File:Um dia com Crohn - Giovanna Lancellotti 07.jpg, SimonSays Filmes, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Deborah Tosline wrote and published “Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare” in 2015. Her approach to skin care is based on a scientific background, love of research and over 30 years of DIY skincare experience.
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A couple of decades ago I thought about what was important to me regarding facial skin health. I believed that healthy skin looks velvety like a child’s skin. I didn’t want to lose my skin’s vitality. If I could maintain some sort of velvetiness and lively skin tone, this would satisfy most of my skin health goals. Early in my skin care journey I attempted to keep my skin “alive” by proactively using skin care practices to consistently rejuvenate my skin over time to maintain optimum skin health.
Clear, colorful, supple, velvety, healthy skin is beautiful.
The concept of keeping as much of myself as possible is a basic tenet of my life. I don’t want to lose my strength, flexibility, bone density, brain power or skin quality.
To me it’s more efficient to maintain rather than regain the body’s functions, capabilities and appearance.
A healthy lifestyle is the foundation that you need to keep yourself. Choose holistic vitality and all that it can provide.
A strong self-maintenance ethic allows me to be available to accept opportunities and address challenges as they arise. For example, if there is an open permit to hike the Grand Canyon, I want to be strong enough to accept that invitation at any time!
In that vein, I want to keep my skin’s original characteristics and for me, this means maintaining the health of my skin on a regular basis.
Good Health.jpg, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Normal_Epidermis_and_Dermis_with_Intradermal_Nevus_10x-cropped.JPG
Skin color and texture can change over time due to health conditions, medications, poor nutrition and lack of skin care. If your skin tone has changed and has an unhealthy, pale appearance or pallor:
ensure that you are in good health, visit a health care practitioner for a wellness check
assess your lifestyle and choose health
integrate basic and advanced facial skin care practices into your routine
All well maintained skin types are vibrant in good health and all skin types can fade and become dull.
When I decided to maintain velvety colorful skin, I didn’t know the terms but I recognized the characteristics of dull skin that had become sallow or ashen.
Sallow Skin Tone
Sallow skin is evidenced by a change in the skins normal color and appearance. Sallow skin has lost its regular hue, is dull and appears yellowish.
Sallow skin may result from:
photoaging from exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR)
biological factors such as anemia or a vitamin deficiency
lifestyle habits like poor diet, lack of exercise, or smoking
Normal_Epidermis_and_Dermis_with_Intradermal_Nevus_10x.JPG: Kilbadderivative work: Fama Clamosa, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Normal_Epidermis_and_Dermis_with_Intradermal_Nevus_10x-cropped.JPG
Ashen Skin Tone
An ashen skin tone refers to the appearance of extremely dry skin. When dead skin cells build up on the surface of the skin, they can appear pale, grayish and begin to flake. Ashen skin essentially consists of very dry skin with a thick layer of dead skin cells. It is rarely a serious condition and can be treated with a good exfoliating and nourishing skin care routine and good health to promote skin cell turnover.
There are a variety of ways to maintain or improve skin.
A skin care routine depends on the funds, time, products and information that are available to you. Fortunately, you can design a skin care program that suits your needs based on where you live, your routine, and lifestyle.
I developed my skincare routine based on having little expendable income and a need to protect my skin from southern Arizona’s harsh climate. I’ve consistently practiced basic to advanced skin care over time.
Maintaining facial skin isn’t rocket science. A skincare routine can consist of simple practices augmented by periodic advanced facials. My routine varies over time. It’s beneficial to cross-train and stimulate the skin in a variety of ways for maximum benefit and self-maintenance.
By the way, I am not affiliated with any of the entities or products mentioned in this article.
Methods to Prevent Sallow Ashen Skin
Eat clean – consume anti-oxidant rich, nutrient dense foods with an emphasis on vegetables and fruit. I love eating veggies and fruit to hydrate and nourish skin.
Exercise – to keep yourself you must push yourself and pro-actively pursue cardio, flexibility, and strength to improve cardiovascular and lymphatic circulation and everything else.
