Glowing Skin au Naturel By Cait Barbiero, ND
and overall appearance is a direct refl ection of our health, so it’s worth paying attention to not just for vanity’s sake, but also for our wellbeing. Our skin communicates with us that something is wrong internally, and then sends out a physical signal that requires attention. The good news is that the human body is resilient; its main goal is to heal itself and given some help, it can do just that! Let’s take a look at how Naturopathic Physicians diagnose and treat common skin conditions.
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Improve the Gut, Improve the Skin The skin is our largest organ, and it gives us many clues as
to what’s going on in our bodies. If you want a glowing complex- ion, let’s fi rst look at the skin/gut connection and how it all works. Naturopathic doctors carefully consider the microbiome, which is fi lled with a community of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses that inhabit our body. Our microbiome is vital for our daily functioning and protects us against germs, breaks down food to release energy, and produces vitamins.
An imbalance in our microbiome is often the cause of condi-
tions such as acne, rashes and psoriasis. A good probiotic can work toward balancing out the bacteria in the gut and has a positive effect on the skin. There are also many common food triggers that manifest themselves through the skin. Gluten intolerance can cause rashes and psoriasis, and dairy insensitivity can lead to eczema, especially in children.
Naturopathic physicians consider our body’s cues and treat ap- propriately based on each individual patient and his or her unique set of symptoms. The approach may be to avoid a particular food trigger, while also incorporating more nutritious foods that help to nurture our gut and skin. Our liver and kidneys are closely connect- ed to our complexion. These organs fi lter out impurities and toxins from the body, so if you are consuming food that requires these organs to work overtime, it’ll show up in your skin with breakouts.
Sugar causes both acne and aging of the skin, so we encour- age minimizing processed foods and sugars and focusing more on whole foods. We often need to add in more organic fruits and vegetables, along with foods high in omegas such as walnuts, salmon and fl ax. Our cells need to be hydrated, so increasing water consumption will help to fl ush out toxins, and plump up our skin’s surface by fi lling in fi ne lines and wrinkles.
Vitamin A
NDs will examine vitamin and mineral defi ciencies that could be affecting your skin. For instance, if your immune system isn’t
30 Natural Nutmeg - July/August 2018
e all strive for that dewy, soft, glowing skin that re- minds us of youth and vitality. Yet our skin is often dry, blemished and dull. Our skin tone, clarity, hydration
operating at a top level –a rash, acne or eczema could present itself. In particular, Vitamin A is vital in this area and some signs that a patient may have Vitamin A defi ciency include getting sick often and having a hard time getting over a cold.
It’s important that Vitamin A is taken under the care of a doctor.
In high doses, Vitamin A can be very dangerous and isn’t safe for pregnancy. Caution must be taken to prescribe the right dosage of a medical grade supplement, in this case, typically 25,000 IUs of Vitamin A. Always consult with your ND or functional medicine doctor fi rst.
Skincare with Simple Ingredients
We’ve heard the advice that our food labels should contain simple, easy-to-recognize ingredients. The same goes for our skin- care. The human body absorbs whatever product we apply topically to the skin, which can lead to toxicity, even from brands that claim to be “natural.”
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is an organiza- tion that specializes in research and advocacy in the areas of toxic chemicals, agricultural subsidies, and corporate accountability. EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database is a great resource for learning about the safety of a product’s ingredients. They report on a variety of products such as makeup, skin care, sunscreen, hair products, fragrances and products for babies and children. Check out
www.EWG.org to learn more about what’s in your cabinet.
Natural Products to Try
• Herbal products are more powerful than you may realize. Try herbal serums and primrose oil to get your skin dewy and clear.
• Moisturizers made from manuka, honey and aloe are wonderful – they are as soothing as they are regenerative.
• For a gentle herbal face wash without harmful chemicals, try Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap
https://www.drbronner.com. (They also have great lip care products.)
• Castor oil is great for detoxifying and for helping drain lymph. Try it on eyelashes and brows to improve hair growth.
• For a great exfoliator, try Acure’s Brilliant Brightening Facial Scrub made with sea kelp and French green clay.
https://www.acureorganics.com/brilliantly-brighteningtm- facial-scrub.html
• 100% Pure offers a line of hydrogel sheet masks that hydrate, boost collagen, repair, and brighten. Naturally derived ingre- dients come from herbs and fl owers.
100percentpure.com
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