The Gut and Skin Connection – How to treat skin issues by healing your gut

by Dr. Kyle Chavers, MD, IFMCP

Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. At Foundations Medical Center, we focus on addressing the root cause of your medical issues and offering better healthcare that educates and empowers patients.

Many people that struggle with skin concerns like acne treat the surface of their skin, which may yield some positive results but never really solves the root problem that is causing the symptoms. Some topical skin treatments can create a dependency, and overtime may result in negative effects if a patient stops applying the treatment.

If you are struggling with skin issues, it’s time to take a deeper look at your body – specifically your gut. Yes, there is a skin-gut connection. Tending to your gut health may help solve your problems—or at least be a really effective complement to your current treatment plan.

Research suggests that the gut and skin are directly connected, with gastrointestinal disorders often manifesting as skin concerns and the gut microbiome playing a role in inflammatory skin conditions. Some people that are treating gastrointestinal issues notice that when they improve their gut health they have more radiant and clear skin.

Skin conditions can have different root causes, so better gut health may not always be the only answer to skin problems. This is why working with a medical professional can help you get to the bottom of your issues. Factors like hormones and stress can have a connection to skin issues and even gut issues, since your body’s functions are so interconnected.

There are some things that you can do to promote good gut health and in the process, help improve your skin.

• Remove inflammatory foods from your diet and focus on eating real, whole foods.
• Eat more probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotic foods—like kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha—contain bacteria that are good for your gut. Prebiotic foods—onions, oatmeal, asparagus, radishes—contain fiber that helps feed the gut bacteria . 
• Prioritize quality sleep. Disruption in the circadian rhythm has been linked to GI issues, so try to get an uninterrupted full eight hours of sleep each night.
• Practice stress management.

The key with these changes is consistency and patience, as it can take time to see any results. There are actions you can take now to improve your gut health that may result in better skin. In order to identify the root cause of skin issues, and any other health issues, you can contact our office to make an appointment with our doctor. Please call 850.269.9000 to schedule your appointment. 

Source: Parsley Health