Have you ever looked at, say, your pet dog and wondered, “do they think they are a human, like me?”

Well, as cute and endearing as that would be, science tells us definitively, “no, your dog does not think that they are a human.”

Why? Well, your dog is the product of a long line of evolution, and its sense of smell tells it immediately what other animals in its presence are dogs, cats, or even humans. Your sense of smell is nothing compared to that of a dog, but don’t let it blow your mind when we tell you that your body instinctively understands what sorts of chemicals and bacteria are supposed to be inside of it, and what sorts are not.

This process is called Innate Immune Response, and it’s an important system at work in your body on a daily, hourly, down to the second rate! You might be more familiar with the concept of antibodies attacking outside life forms trying to make you sick, and that is an important part of your body too. But it can take days or even weeks for your body to understand and adapt to the challenges that call for antibodies to be deployed.

Instead, your Innate Immune Response deals with the crisis of the moment. It may be small, it may be invisible, but your skin, blood and immune system cells are attacking the things that will make you unwell without your knowledge, and keeping you healthy, sight unseen.

Skin and Your Immune System

We’ve often talked about the benefits of the skin barrier, or, the idea that your skin is keeping out germs, bacteria and harmful pollutants. Your skin is the first line of defense that your body has protecting it from just whatever happens to be floating around in the air around you!

Your skin contains epidermal keratinocytes that act as innate immune cells. When they encounter a molecule that they instinctively know doesn't belong in your body, these innate immune receptors become activated, causing the release of antimicrobial molecules. Think of the wonder of this: this action is happening passively, on your skin without you even knowing about it!

Now, as we all know, or bodies begin to wear down with age, decreasing the production of the chemicals that we need to perform at an optimal level. This means that your innate immune response begins to lag as well. As you pass through middle age, with your skin barrier thinning and a decreasing innate immune response, you are exposing yourself, passively to more health concerns from the environment around you.

Promoting a Healthy Skin and Immunity Relationship

Fortunately, Skin Actives has a wide range of products designed to address concerns just like this. Remember, that while others are talking about beauty, we are, and always have been, concerned with your health.

Being healthy and well is its own type of beauty, and experiencing the feeling of wellness and comfort in your own body, we think you’ll agree.

If you’d like to make buffering that innate immune response a priority in your skincare, here are some of our products you can try:

Sea Kelp Coral

We go on and on about this one, because it is so good! Sea Kelp Coral is filled to the brim with nutrients that your skin needs to be healthy and well. You can rub it directly on dry, damaged skin in the same way you might use aloe vera gel. Our Sea Kelp Coral isn’t packaged with alcohol though, so you’ll be receiving all hydration, all nutrition without oxidant drying that is actually harmful to your skin barrier.

Antioxidant Serum

Antioxidants are as close to the Fountain of Youth as we’ll ever see. Purging Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) from your skin gets it to behave in a way that is younger and more effective. Our Antioxidant Serum is water soluble so apply it prior to your oil layer for maximum benefit.

Ultimate Moisturizing Cream with ROS BioNet™ and Apocynin

We don’t throw around the word “ultimate” lightly, but this cream has it all. It is nutrient dense. It has free radical scavenging power. Apply this cream twice daily for best results, and don’t forget those easy to neglect areas like your elbows, heels or the backs of your hands!