More Than Skin Deep?

In my practice, I see so many patients suffering from skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, and acne. And yet most patients (quite understandably) have no idea that the roots of these pesky dermatological troubles go much further than skin deep... As in, they're part of a larger ecosystem, of sorts, that balances what's going on in the brain, the gut, the blood... Here's a quick, uncomplicated look at how some of these problems surface, so you can better prevent them altogether.

Did you know you are comprised of 10 times more bacterial cells than human cells? That‘s right, your bacteria makes up five pounds of your body weight, outnumbering human cells by a longshot. It's like your very own personal garden, indistinguishable from you. Without them, you could not live. And when they are happy and well-situated, you thrive. But if the flora get out of place or if the wrong bacteria get planted, we develop problems with the body AND may experience personality changes and mood disorders as a result.

Here's the background: in the 1930s, dermatologists John Stokes and Donald Pillsbury noticed stress, poor digestion, and skin irritations like acne tended to cluster together. It's since been confirmed that the health and variety of a person’s gut flora (bacteria) play a role in ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome, which is now more descriptively being called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). SIBO is 10 times more common in those with rosacea, seborrhea (eczema), and acne versus those without.

And that's not all: our emotional health is also inextricably linked with our personal body garden. Our moods, emotions, and perceptions can be influenced by composition of microbial flora inhabiting our body. SIBO is strongly associated with depression and anxiety, while improvement of the gut results in improved emotional symptoms. Acne is also associated with much higher rates of depression and anxiety. Although we might expect this with any health condition which is undesirable and uncomfortable, mental health impairment scores among acne patients are higher compared with a number of other chronic medical conditions, including epilepsy and diabetes. The skin, gut, and brain are somehow communicating through bacterial messages and influencing each other behind the scene. Where does it begin?

It’s probably the same as the chicken or the egg dilemma. What IS clear is that psychological stress stagnates the small intestines, encourages overgrowth of bacteria, and promotes a leaky intestinal barrier. This process compromises the absorption of nutrients. Excess bacteria use those nutrients, produce toxic metabolites, and cause injury to the gut. The toxins and byproducts of cellular damage circulate throughout the body, increasing inflammation in the skin and other organs, and crossing the blood-brain barrier to influence mental health.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

Take Probiotics:
Probiotics are bacteria commonly found in a healthy gut. Taking a good quality (high count, mixed strain) probiotic daily has proven to help reduce SIBO. Correction of SIBO leads to marked clinical improvement in patients with rosacea. Daily probiotics have also been shown to reduce the signs of psychological stress. In a 2011 French study, subjects who consumed a daily probiotic showed less resting-state brain activity and less reactivity to emotional stimuli (i.e.: less anxiety and irritability).

Up Your Omega-3s:
An omega-3-rich diet decreases the likelihood of SIBO and has also been linked to an decreased risk of depressive symptoms. A series of case reports and controlled studies have established the value of omega-3 fatty acids in improving acne, rosacea, eczema, mood, and memory.

Manage Your Stress:
Breathing deeply is the key to releasing stress; it does so by powerful mechanisms that involve alkalinizing the body, altering brainwaves to restore the nervous system, and adjusting the perceptions of an adrenally driven day. Five minutes a few times a day has been proven to be beneficial in healing the body. A blessing before a meal, with a few deep breaths and a moment of quiet, can accomplish this in a timely manner before food comsumption. This normalizes the body’s response to food, as well as aligns it with the gift of food and the pleasure that it brings, (helping your complexion and mood, too).