Skin Detox

A skin detox is essential to your health and wellness. The skin is the largest major organ of elimination in your body and responds well to detox programs. The skin is often overlooked when considering overall health and wellness unless, of course, there is a specific skin condition that needs to be addressed.

Skin offers many functions such as:

• regulating temperature
• providing a protective barrier against harmful substances
• eliminating waste from inside your body
• absorbing oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen
• waterproofing and prevents fluid loss
• feeling sensations like hot, cold, vibration, pressure and pain
• storing water and fats (lipids)

So, it’s important to keep your skin healthy and functioning optimally. There are many activities you do daily to aid stimulate and detox your skin. Many are activities that you don’t even need to think about. Skin detoxing is easier than you think.

To help the skin detox, many of the same principles are used in a doing a general body detox. Many of the principles are found in the detox diet section. The principles and activities are listed below:

1. Eat a healthy, whole foods diet:

• All produce should be fresh and organic when possible.

• At least half of all vegetables should be eaten raw. The other half should be lightly steamed or baked.
• Avoid soda and artificial drinks and beverages, aromatic teas and stimulant beverages such as coffee, mint tea, black tea and peppermint tea.
• Avoid foods high in sugar, especially refined sugars, high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners.
• Avoid foods with colors, dyes, preservatives, flavor enhancers and smoked foods.
• Take 1/2 hour to eat each meal, eat slowly and chew thoroughly.
• Eat plenty of berries that are high in antioxidants. They help skin detox by reducing free radical damage to the skin cells and reduce premature aging. Antioxidant-rich fruits include are blueberries, blackberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, pomegranates and plums.
• Essential fatty acids (found in health fats) are a must for healthy, youthful skin. They help maintain the integrity of cellular walls, and allow transference of waste and water. They help maintain your skin’s buoyancy and moisture.

2. Drink plenty of water daily to cleanse and moisturize your skin.

• To function optimally your body requires over two quarts (64 ounces) of water every day, in addition to water found in foods you eat.
• Sip your water evenly throughout the day. This allows the water to get into your tissues and prevents dehydration. Guzzling will keep you running to the bathroom all day.
• Drink room temperature water, not ice cold.

3. Get enough sleep.

• Sleep 7-8 hours every night. Your cells repair and generate during sleep.

4. Sweat the toxins out while you exercise. If you do aerobic exercise for a minimum of 20 – 30 minutes, it will improve your skin detox by increasing circulation and allowing wastes/toxins to be released from your blood. The following are some example aerobic activities:

• Brisk Walking
• Running
• Bicycling
• Swimming
• Skating
• Athletic Dance
• Hiking
• Rowing
• Stair climbing
• Elliptical Machines
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Jump Rope

5. Skin Brushing – helps improve circulation and stimulate the skin. Skin brushing has been practiced in many cultures over many years, as part of their daily hygiene routine. The benefits of skin brushing as a skin detox are provided below:

Benefits of Skin Brushing

• Assists skin exfoliation and removal of waste: Removal of dead skin cells opens skin pores, allowing for efficient removal of waste products.
• Decreases the quantity of bacteria on the skin surface: Bacteria are normally present on the skin surface. Layers of dead skin provide a habitat for them to flourish, resulting in a toxic load of bacterial debris that the body needs to handle.
• Enhanced lymphatic drainage: The lymph system removes waste fluids and is an important component in the circulatory system. Skin brushing invigorates the lymphatic drainage and its effectiveness in eliminating waste.
• Enhances and supports venous system: By helping the veins move blood from the extremities back to the heart.
• Improves the movement of nutrients and oxygen into the skin: By enhancing the lymphatic and venous drainage, skin brushing improves the movement of nutrients and oxygenated blood into the skin.
• Improves skin tone, especially in aging skin: By removing dead skin cells, stimulating the surface oil and sweat glands and enhancing circulation, the tone and suppleness of aging skin is enhanced.

6. Bathing / Soaking – Skin detox can be enhanced by bathing in warm water at least once per week. This will pull toxins out of the skin as well as promoting relaxation and moisturizing skin. Add 1 - 2 pounds of Epsom salts, 1 cup of baking soda, plus one cup sea salt to bath water and / or Add 1/4-1/2 cup liquid Bentonite clay to bath water. Drink plenty of water during and after the baths.

7. Saunas and Steam Baths - aid elimination for skin if done in moderation, once per week. This is great to promote sweating and toxin elimination for the skin. These are also great for moisturizing the skin and relaxation.

For more information related to specific organ detox programs or detox diets…

Home > how to detox > skin