Gut health is the forgotten element in skincare. The wellness movement deserves our gratitude for helping to spread the word, but the secret is science is only just beginning to scratch the surface of how our gut is interacting with everything else in our bodies. Exactly what your gut health is doing to your skin has been a mystery for quite some time, and it’s a relationship that many skin therapists look over in the process of rejuvenating your face. So while you work on your goals topically, if the inner root cause is left unaddressed, your skin issues will continue to manifest time and time again.
It’s time to take a look at the role of gut health in skin health and nourish your divine glow from the inside out.
How The Gut Contributes To Skin
The gut microbiome is a fascinating part of our human biology. The microbiome refers to the colony of billions of bacteria that live in our gut, where in an ideal world a few are bad, but most are good. This bacteria taking up residence inside each of us plays an important role in our overall health; they determine how we digest certain foods, the strength of our immune system, to an extent our mental health and mood and of course, the health of our skin.
Because the skin is like a sponge, it can also be susceptible to bad bacteria that live within the gut, which may in turn make their way to the skin microbiome and present as acne and irritation. The interesting part is that while some bacteria may be influenced by different foods we eat and supplements we take (more on that shortly), there’s evidence to now show that part of our gut microbiome was formed before we were born, which is truly incredible to consider.
It’s a complex relationship to explore and the science behind it can be quite granular, but a familiarity with this puts you in the best possible position to support your gut in the way that it needs.
Foods That Aggravate The Gut
Just as some foods support the gut microbiome in it’s needs, there are certain groups of foods that can harm the bacteria colony or are simply detrimental to gut health overall. In a world that we can only dream of, we would be able to eat all of the nice cheeses and sweet treats while maintaining a beautifully radiant glow, but for most of us this is far from reality.
Dairy is one of those key players in inflammation of the skin. While there are few things I love more than a well put together cheeseboard, many people can often notice that in the following days their skin is visibly more irritated, with a few blemishes sneaking through, and we have the gut microbiome to thank for that. Dairy breaks down into certain compounds, including the infamous lactose, which all need to be digested in the gut. More often than not these compounds can irritate the gut, leading to inflammation that ultimately arises in the skin in the way of breakouts, rashes and even ongoing itches.
Foods That Nourish The Gut
Not all delicious foods are lost in the name of skincare; there are some essential parts of the diet that perform skin miracles. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are just one of these gut nourishing goodies that support the skin to shine. These are essential in our diet because our bodies don’t naturally produce them, but they’re needed for widespread activities in the body; including supporting the skin. There are also a group of fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E & K, which as the name suggests need healthy fats to be properly absorbed in the body.
Finding all of these essential nutrients in a daily diet or a single supplement can be a challenge, which is why the brains trust behind DMK formulated EFA Ultra - with skincare in mind. This supplement has more than 190 nutrients and bioactive substances all entirely sourced from plant-based ingredients. Coconut oil, mekabu seaweed extract, sea buckthorn and evening primrose work to soothe and nourish the body, increase water levels in the skin and improve its structural integrity and barrier function. EFAs also contain the essential minerals magnesium and zinc. Zinc deficiency is common in the modern diet, but it is essential for anti-inflammatory and immune support. For any skin undergoing a revision program, or seeking general health, EFA’s are a priority.
Cleansing The Gut For Skin Health
When the gut is compromised or burdened by foods and other stressors, ‘leaky gut’ can arise. This condition is typically caused by intestinal permeability - meaning substances can pass through the intestines and into the bloodstream with the good nutrients, when they normally shouldn’t. This can include the toxins in foods we eat and other lifestyle habits, like drinking or smoking, and by way of the incredible human body, they end up in our skin. For those struggling with ongoing gut health issues that present in the skin, consider exploring a program that supports the body through a gentle cleansing process; filtering out the detrimental toxins and replacing them with essential nutrients. If you’re new to cleansing for beauty, I recommend the Regul8 supplements, which we offer here in the salon.
Taking a closer look at the foods you eat and the role they play in skin health doesn’t have to be a trying process, it’s something that our team of paramedical skin therapists are more than happy to help you with in the salon. It’s comforting to be confident that the advice and supplements you’re getting are best suited to you, your skin and your individual needs - which is why we offer this advice. If you want to be sure that you’re on the right path, come in to see us today.
HEalth
