The importance of Vitamin A

Vitamin A is the central driving factor in the development of normal, healthy human tissue including all parts of the skin, literally from conception to death. If vitamin A was to disappear from earth tomorrow for some mysterious reason, no more humans would be born in the normal, recognizable form any more. We are human because of vitamin A.

VITAMIN A IS ESSENTIAL to assisting the basal cell layer cells to specialize into the various functional epidermal cells above it. This process happens approximately once per month to five weeks. Without vitamin A this would not happen effectively, and healthy, functioning layers would not form.

SKIN BECOMES THIN BECAUSE OF A GENERAL LACK OF VITAMIN A.

Sun damage, loss of sex hormones, general ageing and excess exposure to cortisone. If the skin is not assisted by proper nutrition of all elements which contribute to healthy cell behavior, the end result will be malnutrition. Just as humans become very thin when they are starving and undernourished, so too does the skin, when it lacks essential vitamins and nutrients.

Environ ethos

Ever since Cleopatra took milk baths to preserve her beauty, it has been the quest of women to improve their skin and delay the effects of ageing. Men took a while longer to catch on but now more than ever the male market is realising the importance of protecting and caring for their skins.

Many advertisements for skin care brands today make unsubstantiated claims of eternal youth, promoting fad ingredients that are made out to be miracle cures. Consumers are no longer fooled by glamorous photos of air-brushed celebrity beauties, but are looking for products that offer real results and a glowing, healthy radiance.

Environ's vision has always been to make the best skin care in the world, through a philosophy of well researched, scientific skin care. Our products are effective, proven, cost-effective and inspired through teamwork.

As a brand we value and perform extensive research and development to offer our consumers exceptional skin care products.

We strive on integrity and keeping the meaningful promises we make to our consumers by offering the most effective skin care range that science permits.

Sun care

Vitamin supplementation should be augmented and protected by the use of sunscreens containing mostly reflective, inorganic molecules rather than organic light-absorbing molecules. These organic molecules are absorbed into skin where it has now been shown that UV irradiation unfortunately turns a large number of them into damaging free radicals, thus causing the very thing one is trying to prevent. Environ RAD SPF15 on the other hand is safe to use on a daily basis, because it consists mostly of inert titanium reflectors, and is also loaded with antioxidants. It has only a very small component of organic absorbing molecules.

The Sun And Your Skin

Life on earth exists largely because of our beautiful sunshine. It is something humans have evolved to associate with fun and pleasure. It lifts our spirits and makes us feel good. It gives us vitamin D to keep our bones strong and prevent cancer. Unfortunately though, the sun can also cause a lot of skin damage when skin is exposed to the light of the sun for too long. We are increasingly aware of the dangers of excessive exposure to sunlight and especially the ultraviolet fraction of the light. These rays are the ones causing painful sunburn and over a period of time may damage skin cells and cause ageing and cancer.

The numbers of melanomas and other skin cancers are ironically still rising. In spite of an anti-tan culture and very widespread use of predominantly UVB-absorbing sunscreens. People need no more than 10 to maximum 15 minutes of direct sun exposure to face, neck and arms in near-midday sun to produce sufficient levels of vitamin A. At night vitamin A and antioxidants should be applied to restore the vitamin A content in the skin and to mop up any excessive free radicals accumulated during the day. There are three commonly-found skin cancer types: malignant melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas. Malignant melanomas are moles that have changed in shape and colour, or a pigmented lesion that itches, breaks down, refuses to heal or changes colour. Don't ignore these signs - they need to be diagnosed, and possibly removed, as quickly as possible. Non-melanoma cancers are less of a threat and are usually not pigmented. They can be flat, nodular growths or form shallow ulcers that don't heal. These also need to be seen by a dermatologist, and most likely cut out. Check your skin regularly for spots and changes - early detection is best, so consult your doctor is you spot anything suspicious.

Stress and you skin

When your body is stressed, it releases certain hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These stress hormones can cause irritation and loss of immune function in the skin, and the effects of this are very similar to what happens during the natural ageing process.

When skin is irritated, its protective barrier to the outside world - designed to keep moisture in and irritants out - may be compromised. When that barrier is damaged, moisture evaporates more rapidly and irritants can get in more easily, both of which cause damage to the skin.

In addition, when the immune function of skin is compromised, its ability to fight off external invaders and suppress damaged cells before they multiply is also compromised. Whatever its causes, stress shortens the life span of our skin cells, causing them to grow old before their time, giving skin a dry, devitalised, dull appearance with increased fine lines and wrinkles.

