Clear skin from within

6 May

Clear skin - the nutrition-acne connection

If you're struggling with breakouts and feel like you should be well past this stage of life, you're definitely not alone. Adult acne is the most common skin concern I see in my clients, and I know how frustrating it can be to try every lotion and potion, only to see little improvement (or results that don’t last).

So, can diet impact your skin? Absolutely. But there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Acne can be triggered by a variety of internal factors, hormones, stress, gut health, and more. Rather than relying on guesswork or just treating the surface, I take a holistic, inside out approach to help you uncover and address the root causes of your breakouts.

Here are a few things to explore when looking at acne and skin health.

Gut-skin connection

Gut health and imbalances (dybiosis) can lead to inflammation

Acne is an inflammatory skin condition, by improving gut health can also benefit clearing up the skin.

A fibre rich diet helps support healthy gut microbes, your gut bacteria thrive on plant foods.

Eliminate or reduce ultra processed foods, also address any food sensitivities.

Acne triggering foods - the detective work

Common triggers that can influence acne.

Dairy - it may not be the case for everyone, but can certainly make a huge difference for some, myself included! The whey protein in the milk can be the culprit.

High GI foods - highly refined sugars spike insulin and increase oil production, dairy can also raise insulin.

Remember everyone's triggers are unique, so rather than cutting out everything I can help identify dietary habits and patterns that may be impacting your skin.

Skin nutrients your skin loves

Zinc: Important for wound healing, supports oil gland function and reduces inflammation.
Vitamin A: Helps skin cell turnover (but be cautious with supplements).
Omega-3s: Found in flax, walnuts, and fatty fish, they calm inflammation.

Topical treatments

Topical creams can certainly help, but if breakouts keep returning, it may be time to take a deeper look. Whether it be hormonal imbalances, gut health or missing nutrients.