The Wellness Way
NUTRITIONIST| WOMEN'S HEALTH| GUT HEALTH
Skin Conditions
Specialising in Eczema, Rosacea and Acne
Nutritional Therapy can play a huge role in managing various skin conditions, and the connection and interaction between our nutrition, our health, our environment and skin conditions is a growing area of research.
The skin is the body's largest organ, and its health is influenced by various factors, including our diet and digestive health, inflammation, our ability to absorb and utilise our nutrients, the products we use on our skin, our level of hydration, hormone balance, quality and quantity of sleep, the climate, and our personal genetic makeup.
Can nutrition really help me if I have a skin condition?
Eczema
dry skin on the outside ~ inflammation on the inside
Not sure if diet can help your eczema?
Although eczema usually has a hereditary component, environmental factors and immune hyperactivity both affect skin barrier integrity to drive eczema. Having the best diet for eczema may significantly calm skin redness, itching and flares.
In addition, your environment and the products you use on your skin may improve your skin barrier and help to seal in moisture whilst addressing skin pH is also helpful to avoid any bacterial invasion.
Diet cannot always ‘cure’ eczema, but in all cases it can help dramatically when trying to manage symptoms so they no longer impact your life. The ideal diet for eczema will include an abundance of anti inflammatory and antioxidant foods to calm your skin, while limiting aggravating foods.
Eczema is often characterised by red, itchy, inflamed skin on flexor or extensor surfaces such as the face, scalp, neck, wrists and ankles. These unpleasant symptoms can be exacerbated by sleep disturbance, emotional distress and skin infections. Therefore, understanding the root cause of your eczema is essential.
When supporting individuals with Eczema I aim to address 2 main areas: skin barrier dysfunction and immune response.
In order to do this I look for the root cause/s. This process takes a deep dive into your condition and can include looking at your current dietary intake, possible gut microbiome and digestive dysfunction, addressing any stressors- both physiological and psychological, understanding your genetic makeup, rebalancing your hormones, looking for food sensitivity and/or allergies and nutritional deficiencies, assessing how well you metabolise essential fatty acids and identifying possible environmental triggers.
Acne
Some of the key mechanisms involved in the development of acne include: disturbed sebaceous gland activity associated with increased sebum production, dysregulation of the hormone microenvironment, follicular hyperkeratinization, bacterial overgrowth and inflammation. Dysfunction of the innate and adaptive immunity is also implicated.
Do you experience:
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regular hormone fluctuations (teen, peri, menopause, disturbed cycle)
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a lot of psychological stress, have anxiety or depression
Do you have:
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diagnosed PCOS
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suspect you may be struggling with insulin resistance or have a hard time
balancing your blood sugars
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have a tween or teen that is struggling with chronic outbreaks,
inflamed skin, bleeding and soreness
Whilst no food alone can promise a cure for acne, we can certainly influence it with our nutritional choices and certainly we can advocate that it could ameliorate or worsen its severity especially when considering a move away from the typical 'western diet' to a more nutrient dense anti-inflammatory diet, far more than just a quick detox.
Nutrients and their metabolites can influence skin hydration, hyperproliferation and metabolism. At a basic level, besides vitamins A and D and essential fatty acids, clinical studies have proven that vitamin E, delivered onto the skin via the activity of the sebaceous gland could make a significant difference in inflammatory acne, not forgetting the synergistic effect of minerals such as iron, copper and zinc too.
Whilst we always use nutrition first, there may be other driving factors that exacerbate your acne. If you also experience digestive issues a comprehensive stool test is always an option. This can look to identify issues with metabolism of fats and protein as well as bacterial, yeast or parasite infection which are often associated with skin inflammation.
With a commitment to practical changes in your diet and lifestyle noticeable changes can be seen within 4 weeks.
Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic relapsing inflammatory condition associated with vascular changes which result in unpleasant flushing and seborrhoea (excessive discharge of sebum) and acidifying of the skin.
Typically individuals present with one of 4 types of acne rosacea.
Rosacea doesn't have to consume your life......
The cause of rosacea differs from person to person. Whilst rosacea presents as a 'skin condition' its cause goes much deeper than the skin. The truth of the matter is that skin is almost always an inside job. Sometimes it's hormones. Sometimes it's overburdened detoxification pathways. Often it's gut-related. With this said, we must take a step back and ask: what's driving the imbalance? What are the triggers? Where did it start? How can we address the root so we can self-heal?
Do any of these common triggers resonate with you?
When a skin imbalance like rosacea is present, we often see issues with:
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Inflammatory diet
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Nutrient deficiencies
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Food intolerances
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Gut health and infection (H.pylori is found in up to 88% of individuals and SIBO in 60%)
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Liver and toxic burden
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Hormones
Testing for allergies and intolerances
What you need to know BEFORE you buy a high street test (psssst....don't waste your money!)
There are now an array of tests available on the high street that promise to offer you a quick and convenient way to identify food intolerance or allergy however these have several limitations and drawbacks that, in my clinical experience, make them potentially unsafe and often very damaging. Whilst 'quick answers' may be very attractive, please save your money, invest it more wisely and work with a nutritional therapist instead. Here's why . . . . .
1. **Lack of Scientific Validation:** Many tests lack scientific validation. They often use methods such electrodermal testing, or IgG antibody testing, which are not supported by robust scientific evidence for diagnosing food intolerances.
