There’s so much more to our skin than meets the eye–literally and figuratively! Even though our skin is our largest organ, it doesn’t usually get as much focus in terms of actual health, like our heart, liver, or lungs do. Maybe that’s because it’s our most visible organ; it’s how we present ourselves to the world and how the world first perceives us. But the skin is so much more than what we see on the outside. It serves multiple crucial functions (immunity, protection, sensation, detoxification, temperature regulation, etc) in its own right, but is also interconnected to every other organ and system of the body.
One of my favorite functions of the skin isn’t one that you read about in the textbooks or anatomy and physiology class–it’s that of the messenger. When we look in the mirror and our skin shows us something we don’t like such as an acne breakout, rosacea flare-up, fine lines, or dark spots, we tend to react with anger or frustration. Our instinct is to scrub it, zap it, pop it, pick it, or even burn off the spot–which really is a signal from the skin that something is not right. We, in essence, shoot the messenger!
What’s important to understand is that the skin isn’t simply misbehaving or acting out like a toddler in a tantrum for no reason. It’s doing so, most likely, because we have ignored other signals from our bodies that something is wrong. In our busy, modern, Western lifestyle, we have become accustomed to masking symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, hormone imbalance, bloating, and digestive issues with medications. Either that or we’ve come to accept them as “normal” (which they are not–common doesn’t equal normal), and ignore them. Symptoms are the body’s way of telling us something is wrong. When we ignore those symptoms, then the body has no choice but to SHOW us something is wrong in a way that we cannot easily mask or ignore it. Hence, the skin.
I had the amazing opportunity to appear on Good Morning Washington to talk about what your skin reveals about your health.
Watch the clip below!
Key points from the segment:
- What we see on the outside is a direct window into what may be going on inside.
- Skin cells are built on the inside, not the outside. If what we see on the surface isn’t ideal, then that might indicate a nutrient deficiency or internal imbalance getting in the way of those cells forming and functioning optimally.
- Examples include those stubborn “elevens” lines between the eyebrows. That might indicate liver imbalance or dysfunction. Breakouts on chin right before your monthly cycle might indicate female reproductive hormone imbalance. What I didn’t have time to mention was how rosacea typically manifests across the cheeks, in the region that corresponds with the stomach and small intestine. Puffiness or dark circles around the eye area may mean you’re eating too much of the wrong kinds of fats, not drinking enough water, drinking too much water, or might need a little kidney/detox support. Read more about that HERE.
- If your skin shows you persistent visible symptoms in the same areas, it’s time to consult with a natural health or functional nutrition practitioner!
- Choose herbal skincare products. Just like you’ve heard it’s important to “eat your colors” in your diet, with a good variety of fresh fruits and veggies, you also want to think along those lines with your skincare. Synthetic skincare simply cannot deliver nutrients into the skin as effectively as whole plant-based herbal skincare can. Learn more about whole food nutrition in skincare HERE.
Don’t shoot the messenger–instead, pause, and ask what your skin is trying to tell you about your health.
If you notice a change on our skin–a breakout, flare up, dry patch, dark spot–take that as a cue that something’s not right. Look deeper to see what might be wrong.
One of my favorite ways to do that is by taking a quick mental inventory. Ask yourself what’s different in your routine? Have you tried a new detergent? Are you going through a stressful situation? Are you taking medication (even meds you’ve been on for awhile can cause a reaction over time–it doesn’t have to be a new thing)? What have you been eating a lot of lately? Have you recently traveled? Did the season just change? All of these changes can throw us off balance, which can show up on the skin.
Finally, stop taking your skin for granted!
Instead, consider messages from your skin as if they were advice from your best friend. The skin is your most powerful messenger and ally in our quest for overall health and wellbeing.
Do you want even more of my best holistic skincare advice?
Check out my online video course, Must Have Secrets for Gorgeous Skin! These ten video lessons will share with you everything you need to know to see a visible improvement in your skin within 30 days of taking action.
In addition to the videos, you also have access to a private Facebook group where you can ask questions and get support from me! Best of all, it’s super affordable. Click HERE to get it now!