Self-care – I make time for it and shared this with my daughter to teach her its value for well-being and health. I Integrate small DIY skin care practices into my daily routine.
Facial Cleansing – ya gotta cleanse but you don’t need fancy cleansers. I use a silk microfiber at night, a cool splash of water in the morning and the Oil Cleansing Method if I need more.
Facial Serums – Every morning I use DIY vitamin C, glucosamine/niacinamide, and peptide serums. It’s inexpensive to prepare high quality, high concentration, safe DIY serums.
Facial Cream – Over the past couple of years I’ve made emulsified creams and I love it! Before that, I purchased hand crafted creams from independent skin care companies.
Retinoids – Research shows that daily use of retinoids helps with cell turnover and collagen production. I use retinol or retin-A most nights.
Facial Acids – Select from a variety of facial acids to soften the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together and exfoliate the skin. My go to is glycolic but I keep meaning to use salycilic, lactic, and fruit acids for their varying benefits.
Sunscreen – It is vital to apply sunscreen. UVA rays penetrate the dermis and cause damage. UVA rays pass through clouds and are strong from dawn to dusk. I wear sunscreen 7 days a week, 365 days a year to prevent direct and indirect exposure. PS my vitamin D levels are HIGH I use a DIY zinc oxide sunscreen cream.
Sun Protection – The best protection includes shade and cover-ups. I cover up constantly in the sun. Yes, I stand out in a funny way. I don’t want to stand out but after 40 years of covering, it’s quite cozy. Covering up has protected my skin plus it keeps me cool and clean. I developed this practice working as a hydrogeologist collecting field data in south-central Arizona. No regrets. My arsenal includes, silk scarves, sun gloves, hats, umbrellas, a full coverage bathing suit and assorted tightly knit articles of clothing.
Facial Muscle Tension/Trigger Point Release – this can reduce facial tension and promote skin circulation. Roll your forehead and chin on a tennis or 2-inch yoga ball to find and release tension.
Facial Exercise – I prefer resistance exercise (FlexEffect) to maintain strong muscles and bones and increase skin circulation 10 times! I am carefully aggressive even with “delicate” eye and neck skin. When you stimulate the skin, it responds by getting stronger. This is mandatory
Facial Massage – There are many options! Try em, find what you like and proceed! I like Sanford Bennett’s wrinkle friction massage.
Facials – I prefer simple DIY facials like
raw local honey
“fresh from the leaf” aloe vera gel – a favorite of mine, I smear the aloe vera on my face, cover it with a reusable silk mask and then a silicone mask for an hour
Seaweed
Facial Practices/Tools/Devises – I use all and any of these once or more throughout a year:
TriPolar Stop Radiofrequency device to tighten and tone
Percutaneous Collagen Induction Therapy (PCIT) also known as micro-needling to increase collagen
Dry brush to stimulate lymph and exfoliate
Dry or wet sauna for 10 to 30 minutes to sweat and clean pores
Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) to cleanse skin and exfoliate flakey skin
Facial lymphatic massage to promote lymphatic circulation and reduce puffiness
Ultrasound (sonophoresis or phonophoresis) to heal and promote collagen
Dermawand radiofrequency device to stimulate and tighten skin and treat blemishes
NuFACE microcurrent device to stimulate, tighten and tone facial skin and muscles
Near-infrared Light (NIR) and Red Light Emitting Diode (LED) to promote collagen, reduce inflammation, increase circulation and reduce muscle pain
Check out DIY skin care options to promote skin health in my book “Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare”. Mix and match ingredients or practices that are intriguing to you and develop a personal skin care maintenance routine.
The primary take-away of this article is that you should do something, anything to nourish, protect and rejuvenate facial skin to avoid sallow ashen skin and promote velvety colorful skin.
If you need more information, go to the library, search the Internet, read my past Blog articles, or it would be an honor to me if you purchased my book. Thank you!
Take good care of yourselves!
XO Deborah
This article is intended to be used as general information only and is in no way intended to replace medical advice, be used as a medical treatment program, diagnosis, or cure of any disease or medical condition. There are no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the effectiveness of the practices described in this article. Products or substances discussed herein are for educational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations of the author.