Conditions of Skin
Complextion Count Down
by Anne C. Willis
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DERMASCOPE July 2008
W
hen you hear your skin referred to as
problematic, you immediately equate
this with a dilemma, complication,
troublesome, distressed, obstacle, an inconvenience.
We want it instantaneously fixed! Who wants a
problem? In fact when your skin is experiencing a
“problem,” it is a sign that your body is in a healing
phase, which is a good thing. The skin is trying to
expel waste, bacteria, toxins, or possible negative
emotions as an attempt to return the body and skin
back to health.
Our culture views skin eruptions as an
inconvenience, sickness, and a sign of ugliness. If
the skin breaks out we try and cover, hide, dry, or
completely get rid of it. However, what we are actually
doing is suppressing the symptoms, not addressing
the root cause. Our bodies weren’t designed for
modern life. We are constantly exposed to toxins,
infectious agents, stress, and a diet that is biologically
altering the structure and function of skin. This
kind of demand requires a lot of support in order
to maintain the immune systems resilience within
the skin. Some people are better detoxifiers and can
withstand more exposure before they have symptoms.
Others need more support.
July 2008 DERMASCOPE
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Skin is not a problem, but a reflection
of our current lifestyles. We need to
adjust our habits in order to survive the
onslaught of challenges our skin is faced
with. The Rhino virus (also known as
the common cold) is another example
of how our body responds as an attempt
to rid itself of an invader. As soon as the
virus burrows itself in the warm, dark,
damp tissue of the nasal passage, we
begin to feel an itch in our nose. We rub
and sneeze not realizing the virus has
already manifested itself in the tissue.
The thing about the Rhino virus is that
within 48 hours it is dead. So why do
we experience red and watery eyes and
a runny nose days later? The mucus
discharge and watery eyes is designed
by the body as carriers to eliminate
the virus. Inflammation verifies that the
immune system is responding to this
invader. The virus is already dead and
needs these vehicles to rid the body of
the virus waste. If the bodies immune
system is depleted, the body is incapable
of fighting the virus. Therefore, the
“problematic” discharges and redness
is prolonged. Supporting the discharge
capability allows the body to return to
health sooner. Also supplementing the
body when the first signs of the virus have
manifested (itchy nose and sneezing)
prevents the Rhino virus from turning
into a chronic condition. Instead of
allowing the body to naturally respond to
this intruder, we take antihistamines and
cold remedies intended to bring down
inflammation, dry up mucus discharge,
and relieve watery eyes. WRONG!!!! By
treating a cold this way we are in fact
driving the virus deep within our body
allowing it to manifest and reappear
weeks later.
Skin is treated much the same way.
When a pimple begins to form, the
skin will feel tender or sore, the tissue
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DERMASCOPE July 2008
begins to swell and may feel itchy.
These reactions are the skin’s natural
response to removing waste, bacteria,
and viruses and are a normal healing
phase. This is the time to show support.
By giving the skin’s immune system
sustenance, it has a better capability to
fight infection and eliminate the toxicity
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from the tissue. Maintaining the skin’s
elimination system insures that waste
and bacteria is passed through the skin
instead of forced back into the tissue.
Stimulating lymph circulation allows
the system to remove dead skin cells
and absorb impurities from within the
tissue. Once redness, pus, swelling, and
a watery discharge are present, the skin
has moved into a purging phase and
the required treatment should assist
this phase through its normal response.
Once the condition has become chronic,
the approach to treatment changes and
becomes more involved.
Allopathic medicine recommends
solutions such as AHA’s and Retin-A,
which do not offer support and can drive
the bacteria or pathogen deeper into the
skin, thus damaging tissue.
Treating skin “problems” should
be approached utilizing a method that
works in accordance with natural skin
function. If given the right resources,
skin has the ability to repair and
restore itself. So let us look at what
skin functions are involved when a skin
breaks out or becomes a “problem” as
well as understand deficiencies and how
to overcome them.
Skin Defense and Deficiencies
The epidermis has three lines of
defense. The first is sebum. This is the
skin’s natural antibiotic that destroys
bacteria and virus before they can
penetrate the deeper layers of the skin.
Sebum also has a nutritional basis
supporting skin cells and helping with
the epidermal growth factor in skin and
follicle. It is produced by the sebaceous
glands in the dermis and uses the hair in
the follicle as a wick for transport to the
surface of the skin.
The second line of defense is the
Stratum Corneum. This layer is
comprised of shingled-like dead cell
remnants and are completely filled with
keratin fibers. They are also referred
to as cuticle. Keratin is a tough, water-
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DERMASCOPE July 2008
repellant protein designed to impede
the invasion of pathogens and viruses.
It guards the underling tissue and is
essential for the adhesion of sebum.
The next line of defense is the skin’s
immune system. The skin actually has its
own immune system. It is comprised of
the Langerhans cells. They lie within the
Stratum Granulosum and the Stratum
Spinosum. If the first two lines of defense
are destroyed it is the immune system that
responds. When the immune system is
stuck in high alert, the skin is vulnerable
to a host of “problems”. Bacteria are
more permeable, which can cause skin
to breakout. The immune system can
also contribute to the problem. When
the immune system is constantly in a
defensive mode, it begins to misinterpret
attackers by producing antibodies that
eventually begin to destroy the tissue
instead of protecting it.
