If you have skin irritations and concerns about skin health, there are a number of things you can try for correcting skin issues at the root cause.  Skin issues include eczema, psoriasis, itching, rashes, acne, wounds that won’t heal easily, peeling skin, and many other skin related issues.  Maybe some of these issues you have noticed but are not sure what to do or have tried everything but are getting nowhere?

Just like with all things health-related that are presented here, there are often many factors involved which may not be included in the short space, but I try to cover some key concepts.  Please remember, if issues are severe or affecting your daily life negatively, please see your doctor, naturopath or health professional.

Less toxins and more liver support

Since our skin is our largest organ and it is considered the second liver, being conscious of what we put IN and ON our bodies is important for the health of our skin.  Less toxins in our lives through foods and beverages, as well as personal care products and cleaners is a great starting point as less toxins means less irritants for our skin and health in general.  Additionally, support your liver so that your skin is not being used to move toxins out of the body.  Ways to support your liver include drinking water throughout the day, doing a glass of fresh squeezed lemon water in the morning, and adding sulphur rich foods such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, onions and garlic is very helpful.  Dandelion tea and beets are also very happy liver additions.

Replace bad bacteria with good bacteria

A foundational part of skin issues is inflammation. Inflammation is linked to our immune system and our micro biome.  Candida, which is an overgrowth of yeast, can cause significant skin itching and other unwanted side effects.  Adding fermented foods such as traditionally made sauerkraut, apple cider vinegar, kefir, yogurt, kombucha, as well as probiotics and fiber, can add to your army of good bacteria.  Reducing sugars and refined carbs are a step to reducing bad bacteria and candida.  You can find a number of candida related information on the internet if this is something you are battling with.

Building better cells with fats and proteins

Lastly, healthy fats and proteins are what our bodies use to create our skin cells.  If poor qualities of these foods are used, then the cells created may not be at their best.  Fried, trans and processed fats and proteins are poor substitutes for quality fats and proteins like avocados, unheated olive oil, nuts, seeds, coconut oil, beans, lentils, free range eggs and meats.  Also bone broth, which contains collagen and other building blocks, can be helpful for gut and skin issues in the repair and rebuilding process.

Summary

Update your diet to include more clean whole foods (leafy greens, berries, cabbage, broccoli, beets, garlic, onions) and replace toxic cleaners and personal care products with more natural ones.  You can google natural cleaners such as: vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, etc. and skin care products such as: coconut oil, witch hazel, essential oils, and so on.

Include fermented foods and fibre to increase good gut bacteria and reduce sugars and processed food to kill off bad bacteria/yeast.   

Upgrade the fats and proteins in your diet to less processed and more natural versions.  

The great news is that ALL of these healthy additions to your diet are easily found at your local Quality Greens markets.  

Enjoy your week and your skin!