How do you make your skin smooth and flawless?

[The_Ida]

^That would be your GP yes. Just ask him/her to hand you the result and be quiet, they usually aren't too knowledgeable about nutrition (sorry to all GPs and future GPs )

I'm not gonna bother. I'm a med student, I'd probably just start thinking of all the diseases I could have anyway. I've been a bit worried about my thyroid gland lately, and I know it's in my head, but I really do think it's slightly swollen

 

[rayoflight]

How does one go about getting these blood tests? From your GP? I'd love to have every aspect of my biology analysed so that I can supplement my diet in the right way. I'm also a Biology student.

Depends on where you live, but yes, as Ida said, your family doctor/GP is usually the starting point. They write the referral and cross out the needed tests, like you want to know your vit D levels and they cross out "25-hydroxy-Calciferol" on the lab card (my lab lists vit D simply as "25-OH" and "1,25-OH", which doesn't say anything much), plus the usual blood panels, complete blood count, lipids, electrolytes and so on, which don't say that much about what you eat, but are decent indicators when something isn't right. When you go for yearly check-up you can just ask for the lab card and point out at each box and annoy your Doc with questions, "And what does this mean?"
Then you take the card, go to lab and they take all the vacuutainers they need from you, which isn't that much. And they email and print out the results which you then take to your Dr/GP to look at them and say, "Looks fine..." and then sticks in your history. So it's cool to find either a Dr. or nutritionist/dietitian (depending on the local situation they may not be equal) who specializes into this kind of thing, sports medicine physicians may be useful for that a sort of thing and they have a bunch of nifty tests on their own, like body fat % or VO2 Max Test (tests a person's endurance).
Or you can just go to a lab, take the card and cross out what tests you want done, but my lab has like 550+ possible tests (altho half are urine or other body fluid and bacteriological stuff) and they are all in abbreviations so it can be daunting and you can end up ordering HCG test which will surely give you some weird looks.

 

[BonjourTristesse]

^ Well, I find it even weirder when people think beer (whichever kind) is somehow healthier than yeast it's made with. It's food, no more horrible than the bacteria cultures yogurt or kefir are made of, certainly less processed than beer, especially non- or low-alcoholic which additionally undergo filtering, reverse osmosis and reconstitution.
Truly, a strange world.

Actually a doctor recommended me drinking beer occasionally.
I eat very healthy... and I feel like drinking a beer now and then makes my skin and hair glowy. No need to become all sarcastic.

I simply find it strange that some people prefer taking pills over eating an apple or an orange... That's all.

 

[SabrinaNicole]

I just did a lactic acid peel, also use copper peptides. Have been eating more fat, butter specifically.

 

[rayoflight]

Actually a doctor recommended me drinking beer occasionally.
I eat very healthy... and I feel like drinking a beer now and then makes my skin and hair glowy. No need to become all sarcastic.

I simply find it strange that some people prefer taking pills over eating an apple or an orange... That's all.

I'm not sarcastic, I'm telling you facts vs subjective opinions. As I said before eating healthy is a relative term. I have one friend who eats very "healthy", after principles of ayurveda, so it's tons of veggies, no trans-fats so on and her GP also said she eats very well. I disagreed, and her hematologist doesn't agree either (took me 6 months to drag her to a specialist since she started fainting), because turns out my friend is severely anemic due to lack of essential nutrients and had to do a blood transfusion and now goes for monthly Fe+B's injections (quite painful). But her GP didn't even bother to do simple test (HGB express test takes a little prick on the finger), he just assumed she's fine because she looks healthy (lawsuit pending for negligence), besides, funny you mention hair, because she has very shiny hair as well, so that is no objective indication. So if a doc recommends something there should be an objective basis for that specific recommendation and if they say something is or isn't right there must be a finding to back that up, is why medicine is a science. If I wanted people to look at my eyes and tongue and guess what is wrong with me I would go elsewhere.
Anyway, moral of the story: always take everything someone says with a grain of salt, even it's an M.D., and get a 2nd (or 3rd) opinion when in doubt.

 

[rayoflight]

I just did a lactic acid peel, also use copper peptides. Have been eating more fat, butter specifically.