2. **Limited Accuracy:** These tests often produce false-positive or false-negative results. IgG antibody testing, for example, measures the presence of antibodies against specific foods, but the presence of these antibodies doesn't necessarily indicate an intolerance or sensitivity. Many people have IgG antibodies to foods they regularly consume without experiencing any adverse reactions.
3. **No Standardization:** There is no standardization in the methodologies used by different companies offering these tests. This means that results can vary widely between different tests and may not be reliable or reproducible.
4. **Inability to Differentiate Between Intolerance and Sensitivity:** Food intolerance and food sensitivity are often lumped together in these tests, despite being distinct conditions with different mechanisms. Intolerance involves the inability to properly digest or metabolize certain foods (e.g., lactose intolerance), while sensitivity involves a reaction of the immune system to specific food components (e.g., gluten sensitivity). These tests often fail to differentiate between the two.
5. **Not Comprehensive:** High street food intolerance tests typically examine a limited number of foods, often around 100 or fewer. However, there are hundreds of potential food triggers for intolerances and sensitivities, so these tests may miss important culprits.
6. **Risk of Misinterpretation:** Results from these tests usually lead individuals to unnecessarily restrict their diets, potentially leading to nutritional deficiencies or an unnecessarily restricted diet that could impact their quality of life and health.
7. **Delay in Seeking Proper Medical Advice:** Relying on these tests may delay individuals from seeking proper medical advice and diagnosis from qualified healthcare professionals. Symptoms attributed to food intolerances may actually be caused by other underlying medical conditions that require proper evaluation and management.
It's important for individuals experiencing symptoms suggestive of food intolerances to consult with a healthcare professional or qualified nutritionist for appropriate and accurate evaluation and ongoing guidance.
`What is the difference between IgE, IgG reactions?
IgE is an indication of a hypersensitivity or true allergy cause by an immune system over reactivity.
IgG is a secondary response usually associated with a previous exposure to an antigen causing inflammatory processes.
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IgE Food Allergies
The best known and well-studied form of food allergies is called a Type 1 immune
reaction (classical food allergy, immediate-onset, IgE-mediated, atopic food allergies, etc.). Type 1 food allergies occur in approximately only 2-5% of the population and these food allergies occur mostly in children and are less frequent in adults. Usually occurring in the genetically predisposed individual, the immune system begins creating a specific type of antibody called Immunoglobulin E (IgE) to certain foods. One side of the IgE antibody will recognise and bind to the allergic food and the other side of the antibody is attached to a specialised immune cell packed with histamine, called a Mast cell. Primed for action, the IgE antibody now only has to patiently wait for re-exposure to food allergens.
When you next eat the allergic food, IgE antibodies quickly latch onto the food. Instantaneously histamine and other allergy-related chemicals (chemical mediators) are released from the mast cell, quickly bringing on the unwelcome appearance of stomach cramping, diarrhea, skin rashes, hives, swelling, wheezing or the most dreaded of all Type 1 reactions, anaphylaxis.
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IgG Delayed Onset Food Reaction
Type 3 immune reactions are much more commonly involved in food allergy than Type 1 reactions. In fact, 45-60% of the population has been reported as having delayed food allergies. Delayed food allergy or food sensitivity also involves the immune system. They occur when your immune system creates an overabundance of antibody Immunoglobulin G (IgG) to a specific food. The IgG antibodies, instead of attaching to Mast cells, like IgE antibodies in Type 1 allergies, bind directly to the food as it enters the bloodstream, forming food allergens bound to antibodies circulating in the bloodstream. The allergic symptoms in Type 3 immune reactions are delayed in onset - appearing anywhere from a couple of hours to several days after consuming allergic foods.
Delayed food reactions may occur in any organ or tissue in the body and have been linked to either causing and/or provoking over 100 allergic symptoms and well over 150 different medical diseases.
Need help deciding what the best next step is for you?
What my lovely clients say............
Toby, Bournemouth
ECZEMA
Combining nutritional therapy and alternative natural skin products for my acne and focusing on gut health has been a game-changer. My skin was clearer within 4 weeks and after my gut test came back Jenny could explain why I was struggling with acne so much. A holistic approach (Jenny gave me an exercise plan too) that actually addressed the root cause of my bad skin has so far provided longer lasting results than I have ever had. It's amazing how interconnected our health is, and this journey has been incredibly rewarding. Highly recommend!
Taylor James, Beds
ECZEMA
Addressing my gut health has been the key to managing my eczema. Since starting a specific probiotic plan and making significant dietary changes, my flare-ups have reduced, and my skin is less itchy and inflamed. I also love all the lifestyle strategies especially as they are very relaxing and help with self care. I never realized how my gut and skin were connected until now. Jenny's approach has transformed my skin and overall well-being. So grateful for this life-changing help!
Joanne, Kent
ACNE
I think I was a really difficult client for Jenny but she didn't give up on me and i'm so thankful! Changing my diet and lifestyle was hard, but it has made a world of difference for my acne. By eating a balanced diet rich in nutrients (which was a v.hard adjustment) and avoiding processed sugars, junk food and fizzy drinks, my skin has cleared up remarkably. Adding regular exercise and
stress management techniques has also contributed
to better mental health and a better skin condition for me!. Who knew 'sweating' was a skin detox! Highly recommend Jenny's approach to anyone struggling with acne.