What Your Dermatologist Is Not Telling You

In the realm of skin health, many individuals grapple with persistent issues such as adult acne, skin rashes, and accelerated skin ageing. These conditions are not merely superficial; they are often indicators of deeper, systemic imbalances. Functional medicine offers a holistic approach, emphasising the interconnectedness of bodily systems and the importance of addressing root causes rather than merely alleviating symptoms. Let's delve into why your dermatologist might be telling you only part of the story and how a functional medicine perspective can transform your approach to skin health.

Fixing It from Within

If you're dealing with adult acne, skin rashes, or signs of premature ageing, your body might be signalling that it's undergoing oxidative stress and accelerated ageing internally.

These inflammatory conditions often stem from gut dysfunction, liver congestion, hormone imbalances, food sensitivities, and even heavy metal toxicity. Essentially, your skin issues are symptomatic of internal health problems.

Stress also plays a crucial role in this equation. 

Chronic stress can exacerbate gut issues, inflammation, and immune imbalances. Therefore, managing stress is integral to healing your skin from within. Functional medicine focuses on a comprehensive approach to stress management, which includes nutrition, lifestyle changes, and potentially supplements to support adrenal health and stress resilience.

Medications Are Not Curing the Cause

Conventional medicine typically treats symptoms with medications, such as prescribing steroids for eczema. While this approach can provide temporary relief, it often fails to address the underlying cause of the symptoms. Medications like steroids, isotretinoin, antibiotics, and synthetic hormones may suppress the symptoms but do not resolve the root issues. Over time, this can lead to a cycle of dependency on medications, which might cause additional health problems and therefore require further medication.

Functional medicine, on the other hand, seeks to uncover and address the root causes of skin conditions. This could involve looking at gut health, liver function, hormonal balance, and potential toxins in the body. We believe that only by understanding and addressing these underlying issues can we achieve long-term healing and prevent recurrence.

The Gut-Skin Connection

The gut plays a pivotal role in overall health, including skin health. An imbalance in gut flora, often referred to as dysbiosis, can lead to systemic inflammation and manifest as skin conditions. Leaky gut syndrome, where the intestinal lining becomes permeable, allowing toxins and undigested food particles to enter the bloodstream, is a common issue linked to various skin problems.

Addressing gut health involves dietary changes to eliminate inflammatory foods, incorporating probiotics to support healthy gut flora, and potentially using supplements to heal the gut lining. However, it is important to note that probiotics are not suitable for everyone and may exacerbate bacterial overgrowth in the gut. In such cases, a different approach is necessary: we must first eliminate the excess bacteria using targeted supplementation before introducing probiotics. This can be effectively managed with simple at-home lab tests, such as a Comprehensive Stool Test, to identify the specific needs. 

Liver Health and Detoxification

The liver is responsible for detoxifying the body, and its proper function is essential for maintaining healthy skin. Liver congestion, where the liver becomes overburdened and sluggish, can lead to a build-up of toxins in the body, which often manifests as skin issues.

A functional medicine detox is crucial for liver health as it enhances the liver's natural detoxification processes, supports cell repair, reduces inflammation, and promotes gut health, all of which lessen the liver's workload. It also aids in hormonal balance, boosts energy, and supports healthy weight management. 

Hormonal Balance

Hormonal imbalances are a common cause of skin issues, particularly in adults. Conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause acne and other skin problems due to excess androgens. Hormonal fluctuations related to menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause can also affect skin health.

Balancing hormones involves a comprehensive approach that includes optimising nutrition, managing stress, incorporating regular exercise, and addressing underlying issues like gut health and toxin exposure. Personalised lab testing guides targeted supplementation and lifestyle changes, ensuring effective and individualised hormonal balance.

Food Sensitivities and Allergies

Undiagnosed food sensitivities and allergies can contribute significantly to skin issues. Common culprits include dairy, gluten, and processed foods. Food sensitivity tests from an IgG perspective help with skin issues by identifying specific foods that trigger inflammatory responses in the body. By pinpointing and eliminating these reactive foods, inflammation can be reduced, leading to improvements in skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis. This targeted approach allows for a personalised diet that promotes skin health and overall well-being.

Heavy Metal Toxicity

Exposure to heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and arsenic can cause significant health issues, including skin problems and skin cancer. Heavy metal toxicity often goes undiagnosed in conventional medicine but is a key area of focus in functional medicine.

Our Hair Tissue Test is a valuable tool in functional medicine for assessing heavy metal toxicity. This non-invasive test provides insights into the levels of various minerals and heavy metals present in the body over an extended period. By analysing hair samples, we can identify imbalances and toxicities in heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. This information helps tailor personalised detoxification protocols and nutritional strategies to support the body's natural detoxification pathways and mitigate the harmful effects of heavy metal exposure.

Stress Management

As mentioned earlier, stress is a significant factor in skin health. Chronic stress can lead to elevated cortisol levels, which in turn can cause inflammation and worsen skin conditions. Effective stress management techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, regular physical activity, and adequate sleep are crucial components of a functional medicine approach to skin health.

What's Your Skin Telling You?

Final thoughts

Addressing skin health from a functional medicine perspective involves looking beyond the surface to understand the interconnectedness of bodily systems. By addressing gut health, liver function, hormonal balance, food sensitivities, and heavy metal toxicity, and managing stress,  the path to overcoming skin issues becomes a certainty.

A crucial element of this approach is thorough lab testing, which provides detailed insights into your body's internal environment. At Synergised, we offer a range of comprehensive lab tests designed to uncover the root causes of your skin issues. These tests can evaluate:

• Gut Health: Through stool analysis and microbiome assessments, we can identify dysbiosis, leaky gut syndrome, and other gut-related issues that may be contributing to skin inflammation.
• Hormonal Balance: Hormone panels can detect imbalances that might be causing acne or other skin conditions, allowing for targeted treatment plans.
• Food Sensitivities: Our food sensitivity tests can identify specific foods that are causing inflammatory responses, helping you tailor your diet to avoid triggers.
• Heavy Metal Toxicity: Tests for heavy metals can reveal toxic exposures that may be impacting your skin health and overall well-being.

By using these lab tests, we can create a personalised plan that addresses the unique factors contributing to your skin issues. This bespoke approach is more effective than the one-size-fits-all solutions often offered by conventional medicine.

While conventional medicine has its place, especially in acute care, it often falls short in addressing chronic skin issues. Functional medicine provides a holistic, root-cause approach that can lead to lasting healing and improved overall health. Instead of masking symptoms with medications, it's time to dig deeper and address the true causes of your skin problems. Your journey to healthier skin starts from within.

At Synergised, we are committed to helping you achieve optimal skin health through comprehensive testing and personalised care. Our functional medicine approach ensures that all aspects of your health are considered, leading to sustainable and effective results. Embrace the journey to better skin by understanding and healing your body from the inside out. Visit our lab test collection to learn more about how we can support you in uncovering the root causes of your skin concerns and guiding you towards lasting health and beauty.