the skin, and its intimate connection to the brain and external
environment.
P: Based on what we now know from science, what
exactly happens to the skin when one is depressed or
stressed?
A: In a nutshell, psychological stress releases hormones and
neuropeptides into the bloodstream, where they target organs
such as the skin. These signals tell the skin that the body may
“Sometimes the skin shows signs of
stress before we are fully aware of
the situation, which is why it’s
important to 'listen' to our skin as it
may be telling us there is something
P: In terms of key ingredients, which ones are proven
to help promote cell renewal?
A: Retinol, hydroxy acids and polyhydroxy acids are among
the key ingredients known to help regenerate new skin cells.
P: In the spa world, how critical is the mind-body
discovery to our understanding of proper skin care?
A: I believe it’s crucial. We live in a stressed, fast-paced world
and many skin conditions may only be treated superficially,
yielding relatively slow results. If the mind’s health is also
addressed, it will expedite skin health. This is why stressrelieving techniques play a great part in the overall skin-care
treatment. It also helps skin-care therapists understand that
their very treatments and products may set off a reaction if
the skin is hyper-responsive, or help them treat the underlying
inflammation before addressing the secondary symptoms,
such as breakouts. n
we need to deal with emotionally.”
PERSONAL SIDE NOTES
If I wasn’t a neuroscientist today, I
would be: A marine biologist.
If given a super power, I would:
Time-travel.
The one app I’m hooked on is: The
app store!
Kidding aside,
it’s probably
Instagram.
be under duress and inflammation increases, hence, the flare-up
of red, itchy patches on the skin. This type of inflammation is
called neurogenic inflammation. Sometimes the skin shows
signs of stress before we are fully aware of the situation, which
is why it’s important to “listen” to our skin as it may be telling
us there is something we need to deal with emotionally.
P: Aside from brain-skin connection, what other
trends are you seeing in the field of skin care?
A: The general move into a wellness-centered, and scientifically-backed, space for optimizing health is one of the top
trends I am seeing today. This is an exciting time for the spa
industry.
When I need a good
read, I go for: Any
classic literature.
The best life lesson
I’ve received was: We’re not
here for a long time; we’re
here for a good time.
WANT TO ACCESS online a list of
research on brain-skin connection?
Click here.
August 2016
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