Not an Ornament: Wellness Lessons from the Body’s Largest Communicator

by Dr. LaSonya Lopez, MD

November 30, 2025

Most people treat their skin like décor—something to polish, scrub, or perfect. But the truth is far more intimate and much more powerful:

Our skin is an organ. Not an accessory. Not a beauty project. A living, breathing, communicating system—constantly reading our environment, translating our inner world, and sending signals long before we feel symptoms anywhere else.

And once we start listening to it, everything about our wellness shifts.

1. Our Skin Is Part of our Immune System

Many people don’t realize this: about 15% of the immune cells in our entire body live in our skin. (Established in dermatologic immunology; exact percentages vary across sources, but the concept is well-supported.)

Our skin doesn’t just cover us—it guards us.

When we're stressed, inflamed, run-down, or fighting something internally, our skin often speaks first:

• breakouts

• redness

• itching

• dullness

• delayed healing

These are not cosmetic problems.They’re immune messages. It is important to note that skin manifestations can have multiple causes. No single skin change can diagnose a condition on its own. But the pattern matters—and our skin rarely signals without a reason.

2. Our Skin Participates in Detoxification—But Not the Way TikTok Says

Let’s tell the truth here:

Our skin does not “detox our liver,”and it does not push toxins out through pores in the dramatic way wellness influencers claim.(Sweat glands are not a major detox pathway; the kidneys and liver do that.)

But—

Our skin does help remove certain water-soluble waste products through sweat, and it does respond visibly when our internal detox pathways are overwhelmed.

A few examples supported in dermatologic and physiologic literature:

• Dehydration → concentrated sweat → irritation

• High inflammation → increased skin reactivity

• Hormonal changes → sebum shifts

• Stress hormones → impaired skin-barrier repair

So while our skin is not a detox machine, it communicates when our internal balance is off. And that makes it just as important.

3. Our Skin Responds to our Emotions (Yes, Literally)

This is the part most people overlook, and where true, whole-body wellness starts to reveal itself. Our skin has an entire neuro-immune-endocrine communication network—meaning it reacts to our thoughts, mood, and emotional environment.

Examples supported in psychodermatology research:

• Stress increases cortisol → slows skin healing

• Anxiety and chronic tension increase inflammation

• Emotional suppression correlates with dermatologic flares (based on observational research, not causation)

We have all experienced this. We just don’t talk about it openly.

Our skin is often the first place your life shows up.

It reflects:

• when we’re overcommitted,

• when we’re not resting,

• when our body needs gentler care,

• and when our environment is draining us.

This isn’t “woo.”It’s physiology.

4. The Skin Barrier Is our Personal Peacekeeper

If there’s one truth every person should know, it’s this:

A compromised skin barrier makes everything worse. A healthy skin barrier makes everything more beautiful.

The barrier is made of:

• lipids (fats)

• ceramides

• protective natural oils

And it’s designed to:

• keep irritants out,

• prevent water loss,

• maintain balance,

• reduce inflammation,

• and signal calm to your immune system.

When this barrier is disrupted by:

• harsh cleansers,

• over-exfoliating,

• stripping foams,

• “anti-oil” trends,

• synthetic fragrances, your skin becomes louder and more reactive.

This is exactly why Sheandis exists: oil-based cleansing honors the barrier instead of fighting it. It works with the intelligence of your skin, not against it.

5. Our Skin Wants Ritual, Not Perfection

Here’s an uncommon perspective: Our skin doesn’t need 10 steps. It doesn’t need new trends. It doesn’t need clinical harshness.

It needs:

• consistency

• nourishment

• hydration

• healthy oils

• and a moment for you to stop rushing through your own care

Our skin thrives when we treat it like an organ and not a performance. It thrives when we slow down. When we breathe. When our routine becomes a moment of presence instead of pressure.

6. A Fresh Perspective: Our Skin Has a Voice—Listen to It

If there is one message I want you to take away, it’s this:

Our skin has been talking to us long before we ever picked up a cleanser.

It’s telling us:

• when we’re tired

• when we’re inflamed

• when we’re overwhelmed

• when our body needs rest

• when our spirit is unsettled

• when we’re not hydrated

• when our routine is too harsh

Your job is not to silence it with products. Your job is to listen. And then respond with nourishment.

7. Bringing It All Together: A Wellness Brand Rooted in Truth

At Sheandis and Pure Needs™, our foundational belief is simple: The skin is a communicator. A healer. A protector. An organ with divine intelligence. Our role is to support what it already knows how to do.

Through:

• oil-based cleansing that respects the barrier

• restorative exfoliation

• mineral-rich masks

• herbal blends that nurture internal calm

• rituals that honor your whole being

Your routine becomes more than skincare. It becomes self-communication. Self-respect. Self-honoring. Because our skin is not an ornament. It is a living part of our story. And when it’s cared for correctly, it becomes one of your greatest teachers.