meaningful Pty Ltd
P.O.Box 427
Ascot Vale
Victoria, 3032
Australia
ABN 33 080 145 795

Antibiotics Can increase the skins sensitivity to U.V exposure which

may result in burning, pigmentation or ageing of the
skin.

Antihistamines May cause excessive dehydration with prolonged use.

Caffeine (excessive) Caffeine can have a diuretic effect on the body, which
can cause skin dehydration.

Contraceptives Oestrogens assist in maintaining the skins moisture

level. High levels of oestrogen (in some contraceptive
pills) however, can cause uneven skin pigmentation.

High levels of testosterone (in some contraceptive pills)

can increase oil production, acne breakouts and facial
hair.

Diabetes People with Diabetes have a susceptibility to infection

due to the slower than average healing time of their
body. They can commonly suffer from bacterial/fungal
skin infections, dry skin, darkening and thickening of
skin in areas of tan/brown skin and itching.

Diet An inadequate diet can cause dehydration, sluggish

metabolism, reduced cell renewal, skin, hair and nail
weakening and a susceptibility to infection.
A well balanced diet assists in maintaining the skins
hydration and moisture levels, increases cell renewal
and helps to maintain a youthful, glowing appearance.

Page 2 of 7 Copyright © D&M 2009

 Deep and Meaningful Pty Ltd
P.O.Box 427
Ascot Vale
Victoria, 3032
Australia
ABN 33 080 145 795

Diuretics/Laxatives Both dehydrate the body by increasing fluid elimination.

Frequent use may result in an adverse reaction, such as
fluid retention or bloating due to electrolyte
disturbances.

Eating Disorders/Extreme Dieters Malnutrition causes excessive dehydration and vitamin

and mineral deficiency which leads to dry, lifeless
unhealthy skin and an increased susceptibility to
infection. The lack of nutrients can cause premature
ageing of the skin and the damage may be irreversible.

Environment Temperature changes, humidity levels, air conditioning

and heating all contribute to the hydration and moisture
levels of the skin. Whilst the skin is designed to adapt to
the environment, frequent extreme temperature
changes can cause dehydration, dryness, flakiness and
can increase skin irritation and sensitivity.

Exercise Moderate exercise increases circulation, blood flow and

waste removal which increases the delivery of oxygen
and nutrients to the skin and increases the elimination
of toxins to maintain effective skin functioning and
health.

Lack of exercise can contribute to poor circulation,

decreased muscular strength, weight gain, sluggish
metabolism, fluid retention and a dull, lifeless skin
appearance.

Excessive exercise depletes the skins nutrient supply, as

the internal organs require an increase in nutrient
supply to build muscle and sustain energy levels. The
body’s inability to cope with this increased demand on
metabolism causes an increase in the release of free
radicals, which may cause the skin to age prematurely.

Page 3 of 7 Copyright © D&M 2009

 Deep and Meaningful Pty Ltd
P.O.Box 427
Ascot Vale
Victoria, 3032
Australia
ABN 33 080 145 795

General Anaesthetic May cause temporary skin dehydration

Hormones Hormonal changes and imbalances within the body can

cause a disturbance in oil production and hair growth.
An increase in oil production may lead to the
development of acne, whilst a decrease in oil
production may cause the skin to become dry, dull and
weathered as the skin is unable to protect itself against
moisture loss and environmental damage.

Menopause During Menopause oestrogen levels in the body fall and

cell renewal slows down. This decrease of oestrogen can
cause the skin to become dry and susceptible to
environmental damage leading to severe dehydration
and advanced skin ageing.

The skin may also be reactive to heat during

menopause, as body temperature fluctuates.

Menstrual cycle Hormonal influences during a women’s menstrual cycle,

can cause an increase in breakouts and may cause
further inflammation of acne. Increased skin sensitivity
is also common.

Pregnancy Hormonal changes within the body during pregnancy

can cause hyper-pigmentation (chloasma), unwanted
hair production and the appearance of tiny red blood
vessels. These characteristics usually disappear
sometime after childbirth.

Red/purple stretch marks may also appear due to the

rapid stretching of the skin. Stretch marks will not
disappear after childbirth but they will fade from the
red/purple colour to a pearl/white colour making them
less visible.

