I’m going to be honest and admit that I only heard about the acid mantle recently. I know it’s my job to stay current with wellness trends, but frankly, I thought it was a drug thing. In case, like me, you’ve been out of the loop, an acid mantle is the protective oily film that coats the skin and supposedly protects not just the skin, but the whole immune system. Before you sprain a muscle with your side eye, here’s what dermatologists say about the function of this mystical, invisible barrier.

“The acid mantle is a thin layer on the skin composed of a mixture of free fatty acids secreted from the oil glands mixed with lactic acid and amino acids from sweat,” says Peterson Pierre, a California-based dermatologist. That’s a lot of complicated science words, so for liberal arts grads, it’s the slight film you feel on the surface of your skin most of the time, says Rachel Liverman, an esthetician and co-founder of Glowbar, a skin treatment boutique in NYC.

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As we give our skin some extra TLC during the winter, it’s important to remember that our scalp could also use that same kind of special attention, especially since everyone knows that healthy hair always starts with a healthy scalp.

Marina Perkovic, the resident scalp treatment expert at Eliut Salon, points out that just like our face and body, our scalp is made up of skin, meaning it definitely needs the same amount of hydration (plus exfoliation!) your complexion does during the wintertime. And while you may think that a simple clarifying shampoo can help keep your scalp under control, board-certified hair restoration physician Alan Bauman, M.D., suggests that scalp care has definitely advanced for the better, and there are many new treatments available that can improve the health of your follicles.

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“In the eternal quest to lose weight, this symptom may be viewed as a blessing rather than a potential warning sign,” says Peterson Pierre, MD, a dermatologist in Thousand Oaks, California. “But this can be a problem, especially if accompanied by loss of appetite or changes in bowel habits. A number of cancers can present this way, including cancers of the esophagus, liver, colon and pancreas, as well as leukemia or lymphoma.”

The Remedy Rx: “It’s important to report these changes to your doctor as soon as possible to maximize your quality of life, treatment options and survival,” says Pierre.

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With all the scrubs, masks, creams and gels on the market that promise to transform dull, aging skin, it can be confusing to know what to reach for on drugstore shelves. But the road to healthy skin starts with what’s on your refrigerator’s shelves.

“Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals that are essential for skin health. Healthy fats are important as [they contain] anti-inflammatories that help maintain the skin’s integrity, as well as keep it soft, supple and moisturized,” explains Peterson Pierre, a board-certified dermatologist at Pierre Skin Care Institute in Thousand Oaks, California. “Skin care can be very effective, but treating the entire body from the inside is definitely more productive. There are many ingredients that simply cannot penetrate the skin but can be supplied through an effective and complete diet.” To eat your way to gorgeous skin, add these foods to your next grocery list.

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