How to correct this situation

Firstly, you need to recognise the elements of stress in your life and find a way of managing them in a positive manner. Simple lifestyle changes like regular exercise, healthy eating and good sleeping patterns will help de-stress and balance hormones.

On the level of skin, says Dr Ernst Eiselen Medical Advisor to Environ Skin Care, the aim is to alter the skin cell behaviour from cells that focus on just surviving (because of stress) to cells that are happy to thrive. Keeping enough of the crucially important molecules like vitamin A, C and E within the cells simply means that the cells are better able to withstand the onslaught of stress hormones.

It's important to see the skin as an integral part of a total system which needs de-stressing on a total body level if the skin is to benefit from this.

De-stressing your skin - Change your skin care routine

If your skin is under stress you need to change your beauty routine to beat it. To energise your skin during periods of stress and trauma and protect against environmental aggressors, you need to use products which will boost the skin and alleviate the signs of stress, tiredness and ageing. Ensure your skin care products include vitamins A, C and antioxidants.

Go for a facial Nothing puts stress in its place as firmly as a professionally administered facial by a therapist.

Sleep, eat, drink Get at least eight hours of quality sleep per night to recharge; avoid skipping meals and eat a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables every day (especially those that contain antioxidants); lower your caffeine intake and drink one and half litres of water a day.

Find the time Learn to prioritise and forgive yourself if you can't do it all. And find the time for daily exercise (it's the most effective way of ridding the body of damaging hormones) and relaxation, like deep breathing, stretching, meditation and laughter.

Maximum Moisture For Your Skin

Individual differences in genes, diet and environment make it difficult to conceive a single moisture solution that will suit everyone. Of course, it's equally true that the skin itself has the greatest potential for improving or regulating its own water content. The art is to understand how to communicate with the skin cells to instruct them to maintain a better water balance.

Water is the medium through which signals pass into the skin to allow communication between cells and the rest of the body. It's also the transport medium for nutrients and the rest of the body. Every cell and every tissue requires the optimal amount of water to function at its best. It's thanks to water in the skin that we get that healthy, plump look and feel in skin.

The most commonly used method of keeping more water in the skin is to apply a moisturiser to the surface. This is usually a layer of fatty (lipid) molecules which simply seal the skin's surface to prevent the water from evaporating through the skin. A much better seal for water would be to have some lipids or collections of fatty molecules in between the cells of the upper layers. And indeed, the skin normally has these molecules there. Unfortunately, if the skin becomes vitamin-malnourished, the quality of these molecules deteriorates. So…

1) Drink more water
About 50 percent of our bodies consist of water and we lose, on average, about one litre a day through talking, sweating, urinating and digestive processes. "The average adult should drink about two litres of water a day," says Environ Medical Advisor, Dr Ernst Eiselen. Filtered water is best. Remember, tea and coffee both dehydrate skin - limit your intake to two cups a day. When you do have a cup, follow it up with a glass of water.

2) Eat omega-3's
The right fats can literally moisturise your skin from the inside out. Omega-3 converts to eicosapentaenoic acid (better known as EPA), which decreases inflammation and improves skin moisture. Good sources of omega-3's include linseeds, walnuts, squash and oily fish such as salmon.

3) Choose the right moisturiser
A good, nourishing moisturiser is crucial in preventing dehydration. "Choosing the best moisturiser for yourself should be a question of finding one which contains enough vitamin A and antioxidants to assist the skin in producing sufficient ceramide molecules to help regulate the skin's own sealant," says Eiselen. Those that simply make your skin feel smooth and have a pleasant fragrance are unlikely to do anything more than just that for the skin.

Moisturise morning and night.

Maximum moisture for your skin

Using a moisturiser at night is important because skin cells do their repair work at night, regenerating and repairing cell damage, while destroying free radicals and producing collagen. A quality moisturiser protects your skin from environmental damage, provides nutrients for the skin and prevents a loss of moisture, thereby slowing down the ageing process.

Antioxidants

Substances or nutrients in our foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals (by-products) which can cause damage. Antioxidants act as "free radical scavengers" and hence prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals. Health problems such as heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, cancer etc… are all contributed to by oxidative damage.

Antioxidants are found abundant in beans, grain products and fruits and vegetables. Look for fruits with a bright colour such as corn, oranges, butternut squash, mango, tomatoes, watermelon and berries. To reap the benefits of these "free radical scavengers" eat a variety of foods high in antioxidants and minimize the exposure of oxidative stress such as smoking and sunburn.

Childhood

A child's skin is biologically the same as an adult's, yet much thinner, reaching adult thickness only by the age of twenty.

The way the skin functions is identical in children and adults with the subtle difference that adults have the influence of gender hormones, which children obviously do not yet have. This however, does not alter the metabolism and function of vitamin A and antioxidants to any significant degree.

