SHER SENSITIVE

Stress and your skin

Every year one in three people experience some form of skin disorder that may be attributed to or worsened by emotional stress.

Emotions:
Dermatologists and skin care professionals alike have come to recognise that the skin is an organ of emotional expression, and chemical changes brought on by tension and stress may provoke acne and rosacea, vitiligo and even psoriasis. This can persist into the thirties and beyond with some people developing acne for the first time as adults.

Stress:
Though the exact mechanism by which stress produces blemishes is still unknown, many research scientists believe that stress triggers the production of adrenal hormones that increase the production of sebum which not only plug up skin follicles, but provides nourishment for P. acnes, the bacteria responsible for acne lesions.

Stress is a trigger for 94% of rosacea sufferers

Percentage of cases triggered by emotions:

• Acne 55%
• Hand Eczema 76%
• Hives 68%
• Psoriasis 62%
• Rosacea 94%

Reducing stress:
One needs to consider not only reducing stress to help control acne breakouts, but examining the everyday factors in our lives that may stress our bodies such as: Skimping on sleep: This may seem perfectly harmless but it's one type of stress that can lead to acne. Skipping meals and too much caffeine. Both stimulate adrenaline production which slows the natural exfoliation process creating the perfect habitat for P. acnes bacteria.

Fortunately, these stress-provoking elements that may promote acne are largely within our control

Get more sleep. Eat a balanced diet. Indulge yourself in stress therapy and massage treatments. Exercise to reduce stress levels. Drink more water. All of these lifestyle changes will contribute not only to a healthier lifestyle, but healthier skin.

In England both the beauty and the fashion industries are seen as a cocktail of frivolity luring women into unnecessary spending - those same women will willingly pay a premium price for a car, a holiday or furniture.

Skincare:

In France, Italy, Germany and North America, women and men are exposed to good skincare habits and it is an intrinsic part of their lives - rather than a luxury or an afterthought. This doesn't mean that beauty is undervalued in Britain, there is still a premium on attractiveness, but you aren't supposed to spend money on it.

Is make-up necessary? Cosmetics at first glance might be considered a non-essential - they are not... if a woman or man looks good, they feel good and that breeds confidence

There is no set timetable for skin to show its age - that is why habits, good or bad, can determine the date. At the Sher System we don't cover up skin problems - we eliminate them.

Attractiveness today has more to do with honesty, fitness and health and less to do with camouflage. Most women are not aware of their assets, they are more aware of their defects.

Persuading a women to change her make-up is a very difficult task

The first multiple rinse programme to cope with the rigours of hard water, pollution and stress.

The cosmetic industry world wide is suffering from media fatigue.

Water is nature's best moisturiser

SHER ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

Alternative therapies and your skin

The Sher System will improve the condition of your skin from the outside, safely and effectively. We see skin problems not as a disease, but as an outward sign of an internal disorder.

Benefits:

Many of our clients have had beneficial results with naturopathy and acupuncture - the following pages give you further information about these natural therapies.

More than ever before, people see alternative therapy as a more promising option. They are virtually free from side effects and are aimed at eliminating the cause rather than simply relieving symptoms, thereby producing more lasting results.

When you're healthy on the inside it shows on the outside

ACUPUNCTURE

What is Acupuncture

Acupuncture helps re-establish the correct flow of energy along the body's meridian channels: essentially, it helps get your insides sorted out so that your outside can be healed in the long term.

"New thoughts and new truths go through three stages. First, they are ridiculed and ingored. Next, they are voilently opposed. Finally, they are accepted as being self evident."

- Arthur Schopewhaur

Energy:
Fine stainless steel needles are used - these are carefully inserted into your skin at the vital acupuncture points. Each point has a particular function which, when stimulated and in combination with other points, can act a bit like a combination lock on a safe: twiddle the right set, the door blows open - and hey presto - you can get to work on the treasure! In acupuncture, the points work together to restore the balance in your energy pattern.

On average, between three and six treatments will be necessary before a noticeable improvement takes place, but if the thought of needles is off-putting, rest assured that you're not about to undertake a form of torture more suited to a horror movie - amazingly, acupuncture doesn't really hurt at all.

Why use acupuncture for skin complaints?

When acupuncture is performed, some chemical substances in the spinal chord and brain are released into the body - and among these substances is the tongue-twisting adrenocorticotrophic hormone - one of the components which take part in the formation of a steroid. From orthodox medicine, it is know that steroids can have a beneficial effect on many skin diseases, so when this natural hormone is released and activated through acupuncture, the body is stimulated to heal itself from the inside.

Contacts:
For those living within the UK further information and a list of local practitioners can be obtained from:
The British Acupuncture Council
63 Jeddo Road
London
W12 9HQ

Those in the USA can contact The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine on: 904 598 1005 or the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture: 310 364 0193.