Trust Your Gut When it Comes to Your Skin
In order for your skin to look good, it is dependent upon how you treat it from the outside and the inside. You may have heard the term gut-skin axis. Our skin is like a window to our gut, if you are suffering constipation, diarrhea, bloating or gas there is a good chance you may be experiencing facial dryness, rosacea, acne or other inflammatory skin conditions. These are some of the symptoms of poor gut health and research has shown by addressing your gut health through diet, lifestyle and supplemental support you will be glowing from the inside out.
The gut is often referred to as our second brain and has a definite link with both our well-being and skin health. While our gut is certainly not one of the most glamorous organs in our body, 1-2 kgs of microbes that live there, form each person’s unique microbiome. Our brain isn’t the only organ in control of our emotions – 95% of serotonin, the body’s happy hormone is created in the gut and also has a profound effect on our physical, mental and emotional balance. Without good gut health, we are unlikely to be absorbing efficiently the nutrients we are taking in and therefore our skin will reflect our poor health. Our gut bacteria are important to assist with producing micro-nutrients like vitamins and antioxidants from the food we ingest. Our gut will also support the breakdown of macro nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats to ease digestion and keep our colon healthy.
Some of the signs of poor gut health might be food allergies, poor memory, autoimmune disease, diabetes, anxiety, depression, hormonal imbalances, low energy, dark circles under the eyes, frequent infections, mood swings, interrupted sleep, acne, dry skin, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.
When the regulatory balance in the gut is evident this in turn creates an inflammatory response which will often show up in the skin with one or more of the above conditions. Remember our skin is our largest organ and is often the outside mirror for what is happening on the inside. If the skin is inflamed, it usually means our inside is screaming out to us for help on the inside. The gut microbiome and the skin are intrinsically connected, offering a defence against pathogens in the environment. This gut-skin axis has been linked to many inflammatory skin disorders. When there is dis-ease within the gut there is often inflammation in the skin.
So how can you keep your gut healthy? A good rule of thumb is to eat a wide variety of nutritious whole foods from all food groups, which will also contain a lot of plant foods that are beneficial for your gut bacteria. An easy way to think of good food compared to that which may not be so healthy is to limit drastically food which comes in a packet. One of the best kinds of food for good gut health is that which is fermented such as yoghurt, kimchi and apple cider vinegar as they are overflowing with good probiotics. These support our immune defences and can also help to break down foods we can find hard to digest. The second way to support good gut health is through prebiotics found in foods like barley, beans, garlic, onions, cabbage, asparagus and legumes. A good nutritionist or naturopath may assist with your gut health.
While you are working on your inside with a good health professional, the external inflammation can be reduced with in Clinic treatments such as the Jet Peel Exfoliation and Infusion. Often the skin will be experiencing dryness, flaking, acne and inflammation and when these are reduced through gentle but effective, cooling exfoliation techniques, hydrating and calming serums can be absorbed much more effectively assisting with topical results.
By making simple changes to your diet and correcting any underlying imbalances in your gut your skin will thank you for it with a radiant complexion.
