How to support your skin from within

So, you’ve done as much research as you can on how to get amazing skin. You’ve splurged on all of the essentials like serums, night creams, cleansers and more. But one thing remains. Your skin still isn’t quite where you would like it to be, and you can’t quite figure out why...

Healthy skin isn’t just about good skincare products. Skin health can be impacted by several different factors including hormones, diet and nutrition. In this article we'll take a deeper look into skin nutrition, what that means and small changes you can make on the journey to better skin health.

Maintaining a healthy gut

Firstly, regardless of how disciplined your diet is, gut health is crucial and you should bear this in mind when considering healthy skin. An unhealthy gut won’t be able to properly absorb all of the wonderful nutrients that you may be eating so your skin cells won’t receive any of the benefits of your great diet.

Poor gut health also means that your body is less able to fight against inflammation and lowers your immunity. Stick to non-inflammatory foods and try to avoid highly processed foods for a healthier gut. Supplement with probiotics for an added gut health boost.

Hormonal balance

Hormones are another factor that can greatly impact the way your skin appears and functions. Different hormones cause different skin reactions and excessive surges of particular hormones can throw our skin out of control. For example, when oestrogen drops below a normal level, you may experience dry skin that is more blemish prone, whereas healthy levels of oestrogen promote more natural oils in the skin and boost collagen levels.

Subsequently, high levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline work to break down the skin’s collagen and encourage premature signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles. Actively seek out healthy and productive ways to manage your stress levels and take time out to relax and re-energise.

If you think you may have an imbalance with sex hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone, seek further advice from a trusted medical professional.

How your diet can support healthy skin

Water

Water is paramount to every skincare routine. It helps the body to regulate itself, flushes out toxins and keeps our skin hydrated. As well as drinking, there are many fruits and vegetables that already contain high percentages of water that can also benefit your skin’s hydration and mineral intake. Eating foods like melons and cucumbers is a great way to get more water into your system.

Antioxidants

Vitamins are a game-changer when it comes to skin health as they hold so many different benefits, for the skin and overall health.Try incorporating antioxidants such as vitamin C, which fights inflammation and free radicals and helps with collagen production. It also aids in the regeneration and healing of skin cells and can be found in foods like broccoli, kale, strawberries, blueberries and kiwis.

Vitamin E supports the normal function of your immune system and encourages cell regeneration. Your levels of vitamin E naturally decrease as you age. Try eating more red bell peppers, almonds and avocados, all rich in vitamin E.

Skin enemies

Excessive alcohol can weaken and damage the skin. It causes inflammation and redness and dries out the skin.

Sugar and processed foods are another prime cause of inflammation within the body which can result in the skin ageing faster.  Lastly, habits like smoking can also make the skin appear dull with more fine lines and wrinkles.

Like everything it’s about balance and trying to make healthy choices as much as possible so we feel balanced and healthy.

Read our top tips on how to boost your immune function here.

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 By Danielle Corbert