The health and endurance of skin is a universal cosmetic concern. Skin care is a high priority topic for women. Men are less concerned. Skin care products are a popular form of entertainment for women and unfortunately, serious discussions of skin health interfere with the recreational aspects of skin care. While topical skin products get the most attention, basic biological determinants play and overwhelming role in determining skin appearance. Many skin problems come from the inside and often show dietary problems with dramatic displays of pimples, rashes, flushing, bumps, hives, blisters and swellings.

Eight major causes of poor skin condition, premature aging and disease must be considered: 1. Sun exposure 2. Bad food & malnutrition 3. Smoking 4. Air pollution 5. Infection 6. Food Allergy 7. Contact allergy 8. Contact irritants and toxins.

The skin is a sensing, reactive, dynamic surface that covers the body. The skin is treated as an organ in biology and medicine and like other organs, the skin offers many vital services and has specific requirements to remain fully functional. Unlike other organs, the skin is exposed to the environment and suffers damage from the sun, the air, and water.

From the Preface to the Book:

The skin is exposed to foreign chemicals that do damage. Some chemicals are deliberately applied to the skin, others are in the environment. Areas of skin are infected almost daily. Some infections are acute and even life-threatening, other infections are chronic and difficult to treat. Fungal infections are the most common.

Skin diseases are numerous and the skin in involved in over a thousand systemic diseases including genetic disorders. This book focuses on the most common skin disorders that can be controlled by changes in skin care, diet and the environment. Eczema, for example, is sometimes an expression of food allergy, or allergy to contact materials. Dermatologist may deny the food allergy causes, so that their patients often have to make independent decisions. In all aspects of medicine, I advocate responsible self-management and offer this book as primer and reference for self-managers with skin problems.

There have been big changes in dermatology in the past decade. Skin care products have proliferated and their claims are exaggerated beyond any reasonable interpretation of skin science. Many dermatologists have moved from treating disease to offering cosmetic advice and procedures such as chemical peels, botox and lasers. Plastic surgeons are busy removing subcutaneous fat and sagging skin. New more effective and more risky immune blocking agents have been introduced to treat eczemas and psoriasis. Patients need more and better information to make good choices about the care of their skin.

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