Our lifestyle choices impact the quality of our skin. Past writings have taught us that inflammation, microbiome imbalance,  and oxidative damage can set the stage for unwanted outcomes like acne, dermatitis, skin cancers, and accelerated aging. This week we learn how blood sugar issues also impact the health of our skin. The information is inspired by Dr. Trevor Cates, author of Clean Skin From Within: The Spa Doctor’s 2-Week Program to Glowing, Naturally Youthful Skin. 

The garden is going off; I have a jungle of sunflowers, a dehydrator full of asian pears, and every day we’re eating tomatoes, cucumbers, and/or beans. I come from gardeners (we pretty much all do). I remember snacking on cherry tomatoes in my grandma’s garden, eggplant from Auntie Linnea’s, and that time Auntie Val planted a strawberry garden in our backyard. My mama’s got a vegetable-producing touch that I only aspire to and my Auntie Val homesteads her way into winter. Watching a garden grow and flower and fruit makes me happy. I believe that having a garden, even if it’s only a pot of herbs, sets the stage for healthy, clear, and youthful skin. This week I show how having a garden supports optimal skin. 

Long, thick, and dark eyelashes are sought after characteristics with potential to elevate our confidence and self perception. We’ve all used mascara, the most accessible and traditional way to highlight and thicken the lashes. Artificial lashes are all the rage and with dramatic outcomes. Then there’s Latisse, or bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03%, which is an FDA-approved treatment to grow eyelashes for those lacking (1). 

Last week we learned about oxidative damage and its negative impact on the skin. In short, exposure to things like UV radiation from the sun and other toxins, like from smoking, causes free radicals in the skin and when production exceeds our natural antioxidant defenses, damage occurs. The skin is on the forefront of our defense and comes in more contact with the outside world than any other organ; the skin therefore, is where the first signs of aging occur.  

Last week we learned that healthy skin comes from a healthy body and that inflammation and microbiome disturbance are two possible root causes for bad skin. This week we learn about oxidative damage and how this, too, contributes to accelerated aging and other skin conditions. The content below is inspired from the book Clean Skin From Within By Dr. Trevor Cates.

The state of our skin may represent the state of our inner health.  Skin is our LARGEST organ and when our digestion, hormones, blood sugar, immunity, and other body systems are imbalanced, this can manifest through the skin.  We often treat the skin without considering the possible underlying issues.  This week I discuss two possible causes behind symptomatic skin, adapted from the book Clean Skin From Within by Dr. Trevor Cates. 

Well hello there. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve put a blog out as I’ve leaned into the summer vibes and new freedoms. I have been back and forth to Chicago a couple times, seeing my beloved family, to the coast for the 4th, and a road trip to Port Angeles visiting dear friends. I hope that you too, are adventuring and reconnecting. 

Men are not immune from the aging process, and it’s been my experience that most men are open to effective aesthetic treatments. Portland Botox injections are the most common treatment in my practice sought out by men. This is because they are effective, require no down time, and give natural results. Commonly referred to as “Bro tox,” this week I discuss botulinum toxin injections for men. 

May was National Bike Month, and a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling. In the summer of 2011 and entering the second year of Naturopathic medical school,  I resolved to bike. For the next four years, I rode 14.6 miles most days of the week, rain or shine. I felt strong physically and mentally and proud about the carbon neutral impact. I have excuses why I don’t commute by bike today, but these are excuses. This week I highlight the benefits of biking aimed to encourage you and I to bike. 

My practice is VERY needle heavy, using them to inject: botox, fillers, kybella, and sculptra. I draw blood out and then inject it back for PRP treatments. I set catheters for IV therapy and needle into muscles for vitamin injections. With needles comes risk of bruising; not a rare occurrence. One study estimated a 19-24 % chance (1) with filler treatment and another as high as 68% (2)! There are ways to minimize risk, but nothing to eliminate it (3). This week I talk about what a bruise is, what to expect over time, and how to care for it.

The lower third of the face is very important for facial aesthetics.  A well contoured jawline is desirable for both men and women and it is a key element when masculinizing or feminizing a face.  Injectable fillers like Juvederm Voluma are gaining popularity with the recent FDA approval for use in the chin (1). Hyaluronic acid fillers in the lower face can: reshape the jawline, lift sagging tissue, and improve facial proportions. When used to rejuvenate the aging face, we aim to redefine the jawline line and angle of the jaw. In younger faces, filler can be used to correct an inherited deficit or enhance facial contour; all aimed to enhance one’s self perception.  

The day Edith was born was the best day of my life. I went into labor on a Friday night and slept through most of the night. The next morning, her dad Jeff and I took a long neighborhood walk. We stopped at our neighborhood cafe where I was given a cookie for my labor. We walked to a diner and heard women share their birth story. The contractions were intermittent and were mild enough to be in public. Each contraction would stop me in my tracts to breathe. We walked and paused and walked again; chit chatting with the neighbors along the way.

My mother is wonderful, and I am grateful. It’s taken years of growth to recognize this, and I undoubtedly challenged her along the way. As I mature, so does my appreciation. This week I share secrets of self care that I gleaned from my mama. My mother is a natural beauty, and has invested in her health and skin for as long as I can remember; and it shows. People have even stopped us on the street to ask her secrets!  I can’t share all her secrets, but this week I share with you a fundamental few.

With aging, we start getting lines between the eyes and forehead, mouth lines become more pronounced, under eye area sinks and darkens,, etc. These changes occur because of seismic moves of the bone, muscle, and fat beneath the skin (2). While some changes can be modulated with lifestyle choices like regular sunscreen use and non smoking status (3), others cannot. This week we learn about the changes that happen under our skin as we age. 

Sweating is a very normal human response and it happens as our body works to keep us from overheating, particularly in the heat and during exercise. Some of us sweat more than others, and when the sweat response is excessive and uncontrollable, it’s referred to as primary hyperhidrosis. It commonly involves the underarms, palms, and soles and can cause stress for the individual due to social stigmatization (1). Successful and long term treatments are lacking when it comes to excessive sweating. This week I explain how Botox can be used to manage excessive underarm sweating. 

Plants have been used by humans to treat illness and disease for a very long time. In fact, most pharmaceutical drugs are derived from plants. Mushrooms are from the fungi group, form from the fruiting body of spores, and are important because they are both a food and medicine. For instance, commonly used antibiotics are from fungi. Mushrooms have been shown to fight various cancers and stimulate the immune system(1).

In theme with St. Patrick’s day, we inevitably find cabbage on our plates. It’s one of my favorite veggies of all times, and this week my goal is to inspire us all to take full advantage of this holiday and eat that cabbage. A simple search of the scientific literature reveals that there are a ton health benefits to including cabbage into your diet.

Over the past six weeks or so, my friend Dr. Okojie and I have been getting together each week to trade IV therapy treatments. I was introduced to methylene blue (MB) during one of these treatments, and have had four or so infusions ever since. I didn’t know much about this substance and the color was awfully reminiscent of toilet bowl cleaner. I trust Dr. Okojie and his work so I was willing to try. After experimenting and researching on MB, I decided to add this service because of its anti-aging properties. This week I share the benefits of MB and show how you can incorporate this into your self-care regimen.