Maintaining nourished and healthy skin during winter is paramount due to the season’s inherent challenges, including dry air, cold temperatures, harsh weather conditions and winter rashes. The combination of these factors can strip the skin of its natural moisture, leading to dryness, flakiness, irritation and Cold Urticaria in some cases.

Proper skincare practices, such as regular moisturizing, using gentle cleansers, and protecting the skin from the environmental factors are crucial. Moreover, it’s essential to recognize the role of nutrition in supporting skin health during wnter season. Consuming foods rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins, such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and vitamin C in fruits and vegetables, can contribute to skin nourishment from the inside out. Hydrating from within by drinking an adequate amount of water also plays a significant role in maintaining skin suppleness and combating the dehydrating effects of winter. Integrating these practices into a holistic skincare routine helps fortify the skin barrier and promotes a radiant complexion even in the harshest winter conditions.

Water- Rich Fruits And Vegetables:

The cold weather, coupled with low humidity levels, can strip the skin of its natural moisture, leading to dry and flaky skin. Drinking water is foremost important to stay hydrated. Along with this consuming water- rich fruits and vegetables  like watermelon, cucumber, zucchini, tomatoes, coconut water etc.

Omega-3- Fatty Acids:

Counteract winter dryness by upping your intake of omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats help fortify the skin’s lipid barrier, preventing moisture loss and promoting a supple complexion. Salmon, mackerel and other sources like chia seeds, flaxseeds can also be taken as omega-3- fatty acids supplements.

Antioxidants:

Antioxidants safeguard your skin from environmental stressors. Berries, such as blueberries and raspberries, offer potent antioxidants that combat oxidative stress. Integrate colorful vegetables like spinach and carrots into your meals for a spectrum of skin-supporting vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin- C:

The formation of collagen, a protein that gives the skin structure, depends on vitamin C. It has skin-brightening properties, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation and promote an even skin tone. This can be especially beneficial when the skin might appear dull due to winter conditions. Foods like oranges, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli, bell peppers can be great source of vitamin C.

Herbal Teas:

Many herbal teas are rich in antioxidants, which help combat oxidative stress and protect the skin from environmental damage.  Herbal teas, such as chamomile or green tea, hibiscus tea, peppermint tea, rooibos tea contribute to overall hydration and support skin health.

The cold weather, coupled with low humidity levels, can strip the skin of its natural moisture, leading to dry and flaky skin.

Collagen Rich Foods:

Collagen is a structural protein that gives the skin its firmness and elasticity. Consuming collagen-rich foods like bone broth, fish, and lean meats, eggs provides the body with the necessary building blocks to support skin structure. These foods can help combat the signs of aging by promoting skin elasticity and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Whole Grains:

Whole grains such as oats, quinoa, barley, and brown rice are rich in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These nutrients contribute to overall skin health and provide the building blocks for a strong, resilient skin barrier.

Vitamin- E:

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, which can be more prevalent due to harsh weather conditions. It also aids in moisturizing and preventing dryness. Vitamin E can be obtained from foods like almonds, sunflower seeds, olive oil, avocado, green leafy vegetables like spinach.

References:

1. https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/lifestyle/well-being/winter-foods-glowing-skin
2. https://www.ndtv.com/food/skincare-5-winter-foods-to-keep-your-skin-healthy-and-glowing-1952797
3. https://helloglow.co/glowing-skin-foods/
4. https://www.kaya.in/blog/best-antioxidant-rich-foods-for-glowing-skin-in-winter
5. https://www.lifespan.org/lifespan-living/top-winter-foods-your-skin

“Composed by: Priyatama Powar, Associate Professor, Pharmaceutics Department, Dr.D.Y.Patil College of Pharmacy, Akurdi Pune. Published 35 articles in national and international journals. Published 4 books and 5 book chapters. Also active participation as editorial board member in various journals.”

The post Nourish Your Skin: Winter Wellness appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

The human gut is estimated to contain approximately 10¹⁴ bacteria comprising more than 1000 species. The modulation of the gut microbiota is a very interesting story. There are growth enhancing substrates that play a vital role in positively modulating the gut microbiota. The beauty of this fact is that these substrates can be utilized only by selective health promoting bacteria, thereby encouraging their growth which in turn enable them to produce the desirable metabolites.

The growth enhancing substrates are called Prebiotics and the health promoting bacteria are nothing but Probiotics. Let us firstly understand, what are Prebiotics? Prebiotics are known to be nutrients that are degraded and utilized as food by the gut microbiota, viz; Probiotics.

The study of Prebiotics, Probiotics and Postbiotics has become an area of increasing interest in recent years. Probiotics for gut health is a very well-established science and the use of Prebiotics in various aspects is slowly gaining importance now.

Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are the two important groups of prebiotics with beneficial effects on human health. The fascinating mode through which a prebiotic works in the human body is one of the main reasons to consider them as a potential in association with Probiotics.

Cosmetics has infiltrated our lives to a large extent. Natural cosmetics are slowly taking over the Cosmetics market. The awareness among people on using Natural Cosmetics is on an increasing spell because of the known benefits of natural ingredients in soothing the skin cells.

Alongside, the incorporation of Prebiotics in Cosmetics is slowly gaining importance. Natural Cosmetics with Prebiotics can be an excellent choice to penetrate the so-called ocean of Cosmetics market with an angle of differentiation.

The main question that would arise in anyone’s mind is HOW? How can Prebiotics be incorporated into Cosmetics? WHAT? What would be the benefits of doing so? WHY? Why should Prebiotics be incorporated into Cosmetics formulas? Let us understand these concepts one by one….

The skin ecosystem is a complex environment covered with a diverse microbiota community.

HOW? 

The skin ecosystem is a complex environment covered with a diverse microbiota community. The beneficial effects of Prebiotics can be either by topical application or by ingestion. Prebiotics and Probiotics as supplements are something which is well established. Pre and Probiotics have the capacity to optimise, maintain and restore the microbiota of the skin in different ways. 

Topical applications always have an upper hand and direct effect when compared to ingestion since it is applied directly to the site where it specifically acts on improvising the condition, which is needed. To answer our HOW, the Prebiotics can be directly applied to the skin microbiota thereby helping to increase the activity of beneficial normal skin microbiota.

WHAT?

One of the main reasons to our What? would be, adding of Prebiotics to skin cosmetics would help restore a healthy microbiome balance if the skin thereby preventing various skin conditions like delaying aging, reducing risks of skin allergies, rashes, skin conditions like Rosacea, Atopic Dermatitis and so on. Not only this, but Prebiotics also act as a barrier to protect the skin.

Food mainly helps us to stay healthy, similarly Prebiotics act as a food for the skin microbiome thereby making our skin healthier.

Lastly WHY? 

Only because, Prebiotics serve as the main food for good bacteria on our skin. We all know why food is important for us. Food mainly helps us to stay healthy, similarly Prebiotics act as a food for the skin microbiome thereby making our skin healthier. Incorporate Prebiotics in your Daily Skin Care Routine and feel the magic of Prebiotics act on your skin. Prebiotics are effective, safe, and backed by enough Clinical relevance to be added in topical Cosmetics to improve skin health.

“Composed by: Dr. Ramya Muthukrishnan started as a formulation scientist and have formulated more than 50+ products, later moved into Product Marketing and has been conducting many technical trainings across India and is well versed with the Direct Selling Market. “

The post Prebiotics in Cosmetics- An overview appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.