The largest organ in our body, our skin is our first line of defence, and often the primary route our body tries to expel any excess toxins, stress or hormones. Skin conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis are often a symptom of something else going on in the body.
The health of our skin is personal. It reflects how we feel on the inside but can also dictate our emotions. The appearance of our skin can have a massive impact on our self confidence, and can cause great discomfort both physically and emotionally.
It is estimated that eczema sufferers spend an average of $2000 per year on various derma logical creams and products. These topical products often provide some short term relief, but they don’t get to the root of the problem.
There are many factors which contribute to skin disorders. Common triggers include:
* Stress
* Poor diet and lifestyle
* Hormonal imbalances
* Poor liver function
* Food Intolerances and/or Allergies
All of these triggers directly impact the health of our gut or our gut function is vital in the management of these underlying factors.
This connection between the health of our gut and our skin is known as the gut-skin axis. And refers to how the health of our gut; microbiome , integrity and function; determines the health of our skin.
Common digestive disorders which impact our skin health:
* Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
* Leaky Gut Syndrome
* Candida/Thrush
In leaky gut for example, our gut lining has become inflamed and damaged, i.e. “leaky,” due to poor diet and lifestyle, stress, infections and medications (especially the oral contraceptive pill). This inflammation spreads systemically throughout the body, and for some individuals, this affects their skin.
Due to this inflammation, the layers of our skin can become damaged, our skin loses its integrity and its protective hydrolipid layer, which plays an important role in the development of skin disorders.
The role of our micro biome is also evident in skin disorders. High levels of toxic by-products have been identified in the gut of acne sufferers. And SIBO has been shown to be 10 times more prevalent in people with acne rosacea, with the treatment of SIBO resulting in a great improvement in this skin condition. Chronic thrush or candida overgrowth, can become systemic too and often spreads to funghal skin conditions.
When treating skin conditions, we address diet and lifestyle factors, stress, and nutrition. But for long term results, we must treat the root of the problem…the gut!
Long term relief from skin problems is achieved by treating any underlying gut issues like SIBO, Candida, Leaky gut syndrome or using a comprehensive stool analysis to check for the presence of any bacterial, yeast or parasitic infections.
Identifying food intolerances through testing or elimination diets and removing these trigger foods is also important for long term success. A comprehensive gut and liver detox like our Cleanse + Reset program is also one of the most effective ways to get the best results in a short period of time.
SKIN HEALING TIPS
TIP 1. Probiotics
Specific probiotic strains have been shown to improve skin conditions and regulate inflammation in the skin. For example, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus strain has been shown to reduce the incidence of eczema in kids by up to 40% when taken by the mother throughout pregnancy.
TIP 2. Omega-3 essential fatty acids
These are anti-inflammatory and help re-build that hydrolipid layer of the skin which is damaged in chronic skin problems. Foods rich in EFAs’s include oily fish like salmon, walnuts, chia seeds and flaxseeds.
Contact Amanda at Zest+Zing for more information on skin conditions or the Cleanse + Reset program.
