Plant Based Diet for Perioral Dermatitis

It's frustrating when you can't clear your skin. ESPECIALLY when you're super conscious of what you eat and how you live.

But there's a reason clear skin is becoming more difficult to accomplish, and why skin conditions are much more common — now the eighteenth leading health burden,globally!

But I'm determined to change that!

In this post we'll cover:

1. what causesmost chronic skin issues and how to avoid them
2. why being vegan or eating any whole foods diet is not enough to clear your skin.
3. the triggers to avoid for acne, perioral dermatitis, ocular rosacea, rosacea, and psoriasis.

What Causes Chronic Skin Issues?

Photo: vrx / Shutterstock

1. An imbalance of bugs!

Your skin and gut have a lot in common. They both have bugs — microbiota on the skin and in the intestinal tract. They both absorb nutrients, expel waste,  and benefit from similar nutrients! Which is why they often reflect each other.

When you have an imbalance of bugs on the surface of our skin or in our gut, it creates inflammation. This can show up on your skin, systemically (in your body), or both.

An imbalance of gut bugs can be caused by stress, diet, liver issues, pathogens — worms, bacterial infection (like tonsillitis), viruses (like glandular fever), and good bug killers (like fluoride and antibiotics).

Susceptibility to an imbalance includes, but not limited to, lack of breastfeeding, cesarean birth, genetic predispositions, taking antibiotics as a child, having parents who took antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, contraception, a history of mental illness, and other stressors.

Before such prolific uses of medications, contraception, baby formula, and cesareans, this imbalance was a lot rarer and a lot less complex.

This is because, as a result of all these things compounding over time, genetic defences have weakened through generations, and been epigenetically passed down to you (i.e., you're likely born more susceptible). Then as a child, you take antibiotics for an ear infection or tonsillitis, then the pill as a teen, and all the way you're exposed to other environmental factors that also weaken the gut. This is what leads to skin issues, autoimmunity, hormonal imbalance, and mood disorders, that only compound and complicate over time.

Unless you know how to heal the underlying cause!

Aug 2016 – after meds

I've spoken to women all over the world about skin, and more often than not, they tell me,  "I used to have clear skin until I took _____"(insert drug here), and more often than not, it's an antibiotic. But the truth is, there's a whole history of susceptibility leading up to that, and the drug just tips you over the edge.

Before taking prescription medication to treat your skin, research the labels and the side effects first. You'll find (long-term) they exacerbate or worsen the very thing they purport to treat.

A great resource is Gut: the inside story of our body's most under-rated organ.

A book that gives you a basic, but solid understanding of how your digestion and gut bugs work. Written by Giulia Enders, a researcher who also developed a skin condition after antibiotics!

2. Exposure to xenoestrogens

Long-term exposure to endocrine disruptors like xenoestrogens cause hormonal imbalance that lead to skin issues, weight gain (especially hips, inner groin and stomach), water retention, over-thinking, painful periods, migraines, varicose veins and more.

Think makeup, toxic skin care, contraceptive pills and plastics.

Be aware that harsh products used to treat acne harm the skin barrier and microbiome, which exposes your skin to more damage, allergies, and systemic inflammation down the road.

3. Liver issues

The liver is best known for its important role in digestion and detoxification, but the liver has over 200 known functions! When taxed, it can lead to a domino effect that impacts many areas of your body.

One major area is the gut. A sluggish liver puts extra pressure on the gut, which can lead to dysbiosis (an imbalance of gut bugs), as mentioned earlier. It's all interconnected!

Another major function of the liver is your hormone regulation, but when taxed it's not so efficient. Which can lead to hormonal imbalance, endocrine disorders and skin conditions.

Factors that affect hormone regulation include roacutane and the contraceptive pill.  Both scientifically documented to damage the liver. Also, viruses, pathogens, alcohol and recreational drugs tax the liver and increase susceptibility to skin conditions.

The good news is, given the right environment, you can regenerate your liver and you can heal!

How To Avoid Chronic Skin Issues

Jan 2016 – my budding rosy cheeks (before meds)

1. Reduce stress with adequate sleep, meditation and calm eating rituals.

Only eat when calm — go for a walk or breathe before taking a bite.

2. Eat right for your body!

If you do eat meat, stick to organic and grass-fed, otherwise, you'll mess up your essential fatty acid ratios and create inflammation. Plus, you'll be adding artificial hormones that throw off yours! Both mechanisms cause acne, so best to avoid! If you want a more tailored approach to heal yourself with whole foods, I can look at your entire symptom picture and create a plan for you. So you can feel confident you're doing what's right for your body! Book here.

3. Make sure you are efficient in micronutrients!

Know the common deficiencies to look out for.

4. Drink filtered water wherever possible

5. Avoid plastics when possible

And never use plastics in the microwave because of xenoestrogens!

