Our skin goes through a lot in our lifetime. The sun, genetics and allergies all play a huge role in how it looks and feels. But did you know that our gut health and hormones also have a significant impact on our skin’s appearance?
At Sorella Aesthetics, we know all too well that achieving healthy skin relies on far more than a great routine. In the last decade, numerous studies have proven the relationship between our hormones, gut health and our skin. However, the connection still remains unknown to many.
‘Bad bacteria’ in our gut can lead to acne, dry skin and even rosacea. And fluctuating hormones can influence everything from oil production to inflammation!
But there shouldn’t be cause for concern. With a few lifestyle changes and a helping hand from Nurses Danni and Georgi, you can take control of your gut health and hormones to achieve healthy skin.
The Gut-Skin Axis
In our gut, there are hundreds of naturally occurring microorganisms. Some we call ‘good bacteria’ and others we refer to as ‘bad bacteria’. Good bacteria helps with our digestion, whilst bad bacteria is a leading contributor to disease. Hosting 80% of our body’s natural immunity, the gut is crucial for maintaining health and wellbeing. It works to prevent harmful substances from attacking our organs - including our skin.
The ‘gut-skin axis’ is a phrase we use to refer to the communication between the gut microbiome and our skin. When imbalances occur in our gut-skin-axis, conditions including acne, eczema and rosacea can appear.
How Can We Improve Gut Health To Improve Skin?
Boosting your gut health is a simple way to improve the overall appearance of your skin. That means loading up on gut-friendly foods like yoghurt, sauerkraut and kombucha, packed with probiotics to keep our good bacteria in check. Prebiotic-rich foods like bananas and onions should also be introduced to feed helpful bugs, whilst fibre-packed fruits and vegetables will keep everything moving smoothly.
Aside from our diet, supplements can also enhance the gut microbiome. At Sorella Aesthetics, we recommend Skinade’s Derma Defense A&D Boost and Better Skin From Within. These handy sachets are packed with vitamin a, vitamin d, calcium and collagen to improve the overall appearance of our skin.
What About Hormones & The Skin?
Gut health isn’t the only internal factor that impacts our skin. In our lifetime, our bodies experience multiple changes - and our hormones play a leading role. Oestrogen helps to stimulate collagen, the production of elastin and hyaluronic acid, whilst progesterone stimulates the production of sebum.
Like conductors in an orchestra, our hormones direct skin cell turnover, oil production and inflammation. As a result, they can lead to acne, congestion and dryness.
Changes In The Hormonal Cycle
During puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause, we typically experience the most fluctuations in our hormonal cycle.
Throughout puberty, a hormonal surge often results in the overproduction of oil. Then, in the midst of the menstrual cycle, an increase in progesterone can lead to breakouts. When we experience pregnancy, hormonal fluctuations can cause hyperpigmentation. And finally, during menopause, a decline in collagen will result in a loss of skin elasticity and moisture.
Hormones can impact our skin in multiple different ways. However, acne is one of the most common and frustrating manifestations.
Hormonal Acne
Throughout our lifetime, at least 40% of us will experience hormonal acne. Caused by androgens - the hormone group that contributes to growth and reproduction - the skin concern worsens at specific periods in the menstrual cycle. When androgens are overproduced, excess oil appears on the skin. This interacts with bacteria in our pores, leading to deep, painful pimples across the jawline, chin and cheeks.
Treating Hormonal Skin Conditions
To improve hormonal skin issues, a multitude of efforts are required. Alongside eating a balanced diet, topical treatments can keep things under control.
Ingredients like retinoids, salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide have been proven to tackle acne and other hormone-related skin troubles. And in some cases, oral contraceptives and androgen-targeting medications can be used to get our skin back on track.
Though most of us will outgrow hormonal acne, some will experience it to a greater extent than others. But if we take the time to understand our imbalances, we can treat the concern sooner.
At Sorella Aesthetics, we’ve partnered with Forth Medical Group - a private primary care service to help you manage your health and wellbeing. From the comfort of our clinic in Kent, we can administer a hormone imbalance blood test to investigate any concerns further. The appointment is quick and fuss-free, taking around 20 minutes from start to finish. And best of all, your results will be ready in only two working days.
Tips For Improving Gut Health & Hormonal Skin
Improving gut health and hormonal skin may seem like an impossible task, but we promise it’s simple to achieve. To summarise, here are some of our top tips!
Eat A Balanced Diet - You can still enjoy your favourite foods, but make sure you consume a diverse range of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats too. These foods provide essential nutrients and fibre for a healthy gut microbiome.
Introduce Prebiotics & Probiotics - Prebiotics like onion, garlic and bananas and probiotics like yoghurt, kefir and kimchi feed the good bacteria in our gut.
Take Regular Supplements - Supplements packed with vitamin a, vitamin d, calcium and collagen can enhance our gut microbiome.
Consult With A Healthcare Professional - At Sorella Aesthetics, we can administer blood tests to provide an accurate diagnosis for hormone imbalance.
Topical Treatments - Retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or topical antibiotics can help control acne. However, they must be prescribed by a medical professional first.
Take Control Of Your Skin With Sorella
At Sorella Aesthetics, we always take the time to understand the external and internal factors that may be impacting your skin. To take control of your skin health, book a consultation with Nurse Danni or Georgi today.
Comments