Fresh-faced, dewy makeup looks are trending all over social media, but what if you’re dealing with skin problems like acne, rosacea, eczema, etc.? These makeup trends can help you achieve the look that you want, but what about achieving truly clear, glowing, and healthy skin naturally – from the inside out?

Learn how to improve your skin microbiome…and how your skin is connected to IBD conditions!

What many people don’t know is that the skin, being the largest organ of the body, actually has its OWN microbiome – just like the gut. That’s right! This means that fungi, viruses, mold, etc. which can affect our gut microbiome can also affect our skin microbiome – and actually be living on our skin!

According to Ann Shipley, MD., “the skin has its own microbiome with around 1 billion organisms living on every square centimeter of the body.”

So how do we keep this microbiome healthy? I’m going to share some tips with you today.

Remember, the gut and your skin are linked!

Most of us are now familiar with the brain-gut axis connection, but what is new for a lot of people is that there is a gut-skin axis!! This means that the brain talks to the gut, and the gut talks to (or shows up on) your skin. So whatever skin condition you have, we can now be sure that it is linked to your gut. And this is great news actually because now you can harness your energy and focus on treating the root of the issue.

Make sure your gut health protocols are on point! Keep up with your gut health regimens, like supplementing with Natren probiotics and following Jini’s protocols for your specific IBD condition. For example, Jini’s most popularly followed protocol is her Wild Oregano Protocol, as outlined in her healing guide: Natural Treatments for Gut Infection.

Tip #1: Reset your gut flora

To reset your gut flora and strengthen the gut (which is what we at LTYG specialize in!) Jini recommends using an anti-pathogen in conjunction with a potent probiotic. An anti-pathogen, such as wild oregano oil, olive leaf,  potentized garlic, etc. serves to sweep out all the bad bacteria in the gut, and the probiotic replaces the bacteria lost with good, beneficial bacteria. This helped Jini reset and heal her gut when she was dealing with IBD, and these two steps alone greatly boost your gut health – in turn helping to clear your skin, too!

The gut can have a huge effect on what happens with your skin. Of course, there can be other external factors, but usually, when you get that big ole zit, your body is trying to communicate something to you! Treating the gut helps treats the “root” of your skin issues.

Interestingly enough when it comes to acne, the location of the acne can give you a sign of the imbalance in your body! If you battle with this, it may be worth researching which organ is out of whack depending on where the acne appears on the face.

I also highly recommend reading Jini’s Home Remedy for Acne! Per Jini, Naturopathic, Chinese Medicine, and Homeopathic doctors maintain that any skin condition is evidence of imbalance in the gut. So to treat acne or pimples, you need to normalize digestion and establish a beneficial gut flora (lots of good bacteria and no yeast overgrowth), while simultaneously using topical treatments to eradicate the infection in the pores.

Use caution when supplementing with an anti-pathogen, however, because if you aren’t detoxing properly this can hugely affect what are called “face flares.” If detoxing is your issue, I recommend you check out this video: Detox Your New Year – 3 Tips & a Surprise!

Tip #2: Diet

Now that we can see a clearer picture of the link between skin and the gut, what you put in your gut will also show from the inside out. Eating a clean, organic diet can do wonders for your gut and skin! This is because what you eat can be feeding the bad bacteria in your system, and then inflammation occurs in the gut – and it shows in your skin! Grease, for example, can increase oil and sebum on your skin, resulting in further breakouts.

“Now you may be sitting there thinking, “Yeah, but I really don’t want to give up my ice cream…even though I know my body doesn’t tolerate ice cream. I just can’t give it up.”

To this I say: But what is this costing you? 

Just something to think about. The choice is yours! But if you want that beautiful skin and a great gut, you can’t exactly be on a diet of Cheetos. Hate to say it, but you just can’t!!

In addition to establishing a healthy gut flora, here are two skin-specific topical treatments that can be really helpful for acute face flares while you are treating the root issues in the gut.

Skin Specific tips:

Skin tip #1: Ozone 

If you’re unfamiliar with ozone, it’s a very effective healing therapy in general. Basically, it’s oxygen sent directly into the area it’s applied to.

According to this clinical trial, when ozone comes into contact with body fluids, the resulting reactions form more proteins and red blood cells. This increases the oxygen supply in your body!

One of the cool things about ozone is that it leaves behind good bacteria while killing the bad ones – working as a natural antibiotic. Ozone can be very effective in treating skin issues even for things like scars, herpes, eczema, or acne.

This line actually has ozone IN its skincare line, which I think is amazing! This oxygen improves hydration, restores PH levels in the skin, and cleanses the skin from bacteria that may be forming with any “bad guys” residing on it. Using these topical forms of ozone can REALLY help the skin. Many swear by these products, including myself!

Skin Tip #2: Colloidal Silver

At LTYG, we love us some COLLOIDAL SILVER! It seems even the skincare world is catching up to the versatility and effectiveness of colloidal silver, as I recently found this interesting article on skincare products coming out with colloidal silver contained in them! 

Colloidal silver can be extremely valuable when it comes to skincare. I personally use colloidal silver straight from the bottle – topically on my entire face, as well as a spot treatment if I get a blemish while I’m detoxing my body (as I do every month).

The takeaway…

In short, you too can be a ‘dewy-faced dumpling’ by treating your body as a whole and putting these tips into play. Our skin goes through a lot, as it protects our bodies in amazing ways, so let’s give it up for our SKIN – and treat it the best way possible!