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What Is Your Skin Telling You About Your Health?

by Susie Garden | Oct 18, 2022 | Anti-ageing, Skin

Did you know that your skin is a messenger? Although it might be on the surface, skin health is a reflection of what is happening internally – for better and for worse. So if your skin has been playing up lately, let’s look at some of the messages it might have for you.

What Is Your Skin Telling You About Your Health?

Adult breakouts

Remember how relieved you were when you hit your 20s and your teen blemishes faded away? Well unfortunately, adults are not immune to breakouts. So if your skin has been as rebellious as a teenager, it’s time to pay attention.

The most likely culprit behind adult acne? Hormone imbalances. When your hormones are thrown off, your skin produces more sebum (oil) and you’re more prone to inflammation.

This could be a diagnosed hormone imbalance such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), perimenopause, or just a general imbalance caused by factors such as stress and low nutrition.

Pale skin

Noticed that your skin is paler compared to usual? Unless you’ve given up the fake tan or gone from sunbaking to staying inside, this is an important skin sign to watch out for.

The most common reason for pale skin? Anaemia – which may be caused by iron deficiency and/or B12 deficiency. Around 15% of women experience anaemia, and it often goes undiagnosed.

Another potential cause is hypothyroidism. Around 10% of women are estimated to be affected, but the risk increases with age. Hypothyroidism is also underdiagnosed, so the rate may be even higher than we realise. It also comes with symptoms including weight gain, intolerance to cold, fatigue and brain fog.

Dry skin

Another common symptom for skin, particularly as you age, is dry skin. Some of this is unavoidable – older skin has fewer oil and sweat glands, which can leave you more prone to dryness rather than oily skin.

But there are also factors that can prematurely age (and dry) your skin, including:

Excess sun exposure
Smoking
Stress
Dehydration
Low omega 3 intake

Another factor to consider? An underactive thyroid. Nearly 3/4 of people with hypothyroidism report dry skin as a symptom. This is because the process of skin turnover slows down, leading to the accumulation of dry, flaky skin on the surface.

Wrinkles, fine lines and age spots

These might be obvious symptoms of ageing – but if you notice that your skin ages faster than you do, it’s a message from the body.

Premature ageing is a common concern these days. It can include skin signs such as wrinkles, fine lines, age spots and dull skin. But you could also see other signs such as:

Weight gain
Low energy levels
Brain fog
Body aches & pains
Reduced muscle mass

It also comes with an increased risk of chronic disease – think type 2 diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and even cancer.

We know there are 3 big drivers behind premature ageing, which I cover in more detail here. To keep it simple – inflammation is the big baddie behind it all, and we are living in a world that makes a state of inflammation our default. If you want to learn more about why your skin is ageing and how you can hit the brakes, make sure you give this article a read.

Dark circles under the eyes

As you age, you become more prone to dark circles under the eyes. But there are other controllable factors at play, including sleep, stress, hydration and even lymphatic drainage. It could also indicate that you’re suffering from allergies or intolerances of some kind.

It’s important to note that there is a genetic component to dark circles under the eyes. This can be due to bone structure and pigment production. But that doesn’t mean you can’t reduce the appearance by working on your skin health & hydration!

Dreaming that you could turn back the clock?

While the passing of time is inevitable, it’s possible to look AND feel young and vibrant again. To learn how this is possible, book yourself a FREE Anti-Ageing Strategy call here.

Hi, I’m Susie.

I help women feeling stressed, flat and older than they’d like regain their youthful energy and glow using a proven method so their natural beauty and confidence shines through.

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Susie Garden

I help women feeling stressed, flat and older than they’d like regain their youthful energy and glow using a proven method so their natural beauty and confidence shines through.

Simple Nutrition Tips For Healthy, Glowing Skin

by Susie | Oct 11, 2022 | Anti-ageing

Do you wish your skin was clear, calm and youthful? You don’t need to spend hundreds or even thousands on skin treatments, masks and cosmetic procedures – it all starts with some simple nutrition tweaks.

If you’re after healthy, glowing skin, this is what you want to focus on.

Simple Nutrition Tips For Healthy, Glowing Skin

Drink plenty of fresh filtered water

It might be on the surface, but your skin relies on what your body provides just like any other organ in the body. For healthy skin, it needs plenty of nutrition, functional detoxification pathways and of course hydration. And all of these essential mechanisms rely on having plenty of water in the body.

Dehydration can contribute to a host of skin-related symptoms including:

Dry, itchy or rough skin
Fine lines
Dull complexion
Reduced elasticity
Fragile skin that is easily damaged

So do your skin a favour and go drink a big glass of water ASAP!

Don’t fear fats

Or at least don’t fear healthy fats – think fats such as avocado, ghee, coconut oil & olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids such as those found in fish.

Essential fatty acids build the membranes of your cells, keeping them happy and healthy. Plus they also support the skin’s natural barrier, helping to keep your skin hydrated, plumper, and younger looking.

Omega 3s have some additional benefits to offer. For example, they can protect against sun damage & reduce inflammation. For those who dislike fish or are plant-based, you can include chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds and walnuts.

But do avoid this fat at all costs!

The one type of fat that can sabotage your skin health? Industrial trans fats – aka vegetable oils that are chemically altered to be solid at room temperature. Trans fats can drive systemic inflammation, which is bad news for your skin.

You’ll find these fats in highly processed foods, take-away (particularly fried food from restaurants that reuse frying oil!) and any food that lists ‘partially hydrogenated oil’ as an ingredient.

Unfortunately, in Australia, manufacturers are not required to declare trans fats on the nutrition label. The only time they must list it is if they make a nutrition content claim about cholesterol, saturated, trans, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, or any of the omega fatty acids.

So your best bet is to stick to a diet of 80-90% wholefoods, and choose your ‘treat’ foods wisely.

Up the vitamin E

All vitamins & minerals benefit your skin in one way or another, but if I had to pick out one super-nutrient to touch on, it would have to be vitamin E.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient, meaning you need to consume it with fat to absorb the goodness. It has anti-inflammatory properties, counteracts UV damage thanks to its antioxidant properties, and reduces premature ageing and cell damage.

How can you increase your intake? Through plant-based foods that are rich in healthy fats. Reach for almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, pine nuts, Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds and avocado. The best part is that these contain fat already, so your body will absorb more of the vitamin E.

Eat your fruit & veg

Fruit and vegetables have so much to offer us in terms of health benefits. But when it comes to skin, the biggest benefit is as a source of antioxidants.

For example, beta-carotene, found in orange and yellow produce, protects your skin against UV rays and premature ageing. Other antioxidants that support healthy skin include vitamin C, lutein and lycopene.

The easiest way to make sure that you get plenty of skin-loving antioxidants? Choose a variety of different coloured fruits & veg – this will give you a wide spectrum of antioxidants (not to mention plenty of fibre, vitamins & minerals!)

Start from the inside out

One of the most important steps you can take for your skin is to optimise your internal health – particularly your gut. If you think about it, your digestive tract is responsible for:

Digesting nutrients so they are able to be absorbed
Absorbing nutrients into the bloodstream
Removing toxins and excess hormones that can affect your skin
Supporting your immune system (including the regulation of inflammation)

In fact, all of the other tips listed above rely on these actions to happen. So if you’re going to do just one thing for your skin’s sake, it has to be focusing on a healthy gut.

Need some tips on how to get your insides balanced again? Make sure you give this article a read.

Dreaming that you could turn back the clock?

While the passing of time is inevitable, it’s possible to look AND feel young and vibrant again. To learn how this is possible, book yourself a FREE Anti-Ageing Strategy call here.