Vitamin A needs to be supplied in the correct quantities to prevent the vitamin A deficiencies in skin caused as a direct result of exposure to the sun, pollutants and environmental elements. Vitamin A deficiency is a condition which starts in early childhood, but usually only manifests itself in the second or third decades of life and thereafter.

Environ products contain ingredients such as Vitamin A and antioxidants. These ingredients have been scientifically proven to provide skin with the essential cell signals and support molecules to prevent Vitamin A deficiency. Hence one should start teaching children how to care for their skins, from as young as possible. Environ’s introductory products are ideal for preparing and maintaining healthy skin in babies and young children.

Environ Debut or AVST 1 contains a low level of Vitamin A and is ideal for children from as early as six months and with regular use, the level of vitamin A can be slowly increased over time with Environ’s step-up system. The ultimate goal is to get children to a high level of vitamin A. The use of a broad spectrum sunscreen daily is advised to assist in maintaining a healthy skin.

Starting a skin care regime as mentioned above will give your skin a head start for adolescence. See our Specific Skin Concern guide for more information on young skin and recommended products.

Adolescence

The beautiful canvas of childhood and early youth is short lived due to the introduction of hormones. Almost overnight the skin's texture, tone and secretions change dramatically and more often than not, for the worse. Arguably this is the worst time for these changes to occur and this can cause great emotional strife for many individuals.

The burning question of course, is whether one can actually do something to prevent, or at least alleviate this stormy response in the skin. Taking preventative action can help a great deal in assisting adolescents to navigate this period of intense self-seeking and social adjustment with more ease and clearer skins.

An excellent measure is to start young children, with a family history of problematic skin, on regular doses of topical vitamin A and antioxidants. Children's skins, genetically prone to problems, that have been prepared with topical doses of vitamin A and antioxidants are less likely to behave negatively to the sudden hormonal stimulation characterised by adolescence.

The effects of this hormonal stimulation will vary greatly between individuals, yet without doubt adolescents will benefit from having had their skins prepared with vitamin A right from the word go. Anything one can do to lay the foundation for the future benefit of clearer skin, will make adolescent's passage through this stormy period of their self-development easier and less stressful.

Environ has an ideal range of products specifically designed for oily and problematic skin. The B-Active range incorporates ingredients which assist in calming and soothing problematic skin. See our Specific Skin Concern guide for more information on problematic skin and recommended products.

Twenties

These are the glory years. Your skin is at its most beautiful, resilient and elastic. However, even though wrinkles are almost non-existent, this is when the signs of ageing begin to surface. If a skin care regime wasn't followed in childhood or adolescence, it is of vital importance to do so now in order to reap the rewards in later years.

Skin in the twenties is usually firm and has good elasticity. There is very little evidence of crow's feet or wrinkles.

Though some individuals may have dark spots, skin tone on the whole is even. The first signs of ageing may occur in the second half of the 20's depending on the skin type (the fairer you are the more likely it is that the ageing process will manifest earlier).

One will start to notice this around the eyes and lips, especially smokers and those who have had overexposure to the sun.

From twenty to thirty most people have relatively good skin and few people think of actively combating ageing or sun damage, nor skin cancer.

This is often the time when outdoor activities are high on the list and sun exposure is quite high. "Safe sun" with enough time to produce good vitamin D levels (20 minutes) should be practiced while avoiding episodes of sun burn and over-exposure to ultra violet rays.

In order to delay the visible effects of ageing; one should use a skincare range containing vitamin A and antioxidants.

A broad spectrum sunscreen should be applied daily in both summer and winter. Environ Facials, incorporating both iontophoresis and sonophoresis with the DF Machine should be done at least once a month and eye and lip care should become part of your daily routine.

Skin care also doesn't start and end with the skin on your face, body care is just as important in order to retain a youthful appearance. 

Looking after your body doesn't only lead to healthier, better looking skin but many body treatments also shift harmful toxins and boost circulation to improve general health.

Thirties

The fun had in the 20s - parties, sunbathing, drinking and smoking - starts to show on one's skin. Skin is changing and it begins to thin, making it more vulnerable to the environment.

This is also the career-building, child-rearing decade so skin may suffer the ravages of too-little sleep and added stress.

This is when first wrinkles start developing; skin cells begin gradually losing elasticity, moisture lessens and the surface of the skin becomes drier. Cell turnover slows down and the complexion becomes less toned and uneven.

Light wrinkles on the forehead, laughter lines, crow's feet and under-eye puffiness may start to show. In order to put off these ageing effects, you should step up your skincare routine by using richer moisturizers containing stronger doses of vitamin A and antioxidants.

