Your wellness Reflects on your skin

It’s a common misconception that skin care starts with the skin.  When people have breakouts, blemishes, and more, they fail to see that their problems are rooted deep within their bodies. In this article, we’ll go over the reasons why skin issues aren’t skin-deep, and discuss what you can do to improve your overall skin health. 

How Your Gut Wellness Affects Your Skin

Chances are, the cause of your acne goes all the way to your gut. 

The gut or the gastrointestinal (GI) tract contains your organs, including your small intestine and large intestine, among others. Within your gut is the microbiome, a variety of anywhere between 300 to 500 bacteria, that is responsible for your general well-being. When there is an imbalance in the microbiome, this can be the cause of a bacterial infection, inflammation, and more. 

When something is wrong with your gut, you will know as your skin will show it. Symptoms of gut-related issues will start to manifest at the surface – for instance, the gut disease called leaky gut can trigger autoimmune responses like rashes and redness. 

This is why no amount of serums seem to work. Because your skin problems are rooted in your gut, the best solution would be to avoid food that can damage your gut such as sugary beverages. This is the only way to guarantee a good gut-skin connection. 

How Stress Affects Your Skin

Did you know that there’s a direct link between stress and skin? That’s one of the reasons why your skin breaks out before stressful life events. Whenever you’re stressed, there is an increase in the level of cortisol, and this can impact the production of oil. 

Oil or sebum is good for your skin, but an excess of oil can cause greasy skin. An overproduction of oil can also block your pores and causes skin problems like breakouts and blackheads. That’s why one of the ways to care for oily skin is to lower your stress. 

However, as we said, the root of skin problems isn’t always skin-deep. Stress can also damage your gut. Stress can slow down your digestion, and in turn, lower the number of “good” bacteria in your gut. As a result, there will be more “bad” bacteria, which can be the cause of inflammation as well as skin problems like breakouts.

How Dehydration Affects Your Skin

Like your eyes, your skin can also feel dry due to dehydration. When your body lacks water, your skin won’t be able to maintain its moisture, and as a result, it will look dry, dull, and wrinkled. Your skin will also lose its elasticity, and since it can’t stretch, parts of your skin (especially around the eyes) will look sunken. 

One way to determine if you’re dehydrated is to pinch a tiny part of your forearm. If the skin returns to its original state right after you let go, that’s a good sign. But if it doesn’t “bounce back”, you need to drink more water now.

6 Wellness Tips to Take Care of Your Skin

If your skin feels dry, red, or flaky, don’t worry. By taking good care of your skin, you can say goodbye to breakouts, blackheads, and other skin problems for good. 

1. Take a Probiotic

Probiotics aren’t skincare products, but they can decrease the bad bacteria in your gut. When you ingest probiotics, you get to boost your well-being, and in turn, treat inflammation, infections, and more. By taking good care of your gut, you’ll be able to take good care of your skin, too.

2. Eat Skin-Healthy Foods

Foods with antioxidant properties can protect your skin and even reduce the risk of skin cancer. Be sure to eat foods that are rich in fish or fish oil, and steer clear of refined carbohydrates as these can increase the blood glucose in your body. Blood glucose or sugar can cause the overproduction of oil, and consequently, the appearance of acne. 

3. Live a Stress-Free Life

It’s easier said than done, but do try not to be so stressed all the time. By lowering your stress levels, you’ll be able to prevent skin problems like breakouts. If there’s a stressful life event around the corner, consider stress reduction activities such as meditation and tai chi.

4. Apply a Retinol

Retinol is a lifesaver if you have acne-prone skin. This vitamin is best known for preventing wrinkled skin, but it’s also an effective way to combat breakouts. Retinol gets rid of dead skin, dirt, and dust so that they don’t get trapped in your pores. 

If you have sensitive skin, an alternative to retinol is retinaldehyde. According to the founder of Women’s Concepts, retinaldehyde or “retinal” is a gentler anti-acne treatment than retinol, but it still offers the same benefits. Add retinal to your skincare routine to keep your skin free from fine lines and wrinkles.

5. Drink Water

Make sure to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. By drinking eight glasses of water, your skin will be able to stay “bouncy” and stretchy. That way, your skin won’t dry out due to dehydration. 

6. Get Enough Sleep

You should get around 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day. Anything less than that, and you’ll be at greater risk of skin aging. 

If you’re not tired enough to go to sleep, try aromatherapy. Essential oils can help you feel calmer, and soon, you’ll find yourself in a state of sleepiness. Keep in mind not to use essential oils such as peppermint and tea tree as these can irritate your skin.

Want Healthy Skin: Take Care of Your Overall Wellness First

You can count on your skin to show you if you haven’t been able to take care of your overall well-being. However, that doesn’t mean you should allow these symptoms to manifest on the surface in the first place. Take these tips in mind to make sure your skin is problem-free.