Skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and acne can be difficult to manage. Many turn to an “outside in” solution that doesn’t address what is happening internally.
Modern research shows a strong connection between gut health and skin health. This isn’t “fringe” science. This link goes back as far as 1930. There is an ever-increasing abundance of studies to back up the gut-skin connection theory. According to a recent study, the incidence of rosacea is 10x more prevalent in those with SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth.) Skin health begins with gut health.
A healthy gut will do 2 things:
- Provide a barrier for substances that should not be entering the bloodstream (incompletely digested food, pathogens, etc.). Your gut, in other words, is like the “border patrol” between the “outside” and the “inside” of your body.
- House healthy or beneficial bacteria, as opposed to bad or opportunistic bacteria.
An unhealthy lifestyle is largely responsible for contributing to intestinal permeability and gut dysbiosis, which are the terms FM practitioners and doctors use when the gut barrier and the balance of bacteria is compromised.
These imbalances produce inflammation, which is a hallmark of so many skin conditions. This inflammation can even trigger an autoimmune response, which means that the immune system begins to attack not only pathogens and foreign invaders, but the body’s own tissues. An AI response can be triggered anywhere in the body, but the skin is a common place for it to manifest. Psoriasis, for example, is an autoimmune condition that 120 million people worldwide and 7.5 million Americans suffer from.
Standard treatments range from antibiotics for acne to immune-suppressing topical steroids for AI skin conditions. These methods only treat symptoms instead of the actual root cause.
At Blossom Health and Fertility in Lexington, we understand this connection and treat skin conditions from the “inside out.” I use Functional Medicine and acupuncture, as well as diet and nutrition, to treat eczema, psoriasis, and other troublesome skin conditions. Depending on the person and the severity of the condition, I may use:
- Comprehensive blood testing for autoimmune and inflammatory markers, nutrient deficiencies
- Saliva testing for hormonal imbalances
- Stool testing for gut microbiome health, parasites, infections
After gathering data, I develop a personalized treatment plan which may include nutritional therapy, specific supplements to help heal and restore the balance of bacteria in the gut, acupuncture, and support/coaching for lifestyle changes.