Which ones do you use and did they change for your skin for the better? I'm kinda curious about 1st gen GHK peptides, but so far haven't managed to try them...

 

[Yendor]

I've been getting up at 4:40 am for a week and my skin has improved drastically. I also sleep a lot better which may be the reason

 

[Serenity*Now]

Not only is everyone's idea of "health" or "healthy" different, but *needs* in order to obtain "health" are different.
I too have friends that eat a fast food-type diet but pop vitamins like candy.
I would have a problem with getting all I, in particular, need from a healthy diet (which I have) because I would have to eat a lot in quantity to get what I need which means more kcals, more time eating, etc.
I don't eat dairy (save for some ghee now and then) because I don't like how I feel much less how it *might* affect my skin so I'd have to consume a TON of green, leafy veggies, etc to get all my Vit D and layout in the sun. Plus there's one's tastes and preferences. Some people don't like beer. Some people don't like fruit.
I'm sure everyone can come up with an example of a particular lifestyle that is working for one, and not working for someone else.
I have friends that eat like monks and are runners but genetically have scary, high cholesterol. (Which is found in blood testing.)

I TOTALLY believe in getting your blood checked -& on a yearly basis, if possible. For all the reasons mentioned above PLUS getting an endocrine/hormonal panel. This too can be a factor in your skin (high or low sex hormones) not to mention overall health!
But (trust me) if you don't have a super doc in the US, you'll probably have to do your research ahead of time and ask for what you want tested. If your met with resistance (i.e., my ex-doc: "Why in hell do you want this?" "Are you going to ask me every year for this?!") go elsewhere.
And no, your lab will most likely NOT send you the results. You'll have to go back to your doc for this and they'll tell you, "looks fine!" unless there's something glaringly deficient. [The print copy has the norm values next to your value.] ASK FOR A COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS.
There's more I could add to my story about this but this isn't the place

 

[The_Ida]

I seriously doubt that what you eat have much to do with the state of your skin. It has a lot more to do with genetics and your hormone balance IMO.

 

[gian-franco]

The best thing ever is hyaluronic acid! Genius!

 

[candeo]

I TOTALLY believe in getting your blood checked -& on a yearly basis, if possible. For all the reasons mentioned above PLUS getting an endocrine/hormonal panel. This too can be a factor in your skin (high or low sex hormones) not to mention overall health!
But (trust me) if you don't have a super doc in the US, you'll probably have to do your research ahead of time and ask for what you want tested. If your met with resistance (i.e., my ex-doc: "Why in hell do you want this?" "Are you going to ask me every year for this?!") go elsewhere.
And no, your lab will most likely NOT send you the results. You'll have to go back to your doc for this and they'll tell you, "looks fine!" unless there's something glaringly deficient. [The print copy has the norm values next to your value.] ASK FOR A COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS.
There's more I could add to my story about this but this isn't the place

Totally agree. And the link between "healthy eating" and being "healthy" and looking "healthy" just isn't strong enough to rely on.

I have a high-cholestrol diet and have subnormal cholestrol levels. When I was 25 and looking pretty damn great -hair, skin, figure - I was diagnosed with malnutrition following 6 months of working myself into the ground and living off chocolate and wine. My symptoms were not only fainting; I lost sensation in my lower left leg - my bloods were only checked when I was admitted to hospital for MS tests. Big lesson.

I get a full battery of blood tests every year at least. And if I ever had a doctor who wouldn't refer me (I have had over 20 doctors due to moving around so much ) I'd just phone a local lab and pay them cash. Seriously. And you can normally speak to someone at the lab to go through your results if you don't understand them too .

Now, I have an absolutely brilliant doctor who I trust completely btw - but she works with me to manage my health and that's the way it should be.

Anyway, I tend to base any supplements on what's missing if I can't get it through "normal" eating. At the moment that's nothing as I'm all good , but old favourites vit C (when I smoked), brewers yeast (for energy) and the only thing that every seemed to have any effect on my skin: fish oil.

 

[candeo]

APeel Correct ("yellow" peel with retinoic liposomes) applied over low-level alpha-beta acid prep lotion. Weekly or every 10 days.

