Beauty's Only Skin Deep--yeah, yeah, yeah!

One of my favorite songs of all-time is one sung by the Temptations. It is called Beauty is only Skin Deep. It was a song I loved because I always believed beauty was something that came from the inside and filtered its way outward. Unfortunately society would have us believe that it is only the outward---that physical beauty only matters when you’re young---and when you’re old, it really doesn’t matter at all.

But I’m here to tell you that beauty is important both inside and out no matter how old you are. The beauty I’m talking about is skin care and it becomes more and more important as we age. Every day of our lives our bodies slough off and regenerate new cells. The speed at which that process takes place when we are children is significantly different as we get older.

Every day we are bombarded daily with commercial messages and beauty tips that attempt to lure us into believing that the most recent miracle drug is just what we need to fight off the wrinkles from Mother Nature.

We are living longer as a whole. Singularly, that can be a curse or a blessing, depending on your perspective. The best route to natural beauty and healthy skin is to take care of what you have. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? The truth is that your skin takes a beating from the environment every single day. Here are some of our favorite beauty tips for keeping your skin fresh and healthy:

1: Stay hydrated and do it with plenty of water! That does not mean soda, caffeine or any other type of liquid, even if it is low cal. Soda (even diet soda) has a high concentration of sodium. Sodium retains fluids. You need fluid that will hydrate and flush your body free of toxins. Make sure you are drinking at least 8 glasses a day!

2: Protect your skin from harmful ultra violet (UV) rays. We all love the sun. We love being in it and we love having a beautiful tan. The truth is you can poison yourself with too much sunshine. UV rays cause skin cancer and if that isn’t bad enough it causes your skin to age faster than it should, contributing to unsightly wrinkles. If you must play in the sun, make certain you are using an adequate sun screen. Don’t leave home without it!

3: Keep your skin clean. Use a soft warm cloth. Skin does not require scrubbing. You will do more harm than good if you do.

4: The best cure for wrinkles is to never have them in the first place! If you are like most of us, you didn’t listen to your Mom when she tried to tell you to stay in the shade, stand up straight and stop squinting!

5: Eat healthy. Knowing how and what to eat, can make a huge difference in how you feel. Improper eating habits can cause depression, weight gain, illness and an overall lethargy. Weight gain causes your skin to stretch. As you get older, it loses it’s elasticity and you’re left with sagging skin. The best solution to this is to maintain a proper weight.

A rule of thumb for eating habits is…don’t eat more calories than you consume. Don’t go one single day without doing something extra and physical for at least 30 minutes per day. This can be three ten minute walks. Or 30 minutes of vigorous aerobics, or 12 minutes of weight lifting and 18 minutes of walking.

6: Don’t worry, be happy. A happy outlook appears to trigger the release of endorphins. Endorphins relax the cardiovascular system and cytokines which alert the immune system to pay attention in detecting abnormalities like cancer cells. Listen carefully to yourself. If you have put yourself down since childhood, over a lifetime, negative subliminal messages can take their toll by turning you into a pessimist. Spend one week writing down the phrases you use in your “self talk.” Chances are you will find that you repeat a dozen or so phrases over and over again that reinforce that negative image. If you know about them, you can change them. Outer beauty and inner joy go hand in hand.

Is beauty really skin deep?

The answer is yes and no. True beauty begins from the inside out. Until someone comes up with the true “Fountain of Youth” we are stuck with what we have so it would definitely be in our best interest to maintain it as best we can.

Is There a Doctor in the House?

Finding the right doctor is one of the most important decisions a woman can make as she is entering into menopause. This transition of life is one that requires a physician who will candidly discuss what it all means as well as offer all of the alternative forms of treatment. Often times, treatment of menopause results in anti-depressive medication or unnecessary hysterectomies.

Years ago, menopause was as taboo as mental illness. There was a stigma attached to women going through "the change." In his book, (published 1966), Dr. Robert A. Wilson wrote, "Many women endure the passing years with cow-like passivity and disinter; and a disturbingly high number take refuge in sleeping pills, alcohol and sometimes even in suicide...The tragedy of menopause often destroys her character as well as her health." It was that kind of attitude, from a so-called expert, that forced many women to suffer in silence, for fear of being ridiculed or labeled as crazy because of their hormonal imbalance.

But in this day and age, there is no reason women have to sit back and suffer in silence. The menopausal years are a time for us to take charge of their lives. When deciding on the right doctor, you should ask the following questions:

1) What is your health care practioner's training in menopause and in aging?
2) How knowledgeable is he or she about the menopause transition?
3) What classes on menopause and on aging have they attended or taught recently?
(You want a health care professional who's up to date on current treatments)
4) Can you talk to your doctor openly?
5) Does he or she explain things in a way you can understand?
6) Is he/she willing to consult with other professionals on alternative treatments?
7) Does your health care provider give you information to help increase your
knowledge about menopause?
8) Does he/she review the pros and cons of Estrogen Replacement Therapy and
Hormone Replacement Therapy?
9) Does he/she discuss the side-effects of synthetic drugs?
10) Is your health care provider readily available? Having to wait a month or
more may not help you.

Remember, it's your body. Keep asking questions until you get the answers you're seeking so you can make a wise decision about your healthcare.