BY MANDY CARR, QUALIFIED NATUROPATH, FLANNERYS VICTORIA POINT
From managing skin conditions like rosacea and eczema to supporting hydration, tone, texture, aging and acne, naturopathic approach to skin health focuses on addressing the underlying causes of skin issues. Rather than just treating symptoms, it’s important to consider the whole person, their lifestyle, diet, and emotional wellbeing. Prolonged stress, gut health imbalances, poor digestion, allergies to household cleaners, mould and dust and hormonal changes may affect the health of our skin, which can signal a myriad of health disturbances within.
Helpful tips for glowing skin
Improve your diet
Eating large amounts of processed foods and consuming alcohol can lead to an imbalance in digestive flora, which could lead to red, irritated skin. Add fermented foods like sauerkraut and kefir to support the healthy bacteria in your gut, as well as hydrating foods such as watermelon, cucumber and leafy greens. Investigate and take an interest in good gut health as it’s closely connected with your skin. Probiotics and prebiotics are great tools to build a resilient and healthy gut microbiome. Try to remove or limit gluten, dairy and alcohol, which can contribute to irritations and underlying skin conditions.
Collagen and Bone Broth
Add into your daily routine, whether it is flavoured collagen in your water bottle or swapping your morning coffee with a warm cup of broth. These can support your gut and skin health with essential vitamins and minerals that target skin healing and cell rejuvenation.
Sleep & Stress
Tune into your ability to adapt to stressful situations – are you feeling easily triggered or have tightness in the jaw? Stress can manifest in the health of your skin by holding toxins due to your glands producing more oil. Whether it’s signs of premature aging or aggravating psoriasis or eczema, your body is trying to tell you to slow down.
And we know that stress and quality sleep go hand in hand. When we can achieve a deep, restful state of sleep–we allow our bodies the best chance of recovery and repair time. Support a healthy stress response with exercise that raises the heart rate, puts you into a meditative state, supports blood flow and sweats out toxins. Magnesium and sleep aids such as herbal tea, as well as removing stimulants such as caffeine, sugar and alcohol, may improve your ability to rest.
Support the health of your skin – your body’s largest organ, with:
- Collagen and Bone Broth.
- Herbal medicine and vitamins such as zinc, a and b, and gotu kola.
- Naturopathic formulated skincare with calming ingredients to cleanse and rebalance the exterior of your skin.
- Stay clear of toxic chemicals that only add to any stress placed on the skin. This also includes reviewing your household cleaners, laundry wash and deodorants.
- Sea moss gel is packed with nutrition for healthy skin.
- Omega 3-rich foods such as salmon, tuna, chia and flaxseed oil can offer hydration and anti-inflammatory support to help with irritated skin and flare-ups with eczema and psoriasis.
- Hydrate, then hydrate more! Ensure you have quality water, electrolyte-packed coconut water and aloe vera juice to soothe digestion and hydrate from within.
Always consult with a healthcare practitioner before starting any new supplements.