It is also best to focus on protective skincare during the day, by using a broad spectrum sunscreen as well as day and night moisturizers containing Vitamin A.

Women are in the unfortunate position that their hormone levels fluctuate continually from puberty to menopause. The sensitivity of skin to these hormones varies greatly between individuals and in the worst cases, outbreaks can occur before, during or after each menstruation.

Pregnancy can also present an enormous challenge to the skin and a large number of changes and conditions may be seen during this state of extremely high hormone levels. Some of the most noticeable are the changes in pigment, the appearance of stretch marks, spider veins and sagging skin. The best chance one has to counter the effects of pregnancy on the skin is to prevent chronic vitamin A deficiency.  Topical application of Vitamin A in pregnancy will assist in reducing the appearance of stretch marks and pigmentation.

Forties

At this stage, wrinkles are generally in full force and making themselves at home on the forehead and the areas around the mouth and eyes, while bags may appear under the eyes, accompanied by dark circles.

Skin gets "lazier" and starts to lose its ability to regenerate by itself, often needing stimulation to do so.

Fine lines become deeper and skin shows the first signs of sagging.

One may notice that overnight pillow creases last longer because skin loses the ability to plump back up, due to the breakdown of elastin and collagen.

Cell renewal slows down and skin may become much drier if one is peri-menopausal. This is the age and life phase at which moisturizing serums and hydrating masques become crucial and should be introduced as part of one's regular skincare routine. Skin becomes thin because of a general lack of vitamin A, sun damage, loss of sex hormones, general ageing and excess exposure to cortisone. Continuous exfoliation by mechanical or chemical means, will eventually also lead to thinner and more vulnerable skin, so it is important not to over-exfoliate.

If the skin is not assisted by proper nutrition of all elements which contribute to healthy cell behavior, the end result will be malnutrition. Just as humans become very thin when they are starving and undernourished, so too does the skin, when it lacks essential vitamins and nutrients.

Environ moisturizers contain essential vitamins and antioxidants to assist the skin for a healthier appearance.

Fifties

Less collagen is produced. Skin begins to sag, the jowls and jaw line lose firmness and the face becomes "flatter" as it loses volume. Lips become thinner and the neck starts showing signs of discoloration and wrinkles.

Facial skin becomes dehydrated, loses elasticity, is less dense and brown pigment spots may appear on the surface. High levels of vitamin A and C are a must for the skin at this stage in one's life. Environ products such as the Ionzyme C-Quence range, Original Ultra Day and Night or AVST 5 as well as C-Boost from the Intensive Range may assist in providing these essential vitamins.

Menopausal acne can be a concern for some women in this life stage, often affecting those who have had mild acne during the onset of puberty and clear skins thereafter.

The onset of menopause is distressing enough without the fear of developing acne so ensure you feed your skin with enough vitamin A, C and antioxidants to avoid this added stress.

Men are luckier in this regard. Only a few individuals will experience persistent acne after puberty and young adulthood as acne does not often reappear in males, later in life, as it does with females. Testosterone levels in men remain fairly constant and the sebum glands appear to adapt over time with acne settling down in the process.

Only about fifteen percent of men experience a true hormonal "change of life" resulting in dramatically lowered testosterone after fifty to sixty years of age.

Fifty is certainly not old! Following a good skin care regime with products containing essential vitamins and antioxidants will assist mature skin to have a softer, smoother appearance.

Sixties plus

The skin requirements of this age group does not materially differ from other age groups and they will be equally well served by applying sufficient doses of topical vitamin A and other essential vitamins and antioxidants, as found in Environ products, as part of their daily skin care regime.

Iontophoresis and sonophoresis

World renowned Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon and founder of Environ, Dr Des Fernandes, invented the revolutionary DF Machine which incorporates the simultaneous use of Iontophotresis and Sonophoresis to provide the skin with maximum penetration of active ingredients for best possible results. Iontophoresis is an electrical current that is passed through the skin and facilitates greater penetration of vitamins into the skin.  It is used for larger surface areas such as the face and neck.  Sonophoresis involves the use of sound waves to transport vitamin molecules through the skin and produces better penetration through the skin than conventional ultrasound. It is used on limited areas such as the upper lip and around the eyes. When both methods are combined an intensive treatment is the outcome.

Acne

Problem skin or acne results from over-production of the normal lipid (fat-like) secretion called sebum, which covers the skin in a thin, protective layer. Gender hormones are primarily involved in this skin condition and it is especially when these vital molecules fluctuate that the skin seems to pay the price. Over-sensitivity to the male hormone testosterone leads to the abnormal production of sebum and excess skin cells lining the sebum follicles. Sebaceous follicles are the little tubes that conduct the sebum from the gland to the skin surface.

