An eye opening case for the skin-body relationship - Ramadan Beauty Series - 8

Salam aleikum sis, 

In this post I want to take you back to the early 1900s in the southern area of the US, where there was a disease called Pellagra affecting a lot of people. 

This disease has a list of pretty bad symptoms, the first of which is skin inflammation and lesions, so red skin that is prone to cuts and that is highly sensitive…

The doctors and researchers thought of different causes for this disease, which had been around for centuries, and the reason they were working so hard at finding a cure is because while the symptoms started on the skin, they progressed and went as far as causing dementia in patients.

A few things like environmental factors and virus agents were suggested, but nothing proved true so they remained been unable to get it under control..

It wasn’t until the 1930s that a link was made,

A link that proved to be the decisive factor in finally conquering this illness.

You probably won’t guess what it was, 

It was Vitamin b3. 

Or as you might know it, based on the skin care trend, Niacin! 

I'm sure you have seen all the niacinamide serums, oils, creams that are around, claiming to boost, firm, reverse and correct skin damage. 

But it all started with the discovery of how Vitamin b3 affected the body, and how it’s deficiency caused not only skin issues but major problems. 

So when did this link was discovered, do you think they made a Niacinamide cream for patients to apply?

NOPE

Vitamin b3 had to be ingested, it had to reach the inside of the body to be able to get rid of the skin irritation, inflammation and lesions. 

The skin is an organ, that is made up of cells, and these cells need building blocks that require nutrients, and these nutrients can’t be absorbed through the skin (As much as skin care companies like to claim),

Yes, there is protection,

And hydration,

And relief that can come from creams, 

But to have a lasting effect, we have to see clearly, without any doubt, 

That our skin is made up of whatever makes up our body,

And our body is made up of what we give it,

So the first step in halal beauty is understanding that our beauty HAS to come from the inside,

Otherwise we will be trapped into the messaging of the skin care and makeup companies, that completely separate the skin from the body.

So how do you get Niacin (or vitamin b3) into the body?

Very easy,

Just eat whole foods!

So foods that are really high in Niacin would be tuna, chicken breast, beef, and nuts like Peanuts, and Sunflower seeds.

But a lot of other foods contain this vitamin, meaning that when you try your best to stick to a diet of unprocessed, healthy food, you will have enough niacin in your body to keep your skin at it’s best!

So I hope this shed some light on the link between skin and body, and this is only one example.

There are other conditions that are caused by the lack of a certain vitamin or fatty acids that clearly show that good skin needs the base of a healthy body, and then the supplement of natural and simple skin care products.

Ok, we have covered skin care,

but what about makeup? how does makeup fit into our idea of halal beauty that comes from the inside?

more on that in the next article!

Claudia