The connection between your gut and skin: How to glow from the inside out
Dr Sally Bramley, an NHS doctor trained in functional and lifestyle medicine and co-founder of Tru Health, a clinic designed to help people get to the root cause of health symptoms
From immunity to mental health to skin it all starts in the gut. And the signifiers that something is going wrong with your gut can be written all over your face.
“Skin, hair and nails are really the first port-of-call in terms of signals when something is out of balance in the gut,” says Dr Sally Bramley, an NHS doctor trained in functional and lifestyle medicine and co-founder of Tru Health, a clinic designed to help people get to the root cause of health symptoms.
“The gut and skin are in constant communication and skin often acts as an external reflection of what’s going on inside. Hair, too, is a huge tell-all — it’s not 100% essential to survival, so it’s often one of the first things to be affected when the gut is not functioning well. There’s a reason Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, said ‘All disease begins in the gut’. I’ve never met a single person that wouldn’t benefit from giving their gut an extra bit of love.”
Signs one might have an unhealthy gut range from bloating and irritable bowel syndrome to acne and hair loss. Indeed, modern life, with all of its stressors, doesn’t do it any good either. But there are simple ways to help your gut out, Dr Bramley suggests.
“Choosing organic, whole food, intuitive eating, being out in nature, hydrating and even simply allowing yourself the time to nourish yourself properly. So many people eat quickly at their desks, without allowing our bodies to switch from fight-or-flight mode to rest-and-digest. Doing this means certain acids and enzymes aren’t released to aid digestion, and can hurt in the long run. I recommend people take a few deep breaths before they start eating, and step away from their desks and screens for at least a few minutes beforehand. A shot of apple cider vinegar, too, can be great before big meals — just be sure to rinse your mouth after so as to not wear down your teeth enamel.”
When it comes to skin health, more and more studies are linking clear, glowing skin, hair and nails to a healthy gut. But, what is someone who thinks they have gut issues to do?
“So many companies offer microbiome tests now,” Dr Bramley says. “But, very often, results come back and people don’t know what they mean. For those experiencing hair, skin or nail-related issues — there are very often signs that something is hindering our nutrition status. It’s really important that does not get ignored. Get checked out and you’ll be amazed at how simple these changes can be. And remember: It’s not a vanity project, this is your health.”
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