What Affects Skin, Hair, and Nail Health?

Interviewer: Early in your book you give an overview of skin, hair and nail. What are  some of the more misunderstood things about those areas that people don't quite get?

Dr. Jeanette Jacknin: I think they understand that there's a lot to do with genetics, but I think they don't understand how much power they have in terms of modifying the genetics, protecting from the sun, alcohol, pollution, and how much power they have in their diet. The diet and the supplements really show up on your skin. The skin is the largest organ in the body and it's what we see, and it really reflects what's going on, on the inside; nutritional needs, or the deficits. I think people have probably underestimated how much their diet reflects in their skin.

Interviewer: Can you talk about that a little bit, diet in skin care? There's still a lot of people with a disconnect, that there's no relationship to what you put into your body, and what you see on the outside and the health of the outside?

Dr. Jeanette Jacknin : I think there is, because in our culture it's so much easier to get fast food; you don't have time. You think more about cosmetics and covering up. I think there's still a huge disconnect. There are now more studies in the last 10 years, studies to show that, yes, the vitamin intake you have through diet or supplements makes a huge difference in how you age, how your skin ages, and how your body ages, how your organs age. I think the more that becomes mainstream, the more scientific evidence we have, and the more physicians and medical workers get on board, the more the population will be educated. It's just very hard to fight something that's easy, tastes delicious, is on every corner. You can always go to a Circle K and get a candy bar. These are all so addictive and engineered to be addictive. It's hard to make a change. It really is.