Page 4 of 7 Copyright © D&M 2009

 Deep and Meaningful Pty Ltd
P.O.Box 427
Ascot Vale
Victoria, 3032
Australia
ABN 33 080 145 795

Pollution Dust and grime in the air can cause congested pores and
increase the bacteria on the skin which can lead to
breakouts.

Chemical pollutants in the air can cause skin sensitivities

and allergic reactions due to the breakdown of the skins
natural protective moisture barrier. Under skin
congestion may also occur as the body tries to eliminate
the toxins caused by chemical pollution via the
lymphatic system.

Steroids (anabolic) Anabolic steroids can cause puffiness and swelling

around the face, neck, ankles and fingers due an
increase in fluid retention. The increase in testosterone
levels can cause acne breakouts on the face, chest, arms
and back. Long term use can lead to Cushing’s
syndrome.

High dosages can cause jaundice, a serious liver disease

characterized by a yellowing of the skin and eyes. There
is an increased susceptibility to infection and the body’s
healing process is delayed.

Women may experience irregular menstruation and an

increase in male hair growth patterns.

Steroids (topical) High dosage of topical steroid application can suppress

the adrenal glands which are responsible for the
production of natural steroids that keep the body in
good health.

Absorption of large amounts of steroids through the

skin may cause Cushing’s syndrome.

Skin thinning, stretch marks and dilation of capillaries

(Telangiectasia) can occur locally and the skin may
become more prone to bruising, tearing, allergies,
infection and dehydration.

Page 5 of 7 Copyright © D&M 2009

 Deep and Meaningful Pty Ltd
P.O.Box 427
Ascot Vale
Victoria, 3032
Australia
ABN 33 080 145 795

Sinus Problems Frequent sinus problems can cause puffy eyes due to
the congestion and a constant dilation of capillaries,
causing them to rupture and become visible with a
reddish appearance around the nose and sometimes
cheeks.

Smoking Smoking can increase dehydration, asphyxiation of the

skin (lack of oxygen), and the attack of free radicals on
our DNA, all of which contribute to accelerated skin
ageing and a dull, lifeless skin appearance.

Stress Stress can aggravate all skin conditions, but commonly

adrenal gland hormone secretion is increased, which
stimulates the sebaceous glands causing an increase in
oil production, breakouts and acne.

High stress levels can see the slowing down of cell

renewal as energy is diverted elsewhere to cope with
the demands that stress places on the body. This may
lead to premature ageing in cases of chronic stress.

Sleep Having an adequate amount of sleep per night allows

the skin to build new cells for repair and assists in
maintaining a youthful skin appearance.

A lack of sleep can result in a dull, tired and lifeless skin

appearance. Premature ageing of the skin can occur as a
result of chronic lack of sleep.

Too much sleep can cause poor circulation, fluid

retention, puffiness, a sluggish metabolism and waste
removal which may result in under skin congestion.

Page 6 of 7 Copyright © D&M 2009

 Deep and Meaningful Pty Ltd
P.O.Box 427
Ascot Vale
Victoria, 3032
Australia
ABN 33 080 145 795

Thyroid Disorders
Hypothyroidism An under active thyroid can cause a reduction in the
glandular activity of both the sweat and sebaceous (oil)
glands. Puffiness and swelling of the eyes and hands
may occur. The skin can become dry, cold and pale with
a yellowish hue (colour) and the hair and nails may
become dry and brittle. Wound healing may also slow
down and dermatitis may flare up.

Hyperthyroidism
An over active thyroid can cause an increase in
glandular activity. The skin may become moist, smooth
and warm with flushing of the face and hands which
may lead to telangiectasia. The hair can become fine
and moist and the nails overgrown with possible lifting
from the nail bed. Itching, urticaria (hives) and increased
skin pigmentation may also occur.

U.V Exposure U.V exposure can cause damage to the DNA in our cells
via the attack of formed free radicals. This can vastly
accelerate the skins ageing process. Skin colour may be
affected by hyperpigmentation and the possible
formation of skin lesions, moles and skin cancers.

Overexposure to U.V may lead to premature ageing

causing a thickened, coarse, dry, dehydrated and
wrinkled skin. The walls of the blood vessels weaken
causing visible and sometimes severe capillary damage
(Telangiectasia) commonly evident on the cheeks and
nose.

Treat your skin to deep and meaningful care...

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