Skin Speaks Blog

Dark circles under the eyes? Try fish for a few days and see if they don’t go away, says leading skin expert Nicholas Perricone, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale University School of Medicine and author of “The Wrinkle Cure,” a book about diet and skin health.

In fact, fish is at the top of Perricone’s skin health list of anti-aging foods, pointing out that fatty fish contains skin health nutrients as well as those all-important Omega 3 fatty acids. He lists salmon, albacore tuna, and mackerel as great additions to any skin-healthy diet.

What is the scientific basis for this prescription? How is nutrition related to skin health?

Every day, our bodies naturally exhibit evidence of our lifestyles – diet being one significant aspect. But the process is more complex than the old cliche “you are what you eat.” It goes much deeper, right down to the cell-level, which scientists tell us are much like tiny chemical plants.

Take oxygen for example; it’s in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and in the food we eat. There’s no getting away from it. But oxygen has a natural tendency to combine with other processes in our skin to produce free radicals – the enemy of our skin tissue at the cellular level. It is much like the effects of oxygen on metal, which causes oxidation and eventually — rust. In our bodies this process leads to inflammation. On the skin, inflammation can make your pores look bigger, and your skin look dull, discolored, or aged. Wrinkles, acne, and even eczema are also related to the damaging effects of oxidation-related inflamation.

Now consider the fact that Vitamins A, C, and E are “antioxidant rich” adversaries of the free radicals that hide in our cells and attack our skin. Consider that Selenium is a mineral that experts agree is critical to the production of glutathione, another enemy of free radicals. Consider that Thiamine is a B vitamin that helps skin cells function normally. Consier that Zinc assists epidermal cell growth, that protein is essential for skin repair, and finally, that Vitamin C helps the body naturally manufacture collagen, a protein that keeps the skin supple and tight.

Research shows that vitamins and minerals are essential to skin health because they maintain a system of resistance to the processes commonly associated with aging, and those vitamins and minerals reside in the foods we eat.

What’s affecting the health of your skin? The best person to consult with is a dermatologist.  Read more about Advancements in Dermatology of the Twin Cities.

Read more about skin health and nutrition at Discovery.com