When it comes to skincare, we often focus on external factors like the products we use and our skincare routine, but it's important not to overlook the role of internal health in maintaining healthy skin. Our skin is a reflection of our overall health, and what we put into our bodies can have a direct impact on its appearance. We reached out to local naturalpath Dr. Kate Ferguson so she can share with us the best ways to support healhly, glowing skin from the inside out.
When it comes to supporting our skin, most of us jump right to what we put on it, but what we put in our bodies had a profound impact on what happens on our skin.
When it comes to selecting the best nutrition plan for your health and your skin- it’s important to remember that there is no one size fits approach. There are so many nuances that will dictate what eating patterns will best support your health and hormones, which will be reflected on your skin. There is so much misinformation in the online wellness space about what the “best” diet is for xyz, and what we know to be true about nutrition is that everyone’s most indicated nutritional plan will vary greatly.
I work with a lot of PCOS patients in my practice and one of their main concerns is acne. Most of them have spent years trying topical solutions to manage it and never seeing the results they desire. When we start addressing the underlying hormonal drivers for their acne in combination with an amazing skin care routine- they finally begin to see the changes they always wanted. Most of them are shocked to learn that we do not need to focus on removing entire food groups from their nutrition plan to support their goals, but rather focus on all the nutrient dense foods to include more of to support their hormones.
Depending on your personal goals with you skin, whether you are trying to manage acne, dry skin, rosacea, or oily skin, there could be a strong hormonal or physiological component that can be assessed by a Naturopathic Doctor. Once we have a concrete diagnosis we can then tailor your nutrition plan accordingly to ensure it’s supporting your health and your skin goals.
No matter what your personal diagnosis is in regards to your health, hormones, and skin condition, there are a few overarching daily habits that converge in the research to being known to support skin health as a whole.
Here are 5 Foundational Daily habits for glowing skin that starts on the inside:
- Including 4 tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil daily (and yes- it’s okay to cook with it)
- Aiming for 1/4 cup of nuts and seeds daily (flax seed, walnuts, almonds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds)
- Incorporating a large variety of fruits and veggies- this helps support our microbiome which influences acne and the radiance of our skin as well as provides us with antioxidants which reduce the appearance of aging
- Limiting alcohol to < than 2 units weekly
- Aiming for 2-3L of water daily to keep the skin hydrated
Supporting your skin doesn’t have to be complicated, but there is also no silver bullet magical approach. Managing your skin goals from a bidirectional approach of what you put in your body, as well as what you put on your skin, could be the secret to finally getting the results you desire, all while supporting your overall health as you do it.
<3 Dr. Kate
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