This week, Bobbi Conner talks with Dr. Jane Scribner about skin health as we age, with a focus on diet and nutrition. Dr. Scribner is an Associate Professor of Dermatology and a board-certified dermatologist and pathologist at MUSC.
TRANSCRIPT:
Conner: I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio with Health Focus here at the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Many factors influence how aging affects your skin. Doctor Jane Scribner is here to talk about skin health as we age, with a focus on diet and nutrition. Doctor Scribner is an Associate Professor of Dermatology and a board-certified dermatologist and pathologist at MUSC. Doctor Scribner, what are some of the common changes or issues that affect our skin and skin health as we age?
Dr. Scribner: Skin changes are among the most visible signs of aging. People notice wrinkles, sagging skin, graying or whitening of the hair, and pigmentary changes of the skin. With aging, the outer layer of skin becomes thinner, paler, and more pigmented spots are visible. Also, the connective tissue in our deeper layers of skin change. This is called elastosis, and the skin can appear leathery and weather-beaten. This is what's responsible also for the blood vessels being fragile, which results in easy bruising.
Conner: What can we do just in general terms to keep our skin as healthy as possible as we get older?
Dr. Scribner: Well, prevention of sunburn, if possible, is of utmost importance, but it's really important to talk about the reality that good nutrition and adequate fluid intake is also very important in keeping our skin healthy. We also need to keep our skin healthy with lotion and other moisturizers, and avoid soaps and avoiding agents that are heavily perfumed.
Conner: Well, what positive diet and nutrition strategies can you suggest to help protect and preserve our skin?
Dr. Scribner: We know with more and more research that whole foods, with the complex milieu of phytonutrients and macronutrients and micronutrients are important to promote good skin health and nutritional intake from the whole. Foods that we get in our diet is often even more beneficial than supplements. Also, it's important to consider foods that have high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds and properties as well.
Conner: And what sorts of whole foods are especially helpful? What are we talking about specifically?
Dr. Scribner: Green leafy vegetables are excellent. Fruits that have pigment in them, like blueberries and blackberries are high in antioxidants. And, Mediterranean diet is excellent in general with low glycemic index proteins, etc.. Every day our skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation and other things in our environment that can injure and damage and cause inflammation in the skin. So, antioxidants in our diet can help combat this effect also. Other macromolecules needed to repair the skin and cause good skin growth and turnover is important in diet as well.
Conner: Now on the flip side, what might an unhealthy routine as far as diet do, that impacts our skin in a negative way?
Dr. Scribner: Some studies suggest that refined carbohydrates in our diet can actually speed up aging. So, avoiding refined sugars, avoiding heavily processed foods. Dairy can trigger inflammation in the skin. And we know that smoking plays an important part in accelerating wrinkles and skin aging, and also damages the blood vessels in the outer layer of skin.
Conner: Doctor Scribner, thanks for talking with me about skin health.
Dr. Scribner: You're welcome.
Conner: From the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio.
Health Focus transcripts are intended to accurately represent the original audio version of the program; however, some discrepancies or inaccuracies may exist. The audio format serves as the official record of Health Focus programming.
