Mailbag! How to Get Youthful Skin from the Inside Out

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted May 3, 2022

My skin has gotten thin and as I’ve aged, and I bruise pretty easily. Do you have any suggestions for taking care of it?

–Tom from Biloxi, MS

Tom,

So many things are attacking our skin that it’s tough to keep it healthy as we age. Sun and chemical exposure (to both the inside and outside of our bodies) damages skin.

Another setback is, our bodies produce less collagen as we age. As you may already know, collagen determines how strong and smooth skin is.

Not only that, genetics play a role in how thin our skin becomes, which means that having good skin can feel like a roll of the dice.

While many people reach for lotion to deal with their thinning skin, I prefer a more holistic approach.

• Balance your sun exposure. Mainstream dermatologists will tell you to stay out of the sun, ignoring the fact that sun is also great and needed for healthy skin. I suggest you get out in the sun in the morning and/or evening, but skip the harsh midday sun.
• Stop inflammation. Too much inflammation can destroy your skin from the inside. You can drop inflammation by avoiding all vegetable oils and eating only butter, olive oil, and avocado oil. Sugar is also a culprit; it creates harmful chemicals called Advance Glycation End products (or AGEs) which can deplete the collagen in your skin. Limit sugar as much as you can.
• Avoid processed foods. Not only do processed foods have a lot of bad oils and sugar (which increase inflammation) but they also contain many other chemicals that are bad for your skin.
• Good fats. Fat is vital to help skin look healthy… but it needs to be the right type. As I mentioned above, butter is good for you, but you also want to make sure you get essential fatty acids like fish oil.
• Vitamins and antioxidants. Skin needs lots of good vitamins including beta-carotene, polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamin C (which is essential to building collagen), and vitamin E.

• Vitamins D and K. These two fat-soluble vitamins are missing from most people’s diet, and are desperately needed.

• Alcohol and smoking. Both alcohol and smoking damage skin.

P.S. Have a health concern that’s worrying you? Click here to submit your questions and get featured in the weekly mailbag!

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND