'The skin is a mirror of emotions': expert explains how positive aging works in the body
Known as the "Doctor of Eternal Youth," Sandra Suárez, a surgeon specializing in alternative therapies and herbal pharmacology, has been able to integrate these skills to address skin problems from a holistic and functional perspective that works from the inside out.
“Beyond analyzing wrinkles, sagging, or skin furrows, I assess each patient's overall condition, such as whether they suffer from low-grade clinical inflammation, hormonal imbalances, oxidative stress, and even the state of their intestinal microbiota, since all of these factors directly impact skin health. My condition will reflect the health of my skin, ” says Suárez, who, with more than 20 years of experience in medical aesthetics, is a speaker at various laboratories and an international expert on holistic skin care.
Sandra Suárez, a doctor specializing in skin care. Photo: Cesar Melgarejo / CEET
The skin of more than 30,000 patients has passed through her hands, including celebrities from the local show business such as Juanita Acosta, Pilar Schmitt, Luis Velazco, Maria Fernanda Yepes, Viña Machado, among many others, and from the Presenza comprehensive medicine center, the expert highlights that skin care goes beyond protecting it when constantly using screens, going on vacation or exposing yourself to the sun for sports or another activity.
What's the difference when approaching skin problems from a holistic perspective?
The integrative model is humane and rigorous. That is, it recognizes the patient's regenerative capacities without altering their essence. We don't transform or modify faces, but rather regenerate the system to restore the body's natural capacity to repair itself and age harmoniously. This is what I call positive aging.
Beyond analyzing wrinkles, sagging skin, and furrows, I assess each patient's overall condition...
Do emotions also affect the skin?
It's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle from a very early age, combining physical activity with proper nutrition. And, of course, we also need to take care of our emotional and mental health. Having a more harmonious complexion also means having the highest possible level of self-esteem, as well as my mental stability.
Skin requires constant protection over time. Photo: iStock
Why does ethnic origin influence how we care for our skin?
Naturally, in Colombia, the majority of skin is Latin American, which is a strong skin, but when it comes to wrinkles and sagging, it tends to stain very easily, so sun exposure protection from a very young age is essential.
Lighter skin with lighter eyes is prone to premature photoaging, which increases the formation of wrinkles and rougher skin, making them more prone to aging faster. Therefore, they should be treated early.
We must protect our skin from radiation, not only ultraviolet radiation, but also heat and the blue light from screens.
Misinformation is leading to an overabundance of all kinds of skin-beautifying products. How much of it is true?
Using skincare that's appropriate for each individual's skin is important. However, these days, social media offers products that often cause skin damage. Therefore, it's important not to self-prescribe.
In addition, we must protect our skin from radiation, not only ultraviolet radiation, but also heat and the blue light from screens. Therefore, applying sunscreen twice a day with filters for all of these radiations is key.
Sun exposure isn't the only risk to your skin. Photo: iStock
And if you're going on vacation to the pool or the beach...
In that case, it's best to apply sunscreen every hour and wear large hats when you're most exposed to the sun. You should also avoid direct sun exposure during the midday hours.
Why is good sleep also an important factor for skin care?
We know that sleep is one of the factors that must be kept in balance today to control balanced hormonal states.
In Colombia, most people are Latin American, which is a skin that has strength, but in terms of wrinkles and sagging, it is a skin that tends to stain very easily.
The microbiota, which is all the bacteria in the gut, is linked to the gut-skin-brain axis and decisively influences skin health. Therefore, supplementation with certain antioxidant and restorative probiotics is important. This is the focus of aesthetic regenerative medicine, which uses collagen biostimulants focused on restorative processes.
The gut microbiota is vital to the body. Photo: iStock
Is there a specific age to start skin care?
From adolescence, we should teach our children how to care for their skin. If they experience any skin conditions such as acne, allergies, or dehydration, they shouldn't use just any product or irritate their face. It's important to maintain skin health in an integrative way because no two skin tones are the same.
Collagen stimulation can be done even from the age of 25 because due to all the environmental pollutants we are exposed to a lot of toxicity, all of which is affecting us and causing our skin to be more sensitive and fragile, so we have to start promoting all the strengthening and defense mechanisms.
And, from now on, in each decade we must implement preventative treatments along with a healthy lifestyle and positive aging.
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