Beyond Moisturizer and Sunscreen

July 27, 2004

Aging Beautifully

Beyond Moisturizer and Sunscreen

Proper female hormonal support

is essential throughout life for healthy, moist, and resilient skin,

particularly through the action of estrogen on all of our tissues.

Estrogen is responsible for the deposition of fat under the skin,

giving rise to the soft and fine-textured skin that many women enjoy

during their younger years. Estrogen also causes fluid and salt

retention in the tissues, which additionally helps to plump up and

fill out your skin.

During your reproductive years, your body produces

enough estrogen to properly support the structure of your skin,

but you lose much of this support as you go through menopause, when

estrogen levels drop significantly. After menopause, your skin tends

to gradually become thin and dry, and the underlying muscle and

fat tissues that help to give skin its support begin to shrink.

As a result, wrinkles and creases begin to become apparent and pronounced.

While I do not advocate the use of conventional

HRT as a first line of treatment for menopause, I do suggest using

safe, natural, alternative therapies such as natural estrogen

(1–2 mg per day) and soy isoflavones (50–100 mg

per day), both of which have pronounced estrogen-like effects

on our tissues, but at much lower potencies.

The Yin of Skin

The benefits of these natural estrogens can be further amplified

when used in combination with nutritional supplements which, like

estrogen, also have hydrating effects on the skin. The moisturizing

properties of many different healing substances have been recognized

in the Asian medical model of yin and yang for thousands of years.

Yin refers to the fluids and tissues of the body, as well as its

structure, including the flesh, tendons, and bones.

Using the Asian model, women are thought to become

“yin deficient” when they reach menopause and their tissues

become drier and hotter. Traditional Asian medicine uses healing

substances to restore or rebuild the yin, such as royal jelly

the food of the queen bee. I recommend using 1/4 teaspoon of the

liquid form of royal jelly twice a day. Royal jelly can be purchased

at most health food stores or ordered from Glory Bee at 800-456-7923

or www.glorybee.com.

Aloe vera—a simple, succulent house plant—also

nurtures the yin with its ability to soothe, heal, and moisturize

skin. In fact, there is a large body of research that documents

the use of aloe for a variety of dermatologic conditions, including

rashes, acne scars, dermatitis, psoriasis, and wound healing. I

recommend drinking 2 to 4 ounces of aloe vera juice per day,

either mixed with water or juice or blended in a smoothie. I am

partial to Aloe Life’s whole leaf aloe juice concentrate (800-414-ALOE

or www.aloelife.com). In some

cases, aloe vera can cause diarrhea. If this happens to you, reduce

your intake until you can tolerate it comfortably.

Read More on Aging Beautifully:

Getting Started

Beautiful Skin: At What Price?

Beyond Moisturizer and Sunscreen

Acne? But I’m an Adult

Keep it SIMPLE Beauty Tip—Banishing Wrinkles

Nutritional Therapies

EFAs = Extremely Flawless Appearances

Foods to Avoid

Complementary Therapies

Aromatherapy for Hair Loss

Exercises for Varicose Veins