What Your Skin Says About Your Health

They say your eyes are the window to your soul, but if you’re looking to gauge how healthy you are overall, there’s no need to soul search - just take a look at your skin.

So, what does your skin say about your health? And what can you do to help? Let’s find out...

It’s What’s on the Inside that Counts

We all know, the old saying, ‘it’s what’s on the inside that counts’, but did you know your skin is a reflection of that?

If you’re eating the right foods, your skin will show it, if you’re drinking enough water, your skin will be hydrated, and if you’re burning the candle at both ends – one thing’s for sure, your skin definitely won’t be glowing.

But what about certain skin conditions you’d rather not have to deal with? What do they mean?

Angry, Red, Inflamed Skin

If you’re suffering from angry red skin and you’re wondering why, then you could be dealing with one of the following -

• Scarlet fever
• Folliculitis
• Dermatitis
• An allergic reaction
• A skin infection

Itchy, Dry, Flaky Skin

Is your skin dry, flaky and irritatingly itchy? It might be more than just the cold weather turning your skin to sandpaper.

Skin like this can be an indication that something’s going on inside your body. For instance, it could be down to -

• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Blood disease
• An overactive thyroid gland
• Nerve problems
• Liver disease

If you’re concerned that your skin condition is an indicator that something more serious is going on, speak to your GP.

Spots and Acne

Fed up with having to deal with annoying zits and acne? Feel like you’ve tried every cream available to get rid of them?

Perhaps the best way to tackle this skin concern is to track down the root cause of the problem. Your spots and acne could be down to -

• Dirty pillowcases – wash once a week to ensure dead skin cells, old make-up, and sweat aren’t clogging up your bedding and your pores
• Your phone – if your bad skin is on one side only, is it the side you tend to hold your phone when on a call? If so, the problem probably lies with your phone spreading bacteria across your face. Clean your phone and try taking a break from calls, or using speakerphone instead
• Stress – periods of stress have a habit of bringing out acne. Try to alleviate your stress by using methods such as meditation, tapping, and mindfulness and see if your skin starts to look better
• Hormones – the dreaded word. Yep, sadly, acne and bad skin could all be down to your hormones wreaking havoc in your body. Does your skin get worse before or during your period – your hormones are to blame
• Medication – if you’ve recently started taking medication and you’re suddenly breaking out in spots when you never previously had this issue, it’s likely you’re suffering a reaction to your medication. Your skin may calm down once it’s used to it, or you may need to speak to your GP and see if there’s an alternative available

Food for Skin Health

Whatever your skin concern, if you’re looking to boost your overall skin health, the good news is you can help do this simply by eating!

OK, so you’ll need to skip on the sugary treats and the fatty takeaways, but there are still plenty of delicious foods you can enjoy to help give your skin a lift. Some of the best food for skin health includes -

Avocados‍

Some people love it, some people hate it, but there’s no denying avocados are good for giving your skin a zing. But why? Well, avocados are stacked with healthy fats which really do wonders for keeping your skin in tip-top shape, supple and moisturised.

But that’s not all, these yummy green fruits have compounds that can help shield your skin from damaging UV rays, and they’re a great source of vitamins E and C – both good for keeping your skin looking its best

Sweet potatoes

They are loaded with a nutrient called beta carotene which is then turned into vitamin A once inside your body. Beta carotene is a carotenoid that works as a natural sunblock so can help keep your skin protected from too much exposure to the sun.

Furthermore, if you consume lots of beta carotene you may also notice your skin develops a warm glow – which is a great boost especially in the depths of winter when we’re all sun-deprived

Fatty fish

Want to boost skin cell turnover? Reduce inflammation? Give your skin a leg-up in looking good? It’s time to add some fatty fish to your diet.

Look to mackerel, salmon and sardines (both fresh and tinned are fine) to up your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, zinc, and protein – all great in boosting your skin, keeping it supple and thick, and helping it be less sensitive to those nasty UV rays. Result

Walnuts

Not just for Christmas! These little good guys are packed with essential fatty acids (something our bodies can’t produce on their own) and are a great source of omega-3 and omega-6, which, when consumed in balance can help fight inflammation.

Add to this the fact walnuts are a great source of skin-friendly zinc which can help fight bacteria and inflammation, and they should definitely make it onto your shopping list

Dark chocolate‍

Do you need an excuse to eat chocolate? If so, here it is – dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids is good for your skin. It can help protect it from burning in the sun, and can help improve skin texture, wrinkles, skin thickness, blood flow, and hydration.

Pass us the Green & Blacks immediately!

Exercise and Skin Health

We’re all aware of the physical and mental benefits of exercising on a regular basis, but did you know exercise can also help your daily skin health too?

Firstly, exercise helps to boost blood flow, so while you’re busy working out, your blood is busy delivering oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells.

At the same time as bringing good things to your cells, blood flow can also help take away bad things like free radicals and other waste products too. The result? Healthier skin.

Furthermore, because exercise helps to reduce stress and anxiety, it can also help with stress-induced skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and acne.

Detox for Skin Health

Fancy giving yourself a detox for skin health? We don’t blame you. It can be a great way to give your skin a wellbeing boost.

There are a few ways of doing a skin detox from cutting out all refined sugar in your diet, to sorting out your skincare regime, boosting your sleep, and checking in on your microbiome.

Skin Conditions that your Diet Can’t Heal

Unfortunately, some skin concerns just can’t be healed by upping your dose of vitamin E, or beta carotene. We’re talking skin conditions like pigmentation marks, or excess facial hair for instance – both of which have a habit of making whoever is experiencing them feel pretty miserable about things.

So, if you’ve nailed the healthy eating, exercise, and skincare regime, but you need a little extra help, how about a treatment?

At Este, we offer the Cosmelan peel for hyperpigmentation, and laser hair removal for excess facial or body hair. Check out our before and after pics and see what a difference a little treatment can make!