Do you know how to boost immunity with skincare?
I bet you didn’t think of that one before.
Skin is something we only think about when it’s winter-dry, or you’re trying to get a tan, but in reality, it is so much more than our body’s wrap. We should care about it and seek that timeless skincare, that flows with the seasons, for much more than just achieving a particular ‘look’:
Skin is the immune system’s first line of defense.
One of the primary functions of our skin is to protect our body from harmful substances, organisms, and foreign bodies. However, because of cosmetic pressure, we’ve started to believe that working on timeless skin care is about appearance and that somehow makes you shallow or vain.
Well, we’re here to tell you that’s misguided.
There’s nothing wrong with caring about how you look, but the skin is also vital for your overall well-being!
We all want to age gracefully -there’s no denying it- but we should not equate skin care with vanity; it’s genuinely critical for your health. That’s not to say I don’t like that smooth feeling and anti-wrinkle action antioxidants give me; but taking care of the skin becomes a daily habit, like brushing your teeth or washing your face, when the goal is to live a long and healthy life - whether you’re a man or a woman. There’s nothing vane in that!
Learn how to boost immunity through self-care that just happens to make skin look even better, to keep disease away and feel good from the inside out.
And the haters? To the left.
Skin and Immunity
The skin is the largest organ in the body, and it absorbs everything. It serves as a barrier that keeps the internal organs safe from physical, chemical, or pathogen attack, as well as excessive water loss, but it also takes whatever it comes into contact with inside for processing and detoxification (the liver takes care of that.)
As the first immunological barrier to the external environment, it is rich in immune cells like epidermotropic lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes, keratinocytes, and melanocytes, which form a complex network between the dermis and the epidermis.
The skin’s unique microbiome combines these immune cells with beneficial bacteria that contribute to strengthen the immune system response.
How it Works:
When a foreign body, or 'antigen,' comes into contact with our skin, the immune cells react, creating antibodies, locking the invading antigen. This gives the other cells of the immune system a chance to be activated and carried through the body in the blood to flush out the enemy substance. Eventually, the threat is mitigated or neutralized.
The skin is an active member of the immune response, and we can see it in action when:
- Something cuts or pierces the skin, promoting fast healing and scarring.
- Histamine is activated signaling a harmful substance (and you get a rash or red area)
- Thermoregulation cools the body or raises its temperature.
- You get itchy or see layers of burnt skin peel off (sunburns)
- More!
It is constantly in communication with the brain, central nervous system, and adrenal glands to make sure you stay hydrated, comfortably cool or warm, and safe from antigens.
Signs Your Skin Needs Help
Now you know the science, how do we know if our body’s first-responder is in ship-shape or calling for aid?
Research suggests “cutaneous manifestations are common in immune deficiency diseases” where 40 % to 70 % of patients diagnosed with some immune deficiency show signs of skin problems.
Essentially, pay attention to your skin; it’s telling you it needs support when:
- It looks dull or awash
- Dry patches appear in one or more body parts (elbows, knees, feet, more)
- You show signs of premature aging
- There are bouts of eczema
- Inflammation
- Acne, pimples, excess fat
- Skin allergies
- Unexplained rashes
- Redness
- General dryness
- Slow healing or scarring
- Sun spots on face, arms or hands
- More!
The body is designed to survive, it is always looking into how to boost immunity naturally, and when it’s not getting what it needs - it shows.
Therefore, the skin is a reflection of what’s happening inside the body. If our diets lack or don’t get enough water, collagen, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin E, Omega-3 fats, probiotics (for gut health diet,) antioxidants, selenium, zinc, and plant-based polyphenols, then the skin won’t have the tools it needs for autophagy and regeneration.
- Autophagy removes the dysfunctional or degrading components of a cell.
- Regeneration creates new cells to keep the skin fresh, supple, and defense-ready.
If you’re want to know how to boost immunity, then combine your favorite timeless skincare routine with robust nutrition.
How to Boost Immunity with Skin Care
Diet and lifestyle are the most important factors when it comes to how to boost immunity; only about 20% percent of the body’s and skin problems can be solved with purely topical resources.
Want to know how to boost immunity with skincare? Start with what’s on your plate and layer your favorite serum or lotion on top.
