Total skin health isn’t just about what we’re doing on the outside, but also what we’re doing on the inside to support our skin.

Whilst the products and treatments we choose to treat the likes of acne, pigmentation, inflammation, and the signs of ageing play an incredibly important role, they don’t paint the whole picture when it comes to truly understanding the root cause of your skin concerns.

So, what do we do when our outer work isn’t cutting it? We look inwards. The connection between our brain, gut and skin is extraordinary and whilst often overlooked in the total skin journey, is something we’re incredibly passionate about in our clinic.

Today, we’re going to explore the role 3 key factors play in our skin health that has absolutely nothing to do with your daily skincare routine.

Gut health

When it comes to an array of skin and health conditions, it often begins with the gut.

Made up of trillions of bacteria and microbe strains, known as the microbiome, the gut requires balance to optimally support the rest of our body. When the microbiome is out of balance, we often notice other issues within the body, particularly the skin.

Our second brain (yes, it really is that intelligent), our gut is in constant communication with our brain and holds the answers to what is really going on in our body and how we can move forward proactively and positively.

What is most interesting about the gut is that it’s also in direct communication with our skin. This is known as the gut-skin axis. A pathway designed via the microbiome, the condition of our gut directly impacts the condition of our skin which is why when our skin isn’t feeling its best, it can often be linked back to what’s happening on the inside.

The great news is that our gut health can be nurtured to function at its best at any stage of life. Thinking of the gut as a garden, if we cultivate it with nourishing soil, and a variety of beautiful flora and tend to it regularly, that garden will thrive and grow.

For our clients, who we believe are experiencing a gut imbalance, we refer them to a naturopath who specialises in gut health and works alongside us in the clinic to achieve optimal results.

With the gut being very complex and individualised, each client’s approach to improving their gut health will be different but some effective changes everyone can make to support their gut include reducing inflammatory foods, boosting our intake of antioxidants, supporting microbial diversity by adding fermenting foods to our diets and of course, ensuring high-quality probiotics feature in our supplementation routine or diet.

Nutrition

Whilst we’re on the topic of supporting the skin from within, let’s move on to nutrition, another vital factor to consider in your overall skin journey.

There’s no denying that when we eat better, we feel better, right? The same goes for our skin. When we’re nourishing our body with vitamin-packed, deliciously nutritious foods, our skin is thanking us!

The menu of skin-loving foods could have us here for hours so today, we’re going to focus on a few key nutrients that everyone can add to their routine to create a skin-loving diet.

The first is antioxidants. Antioxidants, like Vitamin C and E, work hard to neutralise free radicals and stop oxidative stress in their tracks. Simultaneously, these vitamins support the renewal of skin cells, helping the skin to feel stronger and more youthful.

Fruits such as kiwi fruit, berries and citrus fruits and vegetables like capsicum, tomatoes, and broccoli all feature a high percentage of Vitamin C whereas the likes of sunflower seeds, almonds, and spinach will give you your Vitamin E fix.

Essential fatty acids are an exceptional way to support the skin from within by reducing inflammation, adding moisture and overall nourishment to the skin. Our body does not produce EFAs which is why we must attain them through food, like fish and chia seeds, and via supplementation.

On the skin healing front, zinc, is a fantastic addition to our diet, particularly for those experiencing acne as it helps to control oil production and prevent further skin disruptions. Now, this may make some of you wince, but oysters are your number one option when it comes to a zinc boost.

Emotional wellbeing

Inner wellbeing is not limited to the likes of our gut, digestion, and nutrition but also how we’re feeling emotionally. Emotional wellbeing plays one of the most significant roles in the presentation of our skin, particularly when it comes to stress.

When we are feeling stressed, our body enters “fight or flight mode”, our brain’s natural response when faced with perceived danger. Unfortunately, whilst this natural instinct is important in some circumstances, the body cannot differentiate a death-defying scenario versus a bout of stress or anxiety and therefore releases a rush of cortisol into the body.

When our body is overloaded with cortisol, the stress hormone, our skin misses out on important nutrients to thrive as the body is too busy trying to ‘fight off’ these non-existent dangers. Not only do we not feel our best during a surplus of cortisol, but it shows up on our skin through inflammation, an overproduction of oil, fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness.

Our skin health is another example of how mindfulness can transform our overall wellbeing. Mindfulness doesn’t need to be the likes of meditation or yoga if that’s not your thing – it can be absolutely anything that regularly gives you a moment of time-out and escape from your daily grind. This may be drinking your morning tea in silence outside, taking a walk with calming music or even an evening bath with your eyes closed and focused on the feeling of the water ripples. When we can lower our daily levels of cortisol, our skin and body, have a better chance of behaving in a more balanced and calm state ongoing.