Listening to your body is an art form. For some, it can take decades of trial and error before learning exactly what the body needs. With practice, however, we can recognize subtle indications; for example, the nervous system gives signals when we are run down and need some rest and relaxation. Our muscles and cardiovascular system help us recognize when we need to lower our training volume; and our digestive system has ways to tell us when we might need to swap out pizza and beer for salad and a smoothie.
It may seem strange, but what we are doing is tuning into our body’s organ systems: fatigue is expressed in the brain, overtraining can present in the heart and lungs, poor dietary choices show up in the stomach and intestines. We become accustomed to the warning signs when these areas of our body need a bit of extra care. The largest organ system in our body, however, is often the most baffling: it’s the integumentary system, which includes your skin.
Forming a physical barrier between the external environment and the internal environment, the integumentary system serves to protect and maintain, and includes the skin (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis), associated glands, hair and nails. Together, it all works to protect you from germs, helps to keep your body temperature regulated, controls part of your immune system, synthesizes vitamin D, grows your hair, helps blood flow, controls your sense of touch, helps nerve function, grows connective tissue and cushions muscles and bone.
Despite its long list of crucial functions in and around the body, most of us only pay attention to our skin when it's reacting. If we have a breakout, sunburn or rash, the response is often to put on a cream, maybe drink an extra glass of water and hope for the best. We rarely take the time to understand the health and overall functioning of our skin, perhaps because the information available from skin companies is too general for everyone’s individual skin needs.
I was curious about my own skincare, so I turned to a professional, the lovely Jamie Wright, a classically trained skin therapist with a specialization in massage and energy work. Jamie practices out of Philosophy MD and Bernstein & Gold in Victoria, where she helps her clients to enhance their skin health alongside their overall wellbeing. I am lucky enough to have had the pleasure of being treated by Jamie and can attest to the fact that she is a true skin magician.
I spoke to Jamie in a question-and-answer session about all things skincare:
Kaisha: What is the most common issue you see with your clients?
Jamie: Guests seek my expertise for a multitude of reasons, the most common being that today’s lifestyle causes a greater demand for moments of tranquility. I see many of my “favourites” monthly and believe they seek tension release to a renewed complexion.
Kaisha: How can we listen to our skin for signals of overall physiological stress, for example, dehydration, exhaustion, general stress and anxiety? Can we use our skin as an early-warning system for when we need to slow down?
Jamie: With stress being such a major contributor to our overall health, it makes perfect sense that our skin will mirror how our nervous system is functioning. Our skin is our largest organ and proves that fatigue leads to increased inflammation, breakouts and a compromised skin barrier. If people are seeing some of these warning signs it can be a message to slow things down and take time to nurture themselves.
Kaisha: In nutrition, there is a deep belief in the importance of bio-individuality, meaning that there is no diet or nutritional practice that works for everyone, and it is our job to help our clients learn about their individual digestive needs. Is there a similar necessity for skincare?
Jamie: Vitamin C and retinol are widely regarded as the golden standard in achieving optimal skin health, offering powerful antioxidant and rejuvenating benefits. This being said, we are all diverse and it is important to speak to a trained practitioner for guidance on your skincare journey.
Kaisha: How does the skin change throughout our various stages of life? How can we make these transitions easier for our skin?
Jamie: Aging is a gift, and the key to longevity lies in embracing it while prioritizing self-care to foster both our physical and emotional wellbeing.
In conversation later, Jamie says that for people thinking about seeking out the expertise of a skin therapist, “It isn’t just about vanity, it’s about health. A broken skin barrier can be a sign of seemingly unrelated issues! Diabetes, Parkinson’s, cardiovascular issues, bone density!”
There is so much more to skincare than face masks and puffy eye serums. If you have been ignoring your skin health, this is your sign to treat yourself and your skin to some love with a professional like Jamie.
Of course, we wouldn’t leave you without some product recommendations from this expert. Jamie’s winter favourites are:
• SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF with Ferulic Acid
• SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
• Colorescience No-Show Mineral Sunscreen
• ZO Retinol Skin Brightener
• Éminence Organic Stone Crop Cleansing Oil
• Éminence Organic Bamboo Firming Fluid
• Éminence Organic Facial Recovery Oil
This feature appeared in the fall 2023 of Boulevard Vancouver.