Allergies, histamine & skin.

Pollen counts this year are OUT OF CONTROL! Historical highs in pollen are leading people to severe seasonal allergies, sleep issues because of it and skin problems.

People who experience seasonal allergies tend to experience dry, itchy, irritated skin. Also, histamine naturally stimulates oil production in the skin, so when you take antihistamines, it can dry the skin out. Combat dry skin with the proper lotion for you and your allergic condition.

When histamine is released in the body, the skin tells a story of the internal battle: it gets itchy, irritated and inflamed. If you already have skin issues like acne, rosacea, eczema or dermatitis, it could make those conditions worse when pollen counts are high.

Natural antihistamines are easier on the skin and the body and can provide relief from allergy symptoms as well as skin issues. Quercetin is a natural antihistamine that is found in apples, onions and berries. There are also quercetin supplements sold that can be taken daily.

During the height of spring and pollen counts, it’s helpful to avoid high-histamine foods so your body isn’t overwhelmed with reactions, making you feel and look worse. High histamine food consists of anything “old” or “aged”. Skip the left-overs, avoid aged, smoked, preserved, “sour” or picked food. Seafood is often the worst for histamine counts. Some fruits and veggies are also high in histamine, those include avocado, banana, tomatoes and worst of all: citrus fruits. Eating fresh meat, fresh veggies and fruit (accept the ones listed above) will help with your allergy battle.

As for your irritated, allergic skin, switching to a calming skincare regimen during spring that’s more moisturizing may help with redness and dry skin issues during high pollen times. For more information, schedule a free skin consult today to find your answers.

Give Thanks for Turkey!

Turkey has some serious benefits for skin! Eat your fair share (or more ) this Thanksgiving!

Benefits for skin when consuming turkey:

• B-complex vitamins niacin, B6 and B12, help your body hydrate the skin, build collagen to plump the skin and cell renewal for healthy glowing skin. It also helps to prevent pigmentation from forming, reduces acne, soften the skin's overall texture, and limits irritation and inflammation while supporting a healthy skin barrier.

• Choline helps build collagen, making it a key nutrient for maintaining youthful and firm skin. By promoting collagen production, choline helps to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, improving skin texture and elasticity.

• Magnesium helps to ensure your skin is protected against external damage as it regulates cellular regeneration and repair.

• Selenium helps slow cellular damage that accumulates with age.

• Potassium helps support new skin cell growth, which helps heal blemishes and scars.

• Zinc regulates oil production, reduces inflammation and supports skin healing. Zinc is also believed to play a role in collagen synthesis and DNA repair; the combination of which can help keep skin looking healthier and more youthful.

* Note: taking extra zinc is not likely to improve your skin, but not getting enough can cause problems like acne, eczema, and dermatitis.

-Shelly Todd, Esthetician, J Renee