Skin conditions are bothersome and frustrating.
Either acne, sudden skin rashes, rosacea, eczema, etc. can leave you feeling helpless and anxious.
Especially after you have tried everything under the sun and nothing has given you full relief.
The skin is a mirror of what is happening internally in your body.
It is an organ that helps with protection and detoxification among many others functions, and works hand and hand with all body systems, so when the body gets out of balance, it also affects the skin.
The digestive, nervous, endocrine and immune systems are particularly known to have a significant impact on the skin.
So, the manifestation of skin conditions is actually our body giving us red flag signs that something in the body needs to be looked at a deeper level.
Many times we overlook those signs because we focus more on the symptoms and try to look for ways to resolve the problem quick.
Unfortunately, there is no quick fix, neither a one size fits all solution, by now if you have suffered from a skin condition long enough, you know that very well.
Cortisone creams, antibiotics and over the counter remedies only provide temporary relief.
Why is that?
Because they miss addressing the root of the problem and only suppress the symptoms, so once the effect is gone the condition comes back.
Skin problems may be rooted in:
Food sensitivities, poor gut health, thyroid disfunction, inadequate body detoxification, autoimmune conditions, nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, microbiome dysbiosis etc.
As you can see, the root of the problem may seem totally unrelated to the symptoms that you may be experiencing.
Also, it is very important to consider that your biological blueprint is unique, and so should be your form of therapy.
Nonetheless, I want to share with you 4 helpful tips that can make a big difference in the skin:
#1 Avoid or eliminate SUGAR
This one is a BIGGIE!
Sugar is known for causing inflammation in the body and negatively affecting blood sugar levels. It also may contribute to gut dysbiosis, yeast overgrowth and encourages collagen break down, which accelerates aging and weakens the skin.
Keep in mind that there are many foods that contain hidden sugar, even when they don’t taste sweet.
#2 Consider introducing probiotics
Bad habits and stress have a dramatic effect on the state of the gut microflora affecting the microbiome.
Cumulative evidence has identified a close bidirectional connection between the gut and the skin and link gastrointestinal disorders with skin conditions.
Scientific studies have shown that certain probiotics enhance the function of the skin’s protective barrier by boosting production of ceramides and lipids that hold moisture in the skin and keep acne-causing bacteria levels in check.
For example, L. acidophilus and bifidum have been helpful at improving acne, while L. paracasei has had a positive effect on skin barrier function which helps to improve skin sensitivities and inflammation.
Restoring gut health can have a significant beneficial impact on the skin.
#3 Avoid or minimize gluten, dairy, corn, eggs and soy.
These are well known to cause allergic and food sensitivity reactions creating skin problems and rashes.
A simple way to find out if you are sensitive to those foods and measure if they affect your skin, is by avoiding the food for a couple of weeks and then reintroducing it again and observe at how your body responds to it.
Some observations you may want to be attentive to during the avoidance period is if there is improvement in redness, or less congestion if you suffer from acne, or if the rash diminishes or becomes more tolerable if you suffer from eczema.
#4 Drink more water.
This may sound cliché, but water is involved in every body function.
When we don’t drink enough water our body actually gets used to living with less water, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t need it but it is preserving every drop for survival, so you can be very dehydrated at a cellular level and don’t even know it.
It may surprise you that once you begin to drink more water, you will feel the need to drink more often.
And when you increase water intake, the body is able to perform its functions more optimally and it also benefits the skin.
Avoid plastic bottles, chemical compounds like BPA in plastic can leak in the water and disrupt hormonal functions, which may have an influence on the skin as well.
If you feel that you have tried everything and your skin condition does not improve, maybe it’s time to take a closer look at how your whole body is functioning and take action in doing some lifestyle shifts to support your body to create health.
Big changes happen when we take into consideration influential factors and triggers including those that cause imbalances and those that help support the body and the skin.
Thank you for being here.
Until next time!
Dora Salazar
Functional Skin and Wellness Specialist
Sources
The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6048199/
What do probiotics have to do with your skin?
Olien, Darin, Superlife.2017.
