SPF

Recently, a close associate approached me for assistance with a severe skin condition. Having no experience in this area a significant amount of research was necessary on my part to understand this issue. First some basic skin facts should be reviewed. The skin is the largest organ of the body. It is also the largest organ for elimination. Because we are only a very porous bag filled with water and a few pounds of minerals, the quality of the internal ingredients is immediately apparent by the condition of the external container. In English that means a toxic body is revealed clearly by the lack of cleanliness and unhealthy appearance of the skin.

My background had taught me to only consider the skin as a direct indicator of the internal health of the subject. This is true but the skin must also be considered and treated as a functioning organ with specific functionality and special care needs just as we think of the liver, heart, kidneys, et al. When taken in this context treatment and understanding of issues like skin cancer can be isolated to understanding of the organ's functionality and not just as a simple covering for the fluids and tissues within. Skin cancer is the issue under scrutiny here.

Next the issue of skin pigmentation had to be addressed. We know that within our species there are slight variations caused by diversity within our planet’s environment that require a change in the manor of understanding and treatment for physical conditions based on these variations. For example, greater importance on skin care has been relegated to skin based on the amount of melanin in the skin. This is correct because skin conditions change based on the amount of the natural occurrence of this substance in the skin.

When addressing skin we must first consider the main factors for us which are the sun and internal toxicity. Let's start with the sun. The sun does not cause skin cancer, nor does it cause the skin to wrinkle or burn as a direct consequence of normal and reasonable exposure. All animals know when to shield their bodies from the direct and damaging impact of exposure to the sun. Left totally exposed to direct intense sunrays the body would simply evaporate and dry out completely leaving only dust. But when used less dramatically, the bleaching effect of the sun cleanses the body. To understand this better hang your dirty white cotton sheets in the bright sun and watch them bleach clean pure white. Notice the sheets do not burn. The sun does the same thing to us. It pulls toxins from the body with a dry cleanse. As the toxins rise to the skin it twists which causes wrinkles in the skin because the cleanse is dry, no water to allow more flexibility in skin movement. This effect is far more apparent in fair color skin with relative low levels of melanin.

Now I’m not going into a conversation about UVA and UVB and UVC rays. The sun is what it is and you know how much you can handle. The sun can't help wanting to cleanse the toxins you have loaded into your body. Clothing doesn’t help much either. Ultra Violet pierces those meager coverings easily. Tanning booths and sun block will kill you because they cause skin cancer. Mineral oil is petroleum. Why would you want to cover your skin with petroleum? Paraffins like coca butter and shea butter are too thick for absorption. Colognes and perfumes are filled with alcohol, dyes and chemicals. Notice how you rub them on your skin avoiding your precious clothing so not to have the chemicals stain your garment. Is not your skin at least as precious? The lotions, powders and creams you generously apply to your skin are loaded with harsh chemicals. An analogy is required. If you drink lots of liquor you will develop liver problems. If you smoke lots of cigarettes you will develop lung problems. If you rub lots of chemicals on your skin.....Are you beginning to see why we have skin issues?

The dual functionality of skin acting both as an organ and as a protective covering requires double concern. Usually skin maladies are a direct by-product of internal elimination of toxins showing on the skin’s surface or reaction to application of external chemicals causing reactive skin conditions. When we find that applying a particular soap, lotion or fragrance to the skin causes a reaction what we are experiencing is a reaction from the toxic chemicals in our bodies with the chemicals in the mixture we applied to the skin surface. It is important to realize that we are filled with toxic chemicals so applying more chemicals to the skin’s surface cause’s a chemical reaction. There is no more to it. So the duel strategy referenced before refers to both the intense need for internal cleansing and a change in the types of applicants we place on our skin.

So what’s good for the skin? The list is long. Of course vitamin E is great. Ingest it and apply it generously to the skin. Cold pressed wheat germ oil is the best source. Black Jamaican Caster oil is a marvelous substitute for sun block. Lavender and clove oil are wonderful for skin issues but very strong. So either dilute them or use them in soap. Tea tree oil kills many skin fungi like athletes foot but it is very caustic and should not be used to treat this condition because the skin is in such a weakened state. Use myrrh powder, Bentonite clay and a simple vegetable glycerin to make a skin salve for results you won’t believe. Cleaning your skin with course corn meal and myrrh powder or bathing in sea salt, Epson salt or baking soda is just great. Zinc rich foods are a great benefit for skin conditions. Foods like spinach, wheat grass, raw unsalted nuts and mushrooms are excellent. Lightly steam some comfrey leaf and rub the moisture on the leaf on your skin.

Of course these remedies are for external or skin related issues. Skin revealing issues indicative of internal toxins rising to the surface require internal solutions. For example fair skin ruddy beet colored complexion or dark skin with dark areas under arms or between legs indicates high acidity and requires application of more internal remedies. The point here is that the list of skin friendly concoctions is endless. The problem is you're not using any of them instead you are pouring dyed chemical fragrances on your skin.

Oh by the way, SPF or sun protection factor is a designation used to indicate your extended sun exposure time allotment after application of the chemical to the skin. The bigger the SPF factor the more toxic chemicals you are applying to your skin. The inner layers of the skin react negatively with those chemicals and that’s what causes skin cancer. In addition to the external skin remedies I referenced above I also recommend a strong internal organ cleanse and an alkaline mixture for those suffering from any form of this malady.

The Obama's

The New Yorker, July 2008