The good folks at Casa de Karma have featured some more of my articles in their Spring Into Wellbeing collection.
I talk about how to improve your skin from the inside and share some DIY skin care recipes, include masks and scrubs.

Here’s a sneak preview

5 Tips To Get Healthy Skin From The Inside Out

We all want that clear, dewy complexion that some seem to be bestowed with; the glow that seems to radiant from within. Luckily, beautiful skin is obtainable for us all, here are 5 tips to get great skin from the inside out…

1. Hydrate

The top layer of your skin is about 80% water and if you’re not drinking enough fluids, this can be quickly reflected in the health of your skin. Sweating is one of our bodies natural detoxification systems, and we need to be properly hydrated for this to work properly. Find water a tad boring? Try freezing some berries, herbs or lemon wedges in ice cube trays and adding to your water for a bit of pizzazz. Alternatively, make your own flavoured water by steeping some fruit slices and herbs in water overnight.

Try these delicious naturally flavoured water combos:

• Mint, cucumber and lime
• Raspberry and mint
• Lemon and blueberries
• Blackberry and sage…

Read the rest here: http://casadekarma.com.au/heathy-skin-from-the-inside-out/

5 Naturopath-Approved DIY Skin Care Recipes

http://casadekarma.com.au/5-diy-skin-care-recipes/

Suitable for all skin types and perfect if your skin is itchy or inflamed.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of dried oats, ground
• 2 teaspoons of water, witch hazel, or chamomile tea

Method

1. Grind oats (if not already ground) and mix with desired liquid until a paste forms.
2. Apply to the face in gentle circular motions, avoiding the eyes. (For the rest of the body, make a larger quantity and apply in the same manner.)
3. Rinse off with warm water.

Read the rest here: http://casadekarma.com.au/5-diy-skin-care-recipes/

The post Spring Skin appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Guest Post by Hayley Stockbridge

Acne vulgaris is a disease that affects the skin’s oil glands. The small holes in your skin (pores) connect to oil glands under the skin. These glands make an oily substance called sebum. The pores connect to the glands by a canal called a follicle. Inside the follicles, oil carries dead skin cells to the surface of the skin. A thin hair also grows through the follicle and out to the skin. When the follicle of a skin gland clogs up, a pimple grows.

Pimple prone skin and breakouts can be hard to control and often limited relief is seen with topical treatments alone. Unfortunately medical treatments are also limited and not ideal long term strategies. The oral contraceptive pill is often prescribed to women with hormonal acne which can have many long term side effects such as increased risk of some cancers, clotting disorders and hormonal problems once the pill is stopped. Daily antibiotics are another common medical treatment which can have huge ramifications on long term microbial balance and gut health. The last resort is roaccutane, a drug that has been linked to depression and causes a huge drying effect on the skin to the point of having flaky and dry lips, eyes and hands.

The key to successfully controlling acne is to determine what is causing it in the first. For some this can be obvious (such as a poor diet or hormonal acne) while for others there may be a combination of contributing factors. The following list documents some of the most common causes of acne from a Naturopathic perspective:

1.  Acne on the chin and jaw line is often hormonally driven; particularly in females however can be present in these areas in males as well. Acne that gets worse premenstrually or at ovulation will also have a hormonal influence.

2.  Acne on the chest and back is thought to be due to generalized toxicity. This is often seen with a poor diet. This may include a diet high in sugars, processed foods or junk foods. This type of acne can be addressed by undertaking a simple detoxification program to clean out the body and lymphatic system.

3.  If present on the cheeks, this is often due to a sluggish digestive system or colon toxicity. These patients often have a history of digestive issues and may suffer from constipation, gas or bloating. This acne can be reduced by improving digestive function, regulating the bowels and following a high fibre diet.

4.  High sugar diet or high glycaemic index diet can cause acne by increasing circulation levels of insulin. This then causes an imbalance in androgen levels, which triggers an increase in sebum production under the skin. The best way of dealing with acne is balancing blood sugar levels and reducing circulating insulin. This is particularly prevalent in women with PCOS. A low sugar diet has been well researched to improve acne and is one of the best ways to control breakouts in the long term.

5.  A high dairy diet has also been linked to acne. Dairy products are acidic and inflammatory and many of my patients have been able to control their breakouts by reducing dairy intake.

6.  An infection with the bacteria Propionibacterium on the skin will also make any current acne or breakouts worse. This can be controlled by improving the immune response using either nutritional or herbal medicines. Topical application of tea tree oil diluted with some warm water also helps to keep this bacteria at bay. Start by applying each night before bed and after washing your face.

7.  A Zinc deficiency can lead to poor skin health and acne. Zinc is essential for skin healing as well as immune regulation. Supplementing with zinc helps to ensure scarring does not take place as the skin improves.

8.  A Vitamin A deficiency can also contribute to acne. Vitamin A supplementation helps to reduce sebum production under the skin and therefore goes a long way to improve skin health.

9.  Poor liver function can contribute as our liver is our major detoxification organ responsible for flushing toxins out of the body. If your liver is sluggish, toxins and waste products are not effectively cleared from the body and need to escape somewhere- this is often through the skin. A healthy liver makes a huge difference for health skin.

Hayley Stockbridge, Naturopath

B. App. Sc (Nat Stud) Post Grad Dip Nat

Hayley is a Naturopath at Better Health Practice in Stanmore, and Sydney Health and Fertility, Manly NSW. A passion for a healthy lifestyle lead her to become a Naturopath. With over 6 years of experience in the industry, a passion for a healthy lifestyle lead her to become a Naturopath.  Her major focus is always educating her patients to live healthier and happier lives. She treats women, men and children of all ages and a wide variety of health issues such as weight loss, digestive problems, anxiety/stress, food intolerances and headaches.

Check out her website for more information www.hayleystockbridge.com.au

Related Posts:

A Naturopathic Approach to Acne – Podcast
Surviving the Teenage Years, Acne
Busting the PCOS Myths

The post What’s causing your acne? appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.