ASK AMY
I’ve been having some strange skin problems lately, particularly on my face. It seems to be worse when I exercise strenuously. My face gets beat red and my skin looks awful. I have not changed my moisturizer, detergent or lotions and I can’t figure it out. Do you have any ideas?
Thank you for your question Marcia.
Our Skin
The skin is the largest organ of the body and one of the primary mechanisms of detoxification. Thus the condition of the skin is one of the simplest ways of detecting the health and function of the whole body.
If It Touches Your Skin, You’re Eating It!
We tend to forget that our skin is a two-way membrane that functions as a permeable barrier between where “we” end and the world begins. That is why we must always be aware of any unnatural substances or chemicals that come in contact with our skin. Artificial chemicals, synthetics and toxins enter our bodies through the skin just as if you had put them in your mouth!
Most of us are careful of what we put into our bodies, yet it is equally important to be vigilant regarding any lotion or skincare product that comes into contact with our skin. Always read the ingredients of any product that you put on your skin, just like you do with your diet. What’s going on outside is a reflection of what’s going on inside. This is why I always tell my clients: “If it touches your skin, you are eating it!”
Another Possible Culprit
Since you’ve ruled out any new lotions or beauty products as probable offenders, another possible culprit that comes to mind is the artificial sweetener Sucralose, better known as Splenda. There has been a considerable amount of research recently reporting all kinds of allergic reactions to this manmade chemical.
Skin rashes, hives, welts, etc. are classic signs of internal, autoimmune, allergic reactions. Your skin could be merely exhibiting a severe attempt to detoxify this common, artificial irritant. Have you changed your diet recently? Have you recently included any thing new? Perhaps a new diet food or beverage? I suggest you go back and read all labels and ingredients of what you’ve been eating over the past 5 to 7 days and see if Sucralose or Splenda is listed on any of them. It is also very helpful to start a food/symptom journal. This will help you track intake and identify patterns and reactions to foods.
More Info
You can find more information on Splenda on my website www.t-ripple-e.com on the Radio Show Clips page, the February 24, 2008 Radio Show Clip. You can also visit www.mercola.com and under the search word “Splenda” or even just Google “Splenda side-effects” and find a whole bunch of scary stuff.
I hope this helps. Please let me know how you make out.
