Staying healthy from the outside in
We are all a little thin-skinned (your skin at its thickest is only a few millimeters), but this multi-function organ, covering 15 to 21 square feet, can tell you a lot about what's going on inside your body.
As a billboard for signs of premature aging, neglect or disease, the skin can reveal that you're sleep deprived, dehydrated, if you smoke (anything), or have certain autoimmune disorders. Chronic itchiness may be associated with lymphoma or thyroid disease. Changes in skin color could signal liver, kidney or heart disease. And your skin may reveal elevated lousy LDL cholesterol, if you have small yellow bumps around your eyes and nose.
And we haven't even gotten to loss of skin tone, wrinkles, age spots, or hyperpigmentation around your chest, which can signal premature aging, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
To keep your skin healthy and good-looking (and stay healthy on the inside, too) enjoy a plant-based diet with no red or processed red meats, excess saturated fat, added sugars or highly processed foods. You also need: 150-300 minutes weekly of physical activity (make two sessions strength-building); a good sleep routine; and the joy of a posse of friends and family -- they help replace skin-damaging stress with a smile and good blood flow! And make sure to use micronized zinc oxide sunscreen daily, drink plenty of water, and moisturize with lotions containing hyaluronic acid or glycerin. For dozens of other ways to stay young outside and in, find your ActualAge and sign up for the free newsletter at 4YOUngevity.com.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@4YOUngevity.com.
(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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