Have you ever wondered why your skin might break out or have eruptions, dryness, eczema, or rashes?
Have you ever wondered what’s going on? Why does this happen?
It often happens just before a big event, when you’re stressed, or at an inconvenient time.
You might reach for a topical cream, hoping it will soothe the area and make it disappear.
Going Beyond Surface Solutions
Instead of just putting on that band-aid with a topical cream, let’s look beyond that.
Let’s look past the skin’s surface to understand what’s going on underneath. What’s happening internally, that’s driving these skin conditions
When we look deep inside, we actually get to the root cause of what’s going on, correct it, and then we can move forward without constantly needing those topical creams to cover it up.
The skin reflects what’s happening inside your body— what’s happening in your digestion, liver, and immune system.
The skin is our largest elimination organ, and it doesn’t just erupt or get a rash for no reason.
There’s usually something deeper going on. So, let’s consider a couple of scenarios.
Acne
Let’s look at acne. If you have chronic breakouts—whether it’s one or two spots, a face full of blemishes, acne on your back, or even related to your hormones—what’s going on.
It’s not just the bacteria on your skin deciding, “Hey, let’s have a party” and erupting into pimples or cysts.
Instead, it’s an imbalance in the mechanisms underlying the skin.
By examining the underlying issue, we can unravel what’s happening with acne. So whenever I work with clients with acne, I look at liver health.
Since the skin is our largest elimination organ, if the liver isn’t eliminating toxins correctly, those toxins circulate through the body. The bacteria on the skin then metabolise some of these toxins, resulting in the acne you see.
Now, let’s go back and consider the liver.
The liver is also responsible for hormone regulation. So, if you’re experiencing hormonal acne, it’s the liver that needs to break down those excess hormones to help balance your body.
Let’s not forget to look at gut health in relation to acne.
The gut microbiome is essential to skin health. You may have heard about the gut flora and its beneficial microbes.
The skin has its own beneficial microbes, and there’s a relationship between gut flora and skin flora.
Simply using a topical antiseptic cream doesn’t address the gut flora imbalance.
In fact, you might end up killing some of the beneficial microbes on the skin without fixing the gut flora. Can you see the connection?
This is the exciting part about looking beyond the skin’s surface and addressing the underlying cause.
So, if you want to help your body clear acne, start by looking internally—at the liver and the gut.
Dry, Flaky Skin
Clients come to me and say, “I’m using so much moisturiser, but my skin is still constantly dry and
flaky, and it’s really getting me down.”
When I look into what’s happening for them, I think about the skin, with each skin cell like a tiny bubble with a lipid membrane. This membrane coats the cell, allowing nutrients to move in and out.
We need good fats to help coat these membranes of all our cells, not just the skin cells but all the cells in our body.
So if you’re not getting enough essential fatty acids—like those from avocado, nuts and seeds, deep-sea fish, or olive oil—then you may not be supplying enough beneficial fats to your body.
Without enough essential fats, the lipid membrane around each skin cell may be poor quality, and your skin might appear dry and flaky. Simply increasing your intake of essential fatty acids can support the health and vitality of your skin.
It’s amazing how many of my clients, once they add these good fats into their diet, come back to me and say, “My skin has never looked so youthful!“
Look at what you’re eating and consider how it might affect your skin condition
Eczema
This is another common skin issue I see in the clinic. Over the years, I’ve worked with many clients with eczema—both children and adults.
For adults, eczema tends to flare up when they’re stressed or not eating as healthily as they should.
When it comes to eczema, I focus on three main areas, starting with the immune system.
Eczema can be due to an immune dysfunction, so it’s essential to identify what the body is reacting to, which triggers the redness and itchiness.
What’s triggering the immune system – is it environmental or food-related?
Balancing the immune reactivity and then investigating gut health is a necessary process.
The gut microbiome supports immunity and skin health.
By optimising these two areas and pinpointing whether the trigger is environmental or foodrelated, we can gain an understanding of the triggers of eczema.
The great news is that eczema can be relieved. The eczema symptoms can disappear when balancing these systems and supporting their health.
I’ve seen this happen repeatedly in my clinic, and it doesn’t come back unless something disrupts
that balance.
It’s all about maintaining a healthy gut microbiome and immune system balance.
Dark Circles Under Eyes
Many clients who come to me with dark circles under their eyes, saying, “I’m sleeping enough, but I still look tired.”
They tell me that the darkness under their eyes is getting them down emotionally, and they just can’t get rid of them.
If you’re struggling with dark circles under your eyes, there could be a few reasons why………
Dark circles can be a telltale sign of liver health.
So, let’s examine liver function, specifically its detoxification pathways, to see if the body is effectively removing toxins.
Dark circles under the eyes can also be related to gut health.
Are there any food intolerances? Is there a need to support the gut microbiome or address a leaky gut issue?
Another area I often look at is nutrition.
Is the person low in key nutrients like iron. Low iron can also contribute to that telltale darkness under the eyes.
So, as you can see, finding the root cause is essential to correcting the issue, rather than just covering dark circles with concealer or using a cream to mask symptoms like acne.
By addressing these factors, we can help reduce the appearance of darkness under the eyes.
Our skin is a complex, intelligent organ, and it’s often the first place we’ll see signs that something inside our body needs attention.
Instead of just treating the surface, try taking a holistic approach to your skin health.
Addressing your liver, gut, and adrenal health can make a profound difference in how your skin looks and feels.
And remember, glowing, vibrant skin starts from within. Listen to your skin—it’s telling you more than you might think!
Ready to kick start Gut Health? Book a Call!
This is how gut microbes can influence weight!
Probiotics can help you gain weight or lose weight by interacting with our genetics, food and metabolism.
And yes, I did say lose or gain weight……..
Firstly, let me explain that the trillions of microbes in the gut need to be varied, meaning that there should be a large variety of species. There are many different species (or breeds) of microbes, and they all have their place in aiding health — the more variety and balance, the better health results.
Back to the weight loss or weight gain issue….
Do you eat yogurt and berries for breakfast? Thinking that it’s helping you lose weight?
Well, Lactobacillus acidophilus (like the species found in yoghurt) has been connected to weight gain.
I am not saying throw your yoghurt and berries in the bin. Instead, I am suggesting looking at the overall picture. If Lactobacillus acidophilus is the predominant micro-organism of the gut, then weight gain can result.
It is about the variety of species of gut microbes. Imagine if we only have trained german shepherd guard dogs in the world. It may be a safe world, but I am sure that other breeds may be more suitable as a family pet.
While Lactobacillus acidophilus is associated with weight gain, other Lactobacillus species correlate with weight loss.
Species like Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Bifidobacteria animalis have been found to support weight loss.
Want to lose weight?
Look at your gut flora to support your goal.
Tests can be performed to identify the predominant species of the gut, and specific species can be utilised to support weight changes.
Want more information about your gut health?
Or want to look at all the factors contributing to weight gain, I’d love to be able to help.