This in turn causes accumulation and plugging of the conducting tubes called sebaceous follicles with black heads or white heads, infection and then the micro-abscesses which are the visible pimples. Sometimes these abscesses do not remain small, but grow into large infected abscesses which can lead to severe scarring. These small micro-abscesses are different to skin abscesses like those of boils in that the bacteria found in the pus, really only live there and cause more inflammation rather than ever increasing damage to surrounding tissue as one would find with a boil.

It therefore stands to reason that the successful long term management of acne would require three essential steps; normalising sebum production, normalising the behaviour of the cells lining the sebaceous follicles and lastly eliminating the co-habitant bacteria.

Body

A gentle dry-skin body brushing session before a shower to rev circulation and stimulate lymph drainage is incredibly beneficial. Begin at the feet with short strokes and then long sweeping movements towards the heart. Do this for three minutes. Skin will be super smooth with a rosy glow. Dry brushing is great for getting rid of water retention too. Do this 2-3 times a week.

Nothing beats a fine-textured oil to penetrate and deeply soothe dry skin. Applying it onto warm, damp skin straight after a bath or shower is more effective than pouring oil into the bath. This is the best opportunity to provide skin with those wonderful vitamins which the cells adore and thrive on.

The same care in terms of selecting a body moisturiser should be exercised that would be used for the face. Select the very best within ones budget and ensure that the product is suited to your skin type. Before applying anything else, make sure the skin is first fed with a vitamin A enriched product. Body cleansers (even gentle ones) remove essential oils that keep skin soft and supple and warm water can dehydrate skin.

Therefore a generous layer of moisturising cream, applied soon after showering or bathing, will lock in moisture and assist in preventing skin dehydration. Be careful not to neglect your hands and feet. Cracked heels and rough, red and chapped hands can be very painful and endanger ones health, as rampant bacteria can cause all sorts of nasty infections and inflammation.

Protect feet with rich creams especially formulated to keep feet soft and dry and reapply rich, fast-absorbing hand cream every time hands are washed. Rub cuticle oil into cuticles and nails at least three times a week to prevent torn skin and dried out nails.

Skin care for men of the 21st century.

Skin care in men is essentially no different from skin care in women, except for the need or want of the two genders to practice this. Apart from some subtle hormonal differences, the physiology of both types of skin is the same to the best of present knowledge, although the anatomy does have clearly described differences. Men tend to have slightly darker and redder complexions in comparison to the relative pale appearance of women. This is because the amount of melanin and the blood supply of the skin differ in the two sexes. This gender difference exists universally. It manifests at puberty as a manifestation of hormonal differentiation. Fat distribution, and texture of skin differ between male and female, becoming more pronounced with advancing age,  however,  the need for specific biochemical molecules and interactions of these to maintain skin in both sexes is the same. 

In most cultures, women have traditionally been associated with skin care, make-up and such practices of allure and self image. However, in contemporary Western society and in many non-Western cultures men are becoming much more aware of the need and the want to stay younger looking and maintain healthier skin.

Males, often with outdoor occupations, may well be in greater need of the restorative and preventative qualities of high dose topical vitamin A and antioxidants to keep their skin healthy. The fact that such treatment will also render a younger looking skin, smoother and more resilient to environmental stresses, makes the advent of more aggressive marketing for male skin care products feasible to even the traditional "macho" man.

Pregnancy and vitamin A

Pregnancy is a very special time, when great care needs to be taken to avoid any treatments which could possibly be harmful to the developing baby. The apparent confusion over the safety of vitamin A in pregnancy poses a dilemma for therapists and clients alike.

Isotretinoin, a form of vitamin A, is still the most consistently effective medical acne treatment. Isotretinoin is a directly active form of vitamin A and is well known to cause horrific foetal abnormalities early in pregnancy. Hence the unfortunate, but false universal fear that all forms of vitamin A are dangerous to developing foetuses.

Understandably everyone is now also afraid to use topical vitamin A applications during pregnancy.

The real irony of course, is that Vitamin A is an essential vitamin for all stages of normal foetal development. No normal foetal development is possible without it. A pregnant woman requires between 5000 IU and 10 000 IU of vitamin A per day during pregnancy to achieve this.

Therefore if any of the vitamin A in Environ Skin Care products were to enter the blood stream of the mother to any significant degree it would make only a very small contribution to this normal daily requirement.

Despite this, however, the recommendation remains in place that Environ products containing vitamin A should not be recommended for pregnant women, especially those in the first trimester.