What do bacteria really have to do with skin conditions?
Skin is more than just the outer body coating that keep your insides in. It is actually a support for a thriving community of bacteria, which sometimes gets a little out of whack.
What we do know is that when bacteria such as species of Staphylococcus, Propionibacterium and streptococcus get into the skin layers, through disruption of the skin barrier, it can potentially lead to conditions such as atopic dermatitis, acne and rosacea.
Another little nugget is the link between gut health, gut bacteria and altered immune responses. It is quite common for skin conditions to manifest if your gut bacteria is out of balance.
So, how does a naturopath (like me!) help manage a skin condition, even a chronic one? Well, I look at a whole lot of factors (gut function, stress, diet, environmental, etc), so including the ones you can’t see – not just your body’s outer bag called skin.