When treating skin that is purging, you
must take into account all three systems
of defense. The pH of the skin’s flora
must be balanced, healthy, and in place.
It must have free passage to the surface.
Stratum Corneum should be exfoliated,
but not be over processed. Keratinized
cells, which are allowed to accumulate,
will obstruct the ostium preventing
sebum from being transported freely.
However, when Stratum Corneum is
over processed you diminish the vehicle,
which allows sebum to adhere.
The immune system responds when
it is under attack or distressed through
the following process. Blood transport
cells, hormones, and histamines that
alert the immune system to repair and
cleanup injured tissue. However, when
the skin stays in a constant state of
inflammation the immune system is
stuck on high alert. Leaving the skin
in a perpetual state of inflammation
weakens capillary walls, destroys the
cell membrane, and uses up nutrients
in it’s peril for survival. Therefore, the
use of anti-inflammatory and immune
support solutions and skin manipulation
techniques should be considered along
with strengthening of capillaries.
Conditions and Treatment
When treating the following
conditions, age should always be
considered. We are seeing more and
more adult acne. With adult acne, there
is less oil involved and this must be
taken into account. Otherwise a minor
skin breakout could become a real
“problem.”
Blackheads occur when keratinocytes,
which are being shed from the lining of
the pores, mix with sebum thus clogging
the pores. Oils build up inside pores
and when exposed to oxygen the oil
mixture turns black. Treatment should
include applying solutions that will
work to liquefy the solidified fat, expose
the rim of the ostium, and soften the
tissue surrounding the ostium to allow
for waste to be evacuated thoroughly.
When the material is evacuated from the
follicle, the canal will be left irritated and
cells lining the follicle can be destroyed.
Therefore, it is necessary to apply a
solution after extractions, which will
heal the follicle lining and restore the
flora, bringing fresh blood to damaged
skin cells aids in healing. Tightening
the follicle and ostium will improve the
texture of skin and prevent oils from
further entrapment or settling. This is the
only “problematic” skin condition where
extractions and steam are appropriate.
Papules are small, red, tender
bumps under the skin and occur when
impacted waste and bacteria irritates
the follicle initiating an inflammatory
response. Inflammation reveals that the
immune system has been called into
action and the health of the follicle is
compromised. Treatment should include
reducing inflammation and swelling
and supporting the immune system.
Redness reveals that the nerve response
is heightened. Reducing an overactive
nerve response can be achieved through
Acupressure, Lymphatic Drainage
Massage, herbs, and clays. Lymphatic
Drainage works internally allowing the
body to absorb impurities and addresses
the parasympathetic nervous system.
Acupressure also works the
parasympathetic nervous system as well
as balances energy meridians, which are
affected by emotional imbalances. Clays
work on three levels. They contract and
tone the tissue allowing it to absorb
waste internally and they draw impurities
through the surface. The mineral content
of clays assist in the restoration and
repair of the follicle by feeding injured
cells and supporting cells responsible for
healing. Neither steamed nor extractions
should be procedures utilized on this
skin condition. Pressing on a papule can
rupture the follicle thus spreading waste
and prolonging the healing phase.
Pustules are larger, red, and inflamed
pus-filled bumps on the skin. The follicle
is inflamed and generally has ruptured.
Bacteria and infection is now escaping
the follicle and spreading throughout the
tissue. Lymphatic drainage is the most
effective application of massage. Once
again clays can reduce inflammation,
draw out pus, mucus discharges, and will
provide minerals that aid in healing the
July 2008 DERMASCOPE
63
tissue. An antibacterial solution would be
appropriate in order to address infection.
A pustule should never be squeezed.
Squeezing would further destroy the
follicle and spread the infection.
calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc,
iron, silicon, and sodium to name a few.
Minerals affect skins function
through:
•
detoxification
•
circulation
•
tissue repair
•
pH balance
•
immune response
•
reduction of irritation
– redness
•
stimulate lymph
•
reduces flakiness
•
improves skin clarity
•
cell hydration
•
repairs cell membrane
Supporting skin by not being forceful
or impatient is the key to a healthy
complexion. Being proactive when
symptoms begin to occur will prevent
more chronic conditions. Skin does not
have to be a problem. It just needs the
correct assessment and lots of support.
Supplementation
Professional and Home Care
Giving the skin support during the
healing phase allows it to naturally expel
the waste and bacteria returning skin
back to health. Clays, herbs, and salts
give amazing support to the skin and
contain numerous minerals such as
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DERMASCOPE July 2008
To learn more about
these protocols and
treatments you can visit
Anne Willis’ website at:
www.annecwillis.com.
Willis offers premiere
educational programs
and customized training
to schools and spas. Each program
delivers innovative solutions and quality
support and can be conducted on-site to
insure maximum success for your staff
and the facility. For more information or
to schedule on-site or personal training,
contact Willis at 828-230-5125, or
[email protected].