ZO Skin Health has defined healthy skin as skin that is smooth, firm and tight, even in color, hydrated, tolerant, and free from disease. When the skin lacks any of these factors, the skin must be restored to a healthy state. ZO Skin Health states there are eight core principles that holistically treat the skin and restore it. Skin should be fortified to renew, protect, and strengthen itself to maintain healthy skin for life.
Skin Barrier Function
Correcting epidermal weakness and dryness by restoring water, lipid and protein balance, preventing trans-epidermal water loss and regulating natural skin exfoliation. This can be achieved through skincare products and treatments in which hydration is restored and the skin is being exfoliated. There are three steps to achieve this with skincare. First, prepare the skin’s surface through a good cleanser, toner, and exfoliant. Next, regulate natural exfoliation through an exfoliation accelerator. Finally, repair the skin’s barrier by repairing damaged DNA. Daily Power Defense is clinically proven to penetrate deep into the skin and repair DNA from the inside out.
Stimulation
Stimulation is achieved through initiating cellular activity and general repair to improve both the epidermis and the dermis through the use of retinoic acid, or other stimulating agents. Moderate and aggressive stimulation are usually associated with skin reactions.
Stabilization
The skin must be stabilized by normalizing epidermal and dermal cellular functions to prevent acquired sensitivity to treatment and enable skin to renew and strengthen itself.
Sebum Control
Dr. Zein Obagi contributes most skin disease to overproduction of sebum. By minimizing sebum in the skin, you end up treating sebum-related skin disorders, correct pigmentation problems and prevent chronic inflammation.
Chronic Inflammation Elimination
The skin must be able to reduce chronic inflammation to help prevent cellular dysfunctions. In addition, chronic inflammation elimination is essential to prevent the alteration of skin texture, sensitivity, dyschromia, accelerated aging, and poor healing and treatment response.
Overcome Skin Resistance
Overcoming skin resistance means limiting the use of medical topical agents to prevent resistance, treatment failure and complications.
Hydration and Calming
Hydrating and calming the skin reduced the severity of reactions and irritations. However, you must use functional hydrators instead of traditional moisturizers, which only mask the problem instead of treating it.
Smart Sun Protection
SPF must have protection against the harmful effects of UVA, UVB, HEV, and IR-A exposure.
By understanding the eight ZO Principles of Skin Health Restoration, you can better know whether or not your skincare provider is treating the skin traditionally or holistically. Remember, it’s more important to achieve overall skin health than to focus on one or two problems in the skin.
