Should Gut Health be Part of My Skin Care Routine?
The Gut to Skin Connection
Many of you are probably thinking, how the heck does my gut have anything to do with my skin..
And the answer is, your gut has a lot to do with your skin!
“Anything that goes wrong in the gut will cause symptoms all over your body -- and it will absolutely show as problems on your face, sooner or later” Dr. Nigma Talib, Younger Skin Starts in the Gut
The importance of our gut health is nothing new, but not something widely talked about or made a priority when considering skin concerns. As it’s becoming more widespread, we’re learning that so much of our overall health starts in our gut microbiome.
What is a gut microbiome anyway?
Our gut microbiome, sometimes referred to as the gut flora or gut microbiota, is the totality of microorganisms including: bacteria, viruses, archaea and fungi that live in our digestive tracts.
Did you know that a person has 300 to 500 different species of bacteria in their digestive tract?
Don’t worry, not all bacteria is bad. There are many microorganisms that are incredibly beneficial and even necessary for a healthy body. But when we have an imbalance of the good and bad bacteria in our microbiome it will often lead to inflammation. And inflammation presents itself as red, sensitive skin, wrinkles, rashes, and even acne. And that’s only when it comes to your skin!
So how can we add gut health into our skin care routine and work toward a balanced gut, better digestions and healthier glowing skin?
1. Look at your diet
First things first, take a good look at your diet, and identify which foods are causing problems. Some of the most common inflammatory foods we consume regularly are gluten, dairy, sugar, soy and alcohol.
Author, Naturopathic doctor, and beauty expert to the stars, Dr. Nigma Talib created her 4 Faces of Aging to help identify which problem foods are affecting your face.
“Eating too much of the wrong foods is bad for your digestion; and what’s worse, it shows up in your face as wrinkles, blemishes, bags and more. Luckily by identifying and eliminating your skin-aging triggers, you can simultaneously heal your gut, stop this process of ‘digest-aging’ and reverse it’s negative effects on your skin.” Dr. Nigma Talib, Younger Skin Starts in the Gut
2. Eliminate what doesn’t serve you
Once you’ve discovered which foods are causing your skin issues, it’s time to start eliminating them from your diet. The idea of removing gluten and dairy or even both sounds scary to many of us. But we’ve come a long way when it comes to alternatives. It’s not nearly as scary as it sounds.
Along with the elimination of inflammatory foods, it’s important to add more nutrient dense, whole foods into your diet. I promise your body and your skin will thank you!!
3. Take the proper supplements to support your digestion
On top of regulating the foods you consume, it’s important to take a prebiotic & probiotic and digestive enzymes daily. Prebiotics provide “food” that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria, while probiotics are live good bacteria. Probiotics can help manage skin inflammation. Good bacteria also can be antimicrobial, clearing away bacteria from the skin and leaving you with a healthy glow.
If you’re looking for great gut health supplements we love My Girl Wellness’s Better Belly System. With benefits like aiding in proper nutrient absorption, speeding up the breakdown of food, and replenishing good bacteria in your gut, this 3 step system will help keep your gut health in tip-top shape. And we have a special discount just for you! Get 15% off My Girl Wellness Products w/ code VANITY15.
Other beneficial skin supplements like collagen, help to seal the gut wall for healthier conditions. Healthier gut, healthier skin, happier you!
4. Consider what products you’re putting on your skin
Our skin is our biggest organ, and one that we often take for granted. What you put on your skin gets absorbed into your bloodstream in as little as 30 minutes. On top of that our skin has its own microbiome as well. So it’s important to consider what ingredients are in the skincare you are using and how that may be affecting your skin and overall health as well. It’s always best to go with clean, non-toxic ingredients.
Treat your skin like the goddess she is so she keeps you looking flawless for years to come, and always feeling confident to Wear Your Skin Naked.