Amazingly, considering I'm already a retin-a user, this has a really remarkable effect on me and the effects seem to last and be cumulative

(Although I would imagine that is anyone not on retin-a tried this combination it would probably exfoliate their face off )

 

[litchickuk]

I use Liz Earle's cleanse and polish, followed by instant boost skin tonic. Ever since ive used these products my skin has been much smoother and looks much better. I then either use Nivea's natural beauty:radiance boosting moisturiser or the naturals day cream. For break outs I use a tea tree treatment stick. I swear by it coz it really does make them go away quickly!
I also drink lots of water throughout the day

 

[Yendor]

I seriously doubt that what you eat have much to do with the state of your skin. It has a lot more to do with genetics and your hormone balance IMO.

This is something i've always been confused about. I know there are various hormones which regulate blood sugar levels (insulin etc) and i also know for a fact that i will breakout out massively if i eat significant amounts of chocolate.

My hunch is that with some people excess blood-sugar hormones might cause the addigtional release of some other hormones which will increase oil/sebum production which clogs pores and causes pimples.

 

[tifa]

I was having a great few weeks of skin, no spots, clear pores and very little dryness and now I have a huge spot on my nose and my t-zone is insanely dry. Considering last week I was barely taking my make up off at night and using a cheap cleanser and now I'm back on to my usual products, I am totally baffled

 

[The_Ida]

This is something i've always been confused about. I know there are various hormones which regulate blood sugar levels (insulin etc) and i also know for a fact that i will breakout out massively if i eat significant amounts of chocolate.

My hunch is that with some people excess blood-sugar hormones might cause the addigtional release of some other hormones which will increase oil/sebum production which clogs pores and causes pimples.

It is much more complicated than that and there are several hormones in play...can't go into it on this forum though But insulin and the likes aren't the problem as far as I know.

 

[olga.]

I seriously doubt that what you eat have much to do with the state of your skin. It has a lot more to do with genetics and your hormone balance IMO.

Oh. So probably you're seriously mistaken.

I am allergic to gluten products and 80% of other food and every time I smell wheat or something containing gluten, well, I immediately got bumps all over my cheeks. The so-called gluten rash.

So. Yeah. What we eat impacts our skin a lot.

 

[The_Ida]

Oh. So probably you're seriously mistaken.

I am allergic to gluten products and 80% of other food and every time I smell wheat or something containing gluten, well, I immediately got bumps all over my cheeks. The so-called gluten rash.

So. Yeah. What we eat impacts our skin a lot.

Actually I'm not Allergies are a different thing. If I rub lavender oil all over my face it aint gonna be pretty. I just don't...because I'm allergic. Let's be realistic, most people don't have gluten or food allergies Take the allergens out of the equation, and all that is left to affect your skin is hormones and genetics.

 

[BonjourTristesse]

I'm not expert, but I recently read a study that proves that genetics have alot less to do with how the condition of our skin is and moreover how it'll be when we're older that doctors, etc.. previously have thought.
The article said that by eating very healthily (greens, vegetables, fish,...) you can change the appearance of your skin drastically... (oh and sunscreen of course!)

As I said, I am no expert. In my case, how I eat most certainly affects my skin. Last week for example I ate 2 croissants for breakfast, skipped lunch, had 2 yogurts in the afternoon and pizza at night. This was use exception for me as I generally only eat healthy things.. (or try to ;-)). the next 2 days my skin felt really oily and greasy, I broke out a little and so on. I've noticed this several times now... I don't know if it works for everyone...but for me, eating healthy definitely shows on my skin!

 

[Serenity*Now]

^ I think it still is a 'your mileage may vary' type of thing. Some people are very sensitive to certain foods and food groups and how it shows is through their skin. Ultimately nutrition is still important on having flawless skin or at least trying to achieve what is flawless for you. (In other words, I do the best I can but am by NO means flawless but would probably be a whole lot worse off if I didn't do those things B)]

... But insulin and the likes aren't the problem as far as I know.

Probably not a direct contributor but insulin has to do with sugar metabolism. If you don't metabolize sugar well, it could lead to things like obesity, true, but it can also contribute to collagen breakdown. Excess sugar ages the body (& skin) faster and reduces healing. I think..