The condition of your skin is an excellent indication of the state of your internal environment. Your skin, being one of the largest organs in the body, has multiple functions including temperature regulation, fluid balance, protection, mechanical support, immune function, vitamin production and the all too important sensory function.
For the longest time we have been told that certain very common conditions of the skin, such as acne, are somewhat inevitable for many and the reflex treatment for the conditions relies on drugs or the familiar infomercial product – as per the typical treat the condition not the cause mentality.
In the treatment of acne, for example, rather than implicating what goes on your skin, our focus should be on what goes in your mouth. Sugars and other high glycemic foods (breads, pastas, cereals, pop, etc.) have been implicated in acne in both studies and experience. Treatment should focus on the cause of the condition with a well rounded approach that includes measures to optimize overall health.
On the whole, the skin is an excellent window into our general condition. Acne and other skin problems will never get the same press and attention as diabetes and heart disease, but it may well be an implication to future dealings.