6. See a corneotherapist to make sure you're putting the right products on your skin because some natural products also harm the skin barrier.

7. Avoid antibiotics and pills wherever possible!

When it's life-threatening, it can't be avoided — but there are protocols that will help youmitigate the effects.

Skin Triggers

Knowing your skin triggers is important because you can't heal when what you eat is still creating underlying inflammation in your body! Plus, because of all the aforementioned, simply eating vegan, or a whole foods diet may not be enough to heal your skin.

Not only is this reflected in the research, but in my personal experience — I was a whole-foods plant based eater for four years before I developed my skin condition!

So here are some inflammatory triggers to avoid. Many of which are perfectly healthy for other people, but when you have a chronic condition that presents like acne, dermatitis, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis, they're not!

At least for now…

Acne

In some cases eating vegan will work for acne because it removes some of the major triggers like dairy, and grain-fed meat.

But if this isn't enough, it's because there are other issues going on, and there are still major triggers this lifestyle doesn't avoid! Such as gluten, refined sugar, processed foods, and grains (yes, even gluten-free ones).

A good place to start is with freshly ground flaxseeds and zinc every day to reduce breakouts!

If you're on the pill to treat your acne and worried about the damage it may cause (long-term), but are afraid to come off, there are protocols to help you do this without an intense relapse.

Perioral Dermatitis + Ocular Rosacea

To simply eat vegan is not nuanced enough to reduce either of these issues. Given that most people with perioral dermatitis and ocular rosacea are sensitive to an acid naturally occurring in most healthy food, eating all the plants will likely trigger inflammation. Of course, you can still be vegan, but you' need to know which foods you can and can't have.

Also note, going raw vegan, which is popular for skin conditions will limit your options to something like three foods! Such as bananas, papayas and pomegranates.

While beautiful foods like berries, dates and grapes should be avoided. And sorry to say, the list goes on. At least until we heal the underlying issue.

Rosacea

Rosacea is so nuanced because triggers vary depending on the type and the rest of your symptom picture.

Note: that is true for most chronic skin conditions, but rosacea is particularly difficult because it's often associated with h-pylori and SIBO.

At a minimum, if you're serious about healing your rosacea, avoid caffeine, alcohol, spices, eggs, most meat, all dairy, gluten and nightshades. If you have acne rosacea, also steer clear from grains.

Focus on astringent, lighter, and cooler foods like berries, coconuts, melons, papaya, cucumber, pumpkin, greens, and broccoli.

Eczema

Like most skin issues, eczema is a barrier disorder with a deficiency in essential fatty acids. So eating two servings of fish per week can really help with this. Otherwise, for a more sustainable option, take Udo's oil daily with turmeric because it will help reduce inflammation and repair the skin barrier.

Triggers for eczema are similar to acne, but again, your full symptom picture will more accurately determine what is best for you to eat and not eat, and I cannot know that unless we spoke one-on-one.

Psoriasis

Because psoriasis is found so commonly on larger areas of the body, external factors become a, even bigger trigger. Like fluoride in the shower, and chemicals on your clothes. So getting a water filter for the shower can help. Also looking to replace your laundry detergent.Abode is one brand that's chemical free and safe to use.

Psoriasis is largely associated with inflammation in the large intestine, which is why it can be quickly cleared up on a ketogenic style diet. However, similar to water fasting, ketogenic diets should be seen as a short-term healing tool, not a long-term lifestyle choice.

Also, be wary of too much fruit juice and harsh fibres while you heal your gut. Then afterwards, absolutely reintroduce higher fibre foods and a wider array of fruit and vegetables because you'll want to re-establish your gut flora and rebuild your immune system.

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Now if you still want…

• to know the root cause of your condition
• to know exactly what foods you need to avoid to reduce inflammation and heal
• a meal plan and recipes designed specifically for your body
• an approach that incorporates all areas of your life including routines, and emotional aspects of your symptoms
• to have support on your healing journey

Book a session with me here .

And let me know in the comments below, what's one thing you'll tweak as a result of reading this post?

Lot's of love,

xx Jess

PS. Your consult is based on scientific research, a lot of which was inspired by the many mistakes both medical professionals and natural health practitioners made on me! But also spans far beyond that. This is a nuanced, tailored, and an educational approach from someone who deeply cares and understands. I'm not just a girl who say's "hey, this worked for me", no. This is a tailored and empowering approach, not simply based on one experience.

PPS. If (like me) you love to geek out on the science-y stuff I will happily share that too! Book here.

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Disclaimer: this website is for information purposes only and is not designed to diagnose, or treat any illnesses. Please speak with yourtrusted healthcare professional before implementing any of the above information.

Why Being Vegan Is Not Enough To Clear Your Skin was last modified: February 15th, 2019 by Jessica

Plant Based Diet for Perioral Dermatitis

Source: http://www.inthera.com.au/clear-skin/

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