The Philippines annually promotes awareness on the celebration of National Skin Diseases Detection and Prevention Week during the second week of November. Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 110 to strengthen and encourage proper skin and body care awareness.

In fact, the skin is the largest organ that covers the entire body. Among the functions of the skin is to serve as a protective shield against heat, light, injury, and infection. The skin also regulates body temperature, stores water and fat, prevents entry of bacteria, acts as a barrier between the organism and its environment, and helps to make vitamin D when exposed to the sunlight.

Different government and non-government sectors across the country conduct the annual celebration by providing skin check-ups and related services to the vulnerable groups. Certain Local Government Units (LGU) conduct free simultaneous dermatological mission to Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) as an expression of inclusivity and respect to human life.

It is pivotal to have annual skin check-up to assess the skin integrity and health. Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) encourages the masses to make time for the check-up particularly those who have observed changes on their skin. It is better to get it attended immediately before becoming it worse.

How to maintain skin health and integrity? Nutrition is important for health. An unhealthy diet can make changes in your metabolism, causes weight gain, and even damage specific organs, such as the heart and liver. But what you eat also affects another organ which is your skin.

Here is the list of local foods to ensure glowing and healthy skin:

• Fatty Fish – such as mackerel and salmon contain rich amount of omega-3 fatty acids which are important for maintain skin health.
• Avocados – it contains high amount of healthy fat which is essential to keep skin flexible and moisturized.
• Sweet Potatoes – It contains carotenoids like beta carotene which helps to keep your skin healthy by acting as natural sunblock.
• Broccoli - It contains lutein, a carotenoid that works like beta carotene. It helps protect the skin from oxidative damage, avoiding the skin to become dry and wrinkled.
• Tomatoes – excellent source of beta carotene, lutein, and lycopene that protects the skin against damage from the sun which may also help prevent wrinkling.

The first line of defense against external harmful objects and organism is the skin. What you do and eat can significantly affect the skin health and its function. It is always advisable to have regular skin check-ups before it is too late. Exercise, get enough sleep and eat varied and colorful food because a healthy skin is in. (Development Management Officer II (PNFP) Gwyn Y. Balaba/This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./0963-1090-198)

References:

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA). Proclamation 10, Declaring the Second Week of November of Every Year as “National Skin Disease Detection and Prevention Week. Retrieved on 15 November 2022 from https://www.ncda.gov.ph/disability-laws/proclamations/proclamation-no-110/

Healthline. The 12 Best Foods for Healthy Skin. Retrieved on 15 November 2022 from    https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-foods-for-healthy-skin

Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS). Skin Health. Retrieved on 15 November 2022 from https://pds.org.ph/category/skin-health/