Gut Health and our Skin

Our skin care routines can be long and exhaustive including cleansers, serums, toners, moisturizers, et al. Despite this, however, many of still experience skin flare ups like acne and breakouts as well as struggles with other inflammatory conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Our skin can also appear dull, listless, and be prone to damage like fine lines, dark spots, etc.

The only explanation of these persistent skin issues is that our skin is reflecting the poor health of our internal organs. Today we will discuss the link between our gut health and our skin. Our gut is made up of thousands of different strains of bacteria, all of them in a delicate balance known as the gut microbiome. A healthy microbiome gives us a healthy immune system, efficient digestive function, and also keeps inflammation at bay. In light of this, it makes sense that inflammatory skin conditions are linked to poor gut health. 

So what exactly causes poor gut health? Well there are a lot of factors including the use of antibiotics, persistent levels of stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, etc. These can throw off the delicate balance of beneficial bacteria and cause a host of issues which manifest in skin conditions as well. While many of us suffer from poor gut health, there is much you can do to repopulate your gut with beneficial bacteria and support its healthy functioning. 

Your diet is probably the first and foremost factor in healing your gut health. It is important to nourish your gut health with rich foods like organ meats, healthy fats, and bone broth. Another important addition to your diet should be fermented vegetables and drinks which are rich in probiotics. These will help heal your gut lining while populating your gut with beneficial bacteria. Drinking more water and eating fibrous foods is also important. At the same time, junk foods, processed foods, sweeteners, and unhealthy grains should not be part of your daily diet. 

It is also important to rethink your relationship with stress. Meditating, yoga, deep breathing, and other mindfulness techniques can help manage stress without stressing your gut microbiome. Getting enough sleep and exercise are also important factors to ensure adequate gut health. Take care of the internal functioning of your body, nourish it, heal it, and you’ll begin to see the results in the health of your skin, hair, and nails.