9 ways to healthier skin for summer
Suffer from eczema or psoriasis? Our tips will help you get your best complexion ever
1 Ditch the white stuff if you want clear, glowing skin, you need to quit sugar. it kills off the good bacteria in your gut, boosts the bad and has been linked to eczema, acne, psoriasis and rosacea. Switch to stevia instead: it is low-gi and has zero calories, and it will stimulate the sweet taste buds on your tongue. try nature’s garden stevia (£7.29 /170g, hollandandbarrett.com). OUR TOP TIP: Pregnant or nursing women shouldn’t use stevia and those on blood pressure or diabetes medication, should check with their doctor before using. 4 Probiotic power if you suffer with eczema, rosacea or psoriasis, try goat’s milk kefir. chuckling goat’s co-founder shann nix Jones says, ‘research shows eczema, psoriasis and rosacea are an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks itself, so healing your gut could help reduce skin conditions.’ make your own from kefir grains or buy it from chucklinggoat. co.uk. For the first 21 days, drink 170ml of goat’s milk kefir in the morning before eating. three back-to-back courses should be effective for all, but the most severe skin conditions. TOP TIP: blend the kefir with fruit or stevia to make it taste better! 2 Try the new
wonder-drink collagen is the ‘glue’ of the body, giving our skin strength and elasticity but, as we age, we stop producing it. drinking bone broth, which is made by simmering lamb, beef or chicken bones for at least two hours, is an easy way to get collagen into your system. the magic lies in the fact that cooking down the tendons, joints and ligaments in the meat bones makes the collagen into easily digestible gelatin. have a mug a day and you should be able to see a difference in around seven days. 5 Get your good fats many people think fats are unhealthy and try to avoid them, but some can work wonders for your complexion.
avocados are high in oleic acid, which is an omega 9 fat that maintains moisture in the epidermal layer of the skin, helping to keep it soft and hydrated. it also helps regenerate damaged skin cells and reduces irritation. Coconut oil deserves its claim to the title ‘super food’: try putting a spoonful in your mouth and allow it to dissolve. its natural antibiotic action attacks the bacteria that causes tooth decay. it can be used as a moisturiser on dry skin, too! 3 Great grains although a relatively small percentage of the population have coeliac disease – a serious illness in which the body’s immune system attacks itself when gluten is eaten – a lot of people are sensitive to gluten. because it’s an allergen, the presence of gluten can trigger the immune system, which produces the symptoms of allergy and inflammation, including acne, psoriasis and rosacea. if you’re a sufferer, it’s definitely worth trying alternative grains, like millet or quinoa instead.
6 Swap to
goat’s dairy eczema can be caused by something you consume every day – cow’s milk. try swapping to goat’s milk, which contains less lactose and has smaller fat globules, making it generally more easily digested. goat’s milk also contains oligosaccharides, which act as prebiotics and can out-compete the bad bugs. 7 Get some sunshine scientists now believe a lack of sunshine could be the reason why many eczema sufferers find their symptoms get worse in cold, dark months. a study of 107 children, with a history of eczema that worsened in the winter months, found that daily treatment with a vitamin d supplement showed a 29% improvement. so now the weather is getting brighter, get outside and get better skin! 8 Soothing
skincare research indicates a link between the use of topical probiotics – in the form of lotions and cleansers – and clearer skin in acne and rosacea patients. and, according to researchers at leeds metropolitan university, thyme essential oil is more effective against acne bacteria than benzoyl peroxide, without any of the drying and redness that the chemical can cause. 9 Avoid the nasties it’s easy to assume chemicals that kill bugs are good for our health. however, according to research, exposure to the antimicrobial and antifungal agent triclosan (found in many consumer items from toothpaste and shampoos to antibacterial hand sanitiser) could worsen eczema, food allergies or asthma. so check your labels and avoid products which contain it.