Written by Vera Coetsee, Health and Nutrition Coach
12 January 2023
Our skin is our first visual representation of our overall health and well-being, and looking at your skin can give you an indication of what is going on inside your body. Skin health also reflects our age, how much sleep we get, and what our diet looks like. As the largest organ of our body, it acts as a shield against the external environment and protects us from harmful infections and chemicals. It helps regulate your body temperature, acts as a filler against natural elements, excretes oil and waste, and is responsible for our ability to feel physical sensations. Taking these factors into account, it goes without saying, the importance of taking care of this vital organ is an integral part of staying healthy and living well.
Factors such as poor diet, age, stress and a lack of good skin care regime can put a major strain on our skin health. The good news is that you can achieve radiant and healthy skin without having to take drastic measures. Making simple lifestyle changes and establishing a proper skincare routine can do wonders for your skin health. Focussing on both your internal and external environment will provide your body with the right nutrients and resources to stay healthy and glowing.
Take care of your gut
More and more emphasis is being placed on the importance of gut health, and more research is proving the effect our microbiome can have on our overall health. So it should not be surprising to hear that this is also true when it comes to skin health. Research shows that underlying gut health issues can manifest on the skin in many ways, from blemishes to flushing. An unhealthy gut microbiome can play a key role in the development of many inflammatory disorders of the skin. Our gut microbiome maintains homeostasis throughout our body, and can majorly affect our skin if it becomes unbalanced. If we experience any issues with our gut, like inflammation or digestion problems, our skin is the first place we see the problems. First step to take when it comes to gut health is to make sure we are fueling our bodies with the nutrients it needs to function well. In order to digest well, produce energy, and provide our skin with the right nutrients it needs, our body needs enough macronutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals). So ditch the processed foods and focus on adding wholefoods to your diet. A special focus should also be placed on your liver, our major detoxification organ. If our liver is not able to properly detox our toxins, then it will appear on our skin. We need to make sure we’re supporting good liver function, so that it can detoxify and metabolise, produce bile, aid in digestion, and regulate our hormones. Liver supporting foods include beets, lemons, grapefruit, blueberries, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, eggs, fatty fish and nuts.
Add healthy fats to your diet
For many decades, the media have made us believe that a low-fat diet is the way to go and that fats are bad. This is far from the truth. More research is proving the importance of healthy fats in your diet, which include omega-3 and omega-6 fats, especially for skin health. Essential fatty acids (EFA’s) serve as the building blocks of healthy cell membranes and are an integral component of the skin’s moisture barrier. Strong cell membranes can protect our skin against environmental damage by restoring the skin barrier. Dry skin and hair are key signs that your body is lacking essential fatty acids. A healthy lipid barrier helps skin to retain its moisture and absorb beneficial vitamins and minerals, which helps to keep irritants out that can cause dryness and inflammation. EFA’s need to be sourced from our diet so make sure to add healthy fats to your plate to ensure healthy looking skin. Healthy fats that you can add to your diet include avocados, fatty fish, seeds, organic eggs, chia seeds, flax seeds, extra virgin olive oil.
Supplement with Collagen
The most important protein for your skin, and one you most likely have heard of from the media is Collagen. Collagen supplements contain amino acids (protein), which has been shown to promote our hair, nail, and skin health, and is an essential structural component of our skin’s dermis layer. Studies done on skin health notes that this important protein depletes as we age, which makes it essential to obtain in supplement form in our later years. With age, collagen becomes more fragmented rather than compact, which reduces the skin’s elasticity and contributes to sagging skin and wrinkles. The benefits of collagen include supporting skin elasticity, supporting hydration, and promoting healthy and firm complexion. So add collagen to your supplement regime to prevent your skin from sagging.
Get regular facials
Getting regular facials from a professional skin therapist is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy and glowing complexion. A professional therapist will be able to concentrate on specific areas your skin needs extra support with. An organic facial can help to rejuvenate and restore your skin by providing you with a deep-cleanse and key nutrients your skin needs for an immediate boost. Benefits of our organic facial includes improving skin texture, improving the overall health of the skin and circulation, reducing the appearance of large pores, stimulating blood flow, and providing a time to relax and rewind.
Stay hydrated
Drinking enough water is essential for overall skin health. Not only does clean water moisture your skin and keep it healthy, hydrating your body has many other endless benefits. Almost all organs in your body need H2O to function properly. Your body requires proper hydration to carry out key functions such as moving along beneficial fluids more effectively, flushing out unwanted toxins, helping to lower inflammation and supporting your skin’s moisture barrier. It is also essential for the production of collagen which is needed to keep your skin strong and elastic. Although drinking clean and pure water is the best way to hydrate your body, you can also add water-rich foods into your diet to up your hydration. Foods that contain a large water weight include cucumber, tomatoes, celery, watermelon and strawberries. Most non-starchy vegetables and fruits will provide you with the extra hydration your skin needs. The general rule is to drink 2L of water every day, but this might increase/decrease depending on your activity level and which season you are in. Remember to listen to your body and skin, and adjust your water intake as needed.
About our Acne Program
Acne is an inflammatory disorder of pilosebaceous units and is prevalent in adolescence but can occur at any age. It can appear as papules, pustules, cysts and nodules which may lead to scarring and hyperpigmentation. In our acne program, we aim to address the root causes of diet, hormones and gut issues which may lead to the skin eruptions. We have put together a program to include proper nutrients, enhance liver detoxification and hormone balance, and provide targeted facial with chemical peels and blue light therapy to reduce inflammation, clear the comedones and improve skin repair. There is also the doctor prescribed nutraceuticals and topical acne medications to improve acne healing.
About our Anti-Ageing Program
Our anti-ageing program targets ageing skin that starts around the age of 40’s to 50’s due to hormonal decline during perimenopause or menopause. The lack of collagen can cause fine lines or wrinkles to start appearing and the skin starts to sag and loses volume. This program starts with our signature anti-aging organic facial that massages the lymphatics of the face and neck to enhance lymph flow and detoxification. The IV skin glow infuses high dose Vitamin C and antioxidants to enhance the radiance of the skin and reduce pigmentation.
Learn more about our skin programs here