Why Your Problem Skin Isn't Just Deep
We all dream of flawless skin.
But the mirror sometimes shows us a different picture.
Whether it’s acne, blackheads, scars, dry patches, redness or wrinkles, our skin can be plagued with problems seemingly beyond our control.
It’s tempting to reach for topical treatments like acne creams and wrinkle busters, but it’s important to remember problem skin isn’t just skin deep.
Our skin is a living organ - the largest of them all. And because skin is interconnected to the rest of the body’s systems, it can reveal a lot about our health below the surface.
The naturopathic approach to skin care focuses on addressing the underlying causes and triggers of skin problems.
In this article, we explore just some of the most common skin conditions and their potential triggers.
Common Skin Conditions
Acne: Acne vulgaris is a condition of the skin presenting as blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, or cysts.1 Acne can affect people of all ages, but is most common in teenagers and women due to hormonal fluctuations. Most people will experience acne at some point in their life. Approximately 85% of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 25 are affected by acne2, and it represents the eighth most common health disorder worldwide..
Dermatitis: Dermatitis is a common skin condition that has many causes and occurs in many forms. Dermatitis usually involves itchy dry skin, a rash or swollen, reddened skin3, and may cause the skin to blister, ooze, crust or flake off. Triggers of dermatitis can include allergies, pollution, stress, skin care products, make-up, mould, chemicals and genetics.
Eczema: Eczema affects the skin, causing redness, itching, and sometimes infections. 4
When eczema worsens it is called an eczema flare. Eczema usually first appears in early childhood and can be triggered by exposure to chemicals and allergens.
Rosacea: Rosacea is a condition that leads to swelling of the face, with redness, prominent blood vessels, and pustules. Triggers of rosacea5 include caffeine, alcohol, sunlight, hot and spicy foods, psychological stress, menstruation and extreme temperatures or temperature fluctuations.
Beyond the Surface
A common thread among these various skin conditions is their link to other health issues and imbalances within the body.
Studies are increasingly revealing a strong correlation between our lifestyles, diets and stress levels, and their influence on our skin.
This is why topical treatments often fall short, and emphasises why we need to look at our internal wellbeing and what we put into our bodies when addressing these external conditions.
Food choices, nutritional deficiencies, gut health, hormones and environmental factors all play an enormous role in the health of our skin.
Dietary factors
The foods we eat can have a major impact on the appearance and wellbeing of our skin. Foods allergies can cause obvious and rapid skin issues such as swelling and hives, but underlying intolerances can be a silent cause of a wide range of skin conditions. Compatibility testing can be used to look for inflammatory responses to certain foods which may be contributing to skin complaints. Some of the common triggers include:
Dairy: Dairy is a common allergen, and lactose can cause a wide range of health issues for many people. The hormones found in cow’s milk may cause an over-stimulation of oil glands resulting in acne.6
Gluten: Wheat allergy, gluten intolerance and coeliac disease are more commonly associated with impaired gut health, but gluten exposure can also cause multiple skin conditions including dermatitis, acne, psoriasis, hives and chronic dry skin.
Yeast: An overgrowth of Candida in the body can cause skin irritations and acne.
Sugar and high fructose corn syrup: Drives inflammation and spikes blood glucose levels, which can drive candida growth.
Alcohol - Heavy alcohol consumption can increase inflammation and lead to intestinal permeability or ‘leaky gut’ which may result in skin complaints.
Nutritional deficiencies
The role of nutrient deficiencies in many common skin conditions is well known.
The skin functions normally when the body’s nutritional needs are in balance on an ongoing basis, but sometimes this can be difficult to maintain.
Deficiencies in vitamins and nutrients can cause the skin to become stressed and lead to inflammation and ultimately skin disorders.
The key nutrients for healthy skin are:
Vitamin A - protects against photodamage from the sun
V Vitamins - protect against ageing in human skin
Vitamin C - necessary for collagen maintenance
Vitamin E - protects from free radicals
Selenium - minimises ultraviolet damage
Copper - promotes elastin in the skin
Zinc - regulates cell production and turnover
Gut health
When you’re staring down a zit in the mirror, you’re probably not blaming your intestines for causing it.
Modern research has confirmed the importance of the gut-skin axis8, which explains why a compromised microbiome can cause major skin issues.
So rather than reaching for the nearest skin cream, healthier skin might lie in encouraging and promoting a healthy gut microbiome, which can include a high fibre (prebiotic) diet9.
Hormones
The two most common hormones that affect the skin are oestrogen and testosterone10.
When the balance of these hormones is in harmony, the sebaceous glands regulate the production of sebum. But when that balance is compromised, either over or underproduction can occur, leading to everything from acne and excess sebum to dry skin.
Environment
Environmental factors such as heat and humidity, pollen, and airborne allergens can affect the health of our skin. Some environmental factors that affect skin are:
Diet
Air pollution
Dirty water
Heavy metals
Ultraviolet radiation
Plastics
Unclean bedding
Finding the Cause
To successfully address skin conditions, it is vital to first identify the underlying cause.
Pathology testing can be beneficial for identifying conditions such as hormonal imbalances as well as nutrient levels, heavy metals, and allergies.
While compatibility testing can assess the body’s response to a wide range of foods and household products, which may help to identify underlying causes of skin issues.
Wanting to love the skin you’re in? Book an appointment with me today.
References:
Williams. HC, et al, 2012, ’Acne Vulgaris’, Lancet, 379(9813): pp 361-372, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21880356>
Yentzer. BA, et al, 2010, ‘Acne vulgaris in the United States: a descriptive epidemiology’, Cutis, 86(2): pp 94-99, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20919604>
Schmitt J, et al, 2013, ‘Assessment of clinical signs of atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and recommendation’, The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 132(6): pp 1337-47 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24035157>
ASCIA, 2019, ‘Eczema’, Par 1, Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, <https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/skin-allergy/eczema>
Wang-Chi, 2019, ‘Association of rosacea with inflammatory bowel disease: A MOOSE-compliant meta-analysis’, Medicine, 98(41), <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31593075>
Pappas. A, 2009, ‘The relationship of diet and acne’, Dermato Endocrinology, 1(5), pp 262-267, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2836431/>
Basavaraj. K, et al, 2010, ‘Diet in Dermatology: Present Perspectives’, Indian Journal of Dermatology, 55(3), pp 5-6 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2965901/>
O’Neill. CA, et al, 2016, ‘The gut-skin axis in health and disease’, BioEssays, 38(11), pp 1167-1176, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27554239>
Weiss. E, et al, 2017 ‘Diet and rosacea: the role of dietary change in the management of rosacea’, Dermatology Practical and Conceptual, 7(4), pp 31-37 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5718124/
Zouboulis. C, et al, 2007, ‘Sexual hormones in human skin’, Hormone and Metabolic Research, 39(2), pp 85-95, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17326004>