How can nutrition help with skin concerns?

In the final part of our guest posts from Sophie Wedlock Smith owner of SWnutrition and we are discussing how nutrition can influence certain skin concerns such as Eczema/dermatitis and Rosacea.

Nutrition and Eczema - Dermatitis

It’s estimated that up to 15 million people in the UK could be living with eczema. It is defined as a superficial inflammation of the skin, characterised by vesicles, redness, oedema, oozing, crusting, scaling and usually itching.

There are a number of different types of eczema depending on their causes and where they appear on the body. For example contact dermatitis (skin irritated by chemicals etc.) atopic dermatitis (itching with a personal or family history of allergic disorders), nummular dermatitis (discoid lesions on buttocks and trunk), chronic dermatitis of hands and feet and seborrheic dermatitis (scalp and face).

Standard treatment

Steroid ointment to relieve inflammation and if necessary antihistamines and antibiotics to control itching and infection.

Possible factors

• Allergies
• Food intolerance
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Hydrochloric acid deficiency
• Leaky gut
• Liver congestion
• Emotional stress

Naturopathic and Nutrition support

This approach will be personalized for each individual person, however a summary of the key healing tools are as follows:

• Alkaline diet
• Whole food diet (remove refined sugar and flour)
• Detoxification of bowel
• Eliminate citrus and tomatoes
• Eliminate allergy foods esp. wheat and cow’s milk
• Increase omega 3 fatty acids (oily fish, avocado, flax seeds)
• Probiotics
• Heal the gut
• Digestive enzymes
• Remove candida
• Increase vitamins A, B and E, zinc and magnesium

Should you wish to find out more on how Sophie can help with your nutritional goals, you can contact here.

Nutrition and Rosacea

A chronic inflammatory acne-like syndrome with varying degrees of papules, pustules and hyperplasia of the sebaceous lands predominately on the face and commonly around the nose. The onset is usually around 30 and 50 years of age.

Rosacea occurs three times as often in females than males and is more common with people with a fair complexion.

Orthodox treatment

Broad-spectrum oral antibiotics and firm massage using a bland lubricant.

Possible contributing factors

• Stress
• Prolonged use of steroids
• Infection
• Excessive use of antibiotics
• Lymphatic congestion
• Vitamin deficiencies (especially B Vitamin’s)
• Food allergies/ sensitivities
• Alcohol and sugar
• Gut dysbiosis
• Low stomach acid

Diet and lifestyle suggestions

• Drink plenty of filtered water daily.
• Pulses, beans, lentils, chickpeas for the fibre
• Include seeds such as sunflowers, pumpkin and nuts such as almonds, walnuts
• Include 3 portions of oily fish each week.
• Include plenty of fresh, organic, fruit and vegetables each day. (include at least 3 different kinds of vegetables with meals)

Things to avoid

• All stimulants including coffee, tea, chocolate and sugar.
• Decaffeinated beverages
• Foods that contain refined carbohydrates (e.g biscuits, cakes, puddings, pastries)
• Alcohol
• Foods that are high in saturated fats (eg red meat, dairy products)
• Fried foods (grill, bake, steam)
• Artifical sweeteners, preservatives and additives.
• Smoking

Healing Approach

• Bowel detoxification
• Gut healing action plan
• Probiotics
• Personlized supplement healing plan.
• Addressing foods that cause inflammation

Due to the complex pathophysiology of skin conditions, it’s important to approach it with holistic, in-depth and comprehensive support.
If you would like an individual, personalised plan to support your recovery then reach out to Sophie-Wedlock-Smith a BANT qualified Nutritional Therapist at SWnutrition.