By Dr. Mitra Ray

Perhaps the most misunderstood aspect of beauty and healthy skin is the concept of wrinkles. Most people believe that wrinkles are the result of dry skin, and that as we age our skin dries out and shows wear and tear. To treat these supposed causes of wrinkles, Americans spent $1.6 billion in 2008 on anti-aging skincare alone, but have you ever met someone who effectively removed their wrinkles with a lotion or potion?

There is also the misconception that moisturizers will replenish lost moisture and miraculously erase the lines that all women seem to dread so much. There are products that can temporarily plump up the skin cells, making them appear more full and smooth, but these last hours, not weeks or months, and actually may damage skin. One of the worst things that you can put on your skin is a common ingredient in moisturizers and lotions. Propylene Glycol is a filler that keeps you from needing to stir your products every time you use them. It also prevents products from freezing during transport, but this is because Propylene Glycol is, in fact, anti-freeze! Long term use can actually cause, rather than treat, wrinkles, dry skin, dull tone and uneven texture. Other products may contain equally toxic ingredients, including allergens and known carcinogens. As a safe bet, the only products that I recommend for the skin are products that you would feel okay eating. The skin absorbs all of the ingredients that you put on it, so if you wouldn’t serve it in a dish to your family, you shouldn’t put it on your face or body.

So if wrinkles aren’t the result of dry skin or aging, and store-bought creams can’t do anything to minimize or erase them, is there a way to treat wrinkles naturally and effectively? To do so, we first need to understand what actually does cause the wrinkles in the first place. And to do this, it’s important to learn how to read your face; different types of wrinkles are the symptoms of different health problems. You may find it easiest to focus on one set of wrinkles at a time. Let’s examine the different lines people commonly have on their faces, what they mean, and how to get rid of them.

Horizontal Lines

Many women have horizontal lines across their forehead. One possible explanation for these lines is waste in the intestines, usually the colon. And the deeper the lines, the more waste has accumulated. The most expeditious way to get rid of these lines is to do a series of enemas. You can read more about how to give yourself a healthy enema, and other reasons they’re worthwhile, in my book Do You Have the Guts to Be Beautiful? I also found that once I started on Juice Plus+^® some 16 years ago, these lines went away and they have yet to return. I attribute this to Juice Plus+^® and my improved diet.

Crow’s Feet

Everybody knows what crow’s feet are: the lines that appear at the outer corners of your eyes. These are caused by processed and overcooked foods. They signal the need to add more raw foods and fiber to your diet, and to remove processed and overcooked foods.

Part 2: Read More Here >