#1 Hydrate Constantly
Drink water! Your timeless skincare routine should always start with eight glasses of water a day minimum, but even better? Calculating your water needs and meeting them according to activity and the season.
How to Boost Immunity: carry a reusable water bottle, get a water-intake reminder app, and drink up.
#2 Get Lots of Antioxidants
Cells deteriorate when free radicals attach themselves to their healthy structures and break them, through oxidative stress. Antioxidants find those free radicals and neutralize them, the more antioxidants in your body, the better immune response you get.
How to Boost Immunity: Eat foods that boost the immune system and are rich in antioxidants like dark leafy greens, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, acai, limes, lemons, moringa, red cabbage, ginger, turmeric, and more.
#3 Boost Collagen Production
Wondering what is collagen? It’s only the single most abundant protein in the human body! It’s an integral part of bones, ligaments, hair, and yes skin. The necessary building blocks for new skin cells generation and to keep existing ones supple, firm, and fresh.
What is collagen? Your skin’s best friend that happens to naturally dwindle at around the age of 30, right after it hits peak production in your 20s.
How to Boost Immunity: Eat collagen boosting foods (usually found in animal tissue) or the more plant-based friendly citrus fruits, berries, guava, beans, nuts, and cruciferous vegetables like spinach, kale or Swiss chard.
You can also try a healthy supplement like our GLOW Lemonade which also has aloe vera, rosehips, bamboo silica, Camu Camu, amla, pomegranates, raspberries, lemons, coconut water, monk fruit, baobab fruit, and pink Himalayan salt - all designed to boost and support collagen. Plus many potent antioxidants.
# 4 Eat Your Vitamins A, B, C, E, and K
What is collagen without Vitamin C? How can the body heal wounds without the blood-clotting powers of Vitamin K?
Vitamin C is critical for Collagen production and absorption while simultaneously being a vital source of antioxidants and immune support. When our diets lack micro-nutrients found in fruits and vegetables, it’s easy to run low on these vitamins.
How to Boost Immunity: make sure you’re eating foods that naturally supply your body with these vitamins. If you’re not sure, try an immunity supplement or a multivitamin one.
# 5 Try a Clear Skin Diet Plan
A clear skin diet doesn’t actually have to be one of deprivation; you can simply try to add more fruits, vegetables, and alkaline water to your regular routine.
How to Boost Immunity: add slices of citrus fruits to your water, snack on berries, ditch as many processed foods and sugar as you can.
# 6 Cleanse, Moisturize, and Protect:
Wash your face twice a day and follow up with your favorite Vitamin C + Vitamin E serum, and don’t forget to lotion up after showering. Most of the soaps we use remove the skin’s healthy oils, making it -and the immune system- more susceptible to threats. Always use sunblock, even if it’s overcast.
Sound like too much for the fellas? We have an easy men skin care routine that keeps them looking sharp and replenished, without too much effort.
How to Boost Immunity: create a religious morning and night routine to care for your skin adapted to your skin. Treat it like brushing your teeth.
#7 Help Your Liver
Your liver is constantly running a body detox program in the background. It processes everything the skin absorbs and it also sends any excess fat and toxins it couldn’t flush out back out (hello pimples and inflammation). Caring for your liver is caring for your skin.
How to Boost Immunity: Eat liver-friendly foods and learn how to detox your liver naturally.
# 8 Learn to Relax
We have two divisions of the nervous system: the sympathetic nervous system, and the parasympathetic nervous system. We’re only supposed to use the first when we need certain bouts of energy to deal with a stressor; our bodies are designed to live in the parasympathetic nervous system.
Being constantly stressed alters our hormones and internal clock, and it also depletes our adrenal glands and immune system. When you relax, you exit the fight, freeze, or flight mode of the sympathetic nervous system (very useful against tigers in the jungle) and go back to your natural calm state.
How to Boost Immunity: practice meditation, take a bath in Epsom salts, get a massage, learn to breathe from your belly, hug more.
Bottom Line:
Learning how to boost immunity with skincare is understanding that the skin’s health is not merely up to topical agents; it can’t rely solely on creams or fancy serums. We need to recognize skin nutrition as the first and most important fuel for its immune defenses. To get the most out of skin’s potential, stay healthy, and look great, work from the inside out.