Boosting the resilience of your horse's coat of armor
Your horse’s skin communicates far more than you might realize. It’s the outer defense and one of the largest elimination organs in the body. Protecting and serving the health and vitality of your horse’s skin should be at the upmost of thought of any horse owner. It’s just as important as nutrition, digestive health care, and any other part of your care routine.
Oxidative stress is a concern that dramatically impacts the health of skin. According to a study published by Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity…
“Skin cells are constantly exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress from exogenous and endogenous sources. UV radiation is the most important environmental factor in the development of skin cancer and skin aging. The primary products caused by UV exposure are generally direct DNA oxidation or generation of free radicals which form and decompose extremely quickly but can produce effects that can last for hours, days, or even years. UV-induced generation of ROS in the skin develops oxidative stress when their formation exceeds the antioxidant defense ability. The reduction of oxidative stress can be achieved on two levels: by lowering exposure to UVR and/or by increasing levels of antioxidant defense in order to scavenge ROS. The only endogenous protection of our skin is melanin and enzymatic antioxidants.”
So what can we do to reduce the oxidative stress attacks that our horse’s skin faces every day?
First we can provide shade that is readily available for our horse to self regulate their time in the sun.
Secondly we can utilize Nrf2 activation skin products when applicable and appropriate to support skin conditions and concerns.
I mentioned that your horse’s skin is the largest elimination organ… but it’s important to remember that your horse’s skin is continually working in synergy with the liver, kidneys, lung, and intestines to clear the body of morbid waste and toxins.
So if your horse is experiencing a skin concern, it’s likely a sign of an imbalance deeper in the body and it’s best to explore and pinpoint a cause, before merely masking at the surface level.
But reaching for Nrf2 activation skin care can be a great option once you’ve explore the cause and are focused on boosting the health of the skin. The image shared above is of one of my personal horse’s, his name is Peppy and as you can see he is at risk of sun burn and raised oxidative stress on his un-pigmented skin on his nose.
I try to use a fly mask with a nose protector as often as he will leave it on but since learning the benefits of the Nrf2 activated skin care I use for myself… I decided to apply it to Peppy to see how it helped him. The image is just the first few days of our on going experiment, so far I’m pleased with his results.
For Peppy I used the Perfecting Lotion and Anti-aging Creme once daily. I started with the Eye Serum as I had extra around the house, but decided to switch over to the Anti-aging creme. Let’s look to a few of the ingredients to see why we can expect positive results in reducing the oxidative stress of the skin, therefore boosting the over health of the skin.
Stick with the health benefits provided by nature
A few of the herbal ingredients in this Nrf2 activated skin care:
- Turmeric Root – aides in protecting against cellular stress. Serving as a super antioxidant that helps reduce skin irritation and protects skin from environmental aggressors by fighting free radicals.
- Bacopa Monnieri Extract– Enhances the skin’s natural processes of rejuvenation and restoration.
- Milk Thistle Extract- which is known to contain silymarin and silibinin that have been shown to have skin protective properties against environmental threats to the outer portions of the skin layer.
- Green Tea- Adding another antioxidant defense against externally induced free radicals all while soothing damaged skin.
- Brassica Family Extracts– this genus of plants contain and enhance the Nrf2 technology already present in the products to help protect against cellular stress. It contains isothiocyanates which help protect against cellular stress in skin caused by environmental aggressors.
These are just a few ingredients and benefits you can expect from utilizing these amazing skin care products for yourself or even for your horse. Get back to the person that shared Health Activated Horse with you, to learn more.
Additional References
This post barely scratches the surface on what Nrf2 activation can do to promote skin health and vitality. Check out the links below to explore even further.