Summer skin tip

[Guest guest]

Docs:

Here is the latest health tip from Dr. Woliner.

Lyndon McGill, D.C.

EvolvHealth Wellness Advisory Council Member

Salem, Oregon

www.SalemSpineClinic.com

www.EvolvingDaily.com

Overlooked Danger Ages Summer Skin

As summer approaches, you probably think of the effects of sun on

your skin. And too much sun can make your skin look old

before it’s time. But there’s a summer danger that can be far

worse than a sunburn… but it’s rarely recognized.

The problem is chlorine. It’s everywhere… and in summer, it can

take quite a toll on your skin. Repeated exposure to chlorine can

leave your skin looking dry and rough – old before its time.

Chlorine is found in most water supplies… so you probably drink

it and bathe in it every day. When you add hours of pool time in

the summer, chlorine can do real damage to your skin.

Chlorine is a poison. It’s added to drinking water to kill

bacteria. But it also damages and kills the cells in your body.

And here’s where part of the problem comes in. You see, you don’t

just drink that chlorine.

When you shower, you’re washing in it. And it absorbs well

through your skin. So every shower you take does a little damage

to your skin.

Add heat to your shower – as in hot water – and the chlorine

releases small amounts of poisonous gasses – such as chloroform.

When you breathe these gasses in, they do even more damage.

We get hot and sweaty in the summer, so we tend to shower more

often. This increases our exposure to chlorine even more. When you

add in a few hours at the pool, you’re asking for real trouble.

You know how pool water often stings your eyes? That’s chlorine…

and the stinging is telling you cells are being damaged.

When chlorine gets into your skin it forms acids – such as

hydrochloric acid – which damage and destroy skin cells. Chlorine

also lowers your skin’s ability to hold water, drying it out. And

if you already have skin problems, chlorine can make them far

worse.

Plus, chlorine has been linked to breathing problems2 and even

reproductive issues in males! So avoiding this summer danger is

doubly important.

Fortunately, you can.

An easy way to cut your exposure is to keep your showers as cool

– and as short – as you can. Shorter, cooler showers limit the

amount of chlorine you breathe in or absorb through your skin.

Filters are an even more effective solution. Activated charcoal

does a good job removing chlorine from tap water. Even if you

can’t afford a whole-house system, you’ll find many inexpensive

tap- and shower-mounted filters.

Many pool disinfection systems that don’t use chlorine are

available. If you own a pool, these non-chlorine systems are a

healthier option. If you belong to a club or live in a condo with

a pool, urge the management to switch to a non-chlorine system.

Many city pools still use chlorine, too. Urge your local

officials to switch to safer disinfection methods. Meanwhile,

swimming at a lake or at the ocean are better options.

You can also help minimize the aging effects of chlorine by

taking care of your skin.

Glycerin naturally hydrates, enhances skin barrier function and

promotes healing. So I recommend using skin care products that

contain this natural moisturizer.

Aloe vera also enhances healthy, younger-looking skin by

promoting production of collagen and elastin – your skin’s major

building blocks.

Another skin nutrient to look for is resveratrol. Test-tube

studies show it may also promote skin repair. If you add it to

your list of skin nutrients, it may help minimize the damage done

by chlorine.

Yours in continued good health,

Dr Woliner, M.D.