At Hope and Healing Naturopathic, we know that skin is a reflection of inner health. If you’ve been dealing with skin issues including breakouts, itching, flaking, discoloration, irritation, or dryness, you’ve come to the right place.
Skin conditions can be deeply frustrating and embarrassing, especially when various creams, potions, pills, or serums have provided little to no relief. Healthy skin does not happen by solely focusing on our skin. When we address what’s happening underneath, it’s possible to have healthier, more radiant skin.
We understand that skin symptoms are essentially fire alarms alerting us to imbalances within. When we listen to the body and address the causes of imbalance (spoiler alert – digestion, toxicity, and stress are the most common culprits), the body is able to show off and resolve skin issues, without complex skin care or supplement/med routines.
We help people with a wide range of skin concerns including:
- Acne
- Eczema (Atopic dermatitis, Dyshidrotic dermatitis, Seborrheic dermatitis)
- Keratosis Pilaris
- Mysterious rashes or bumps
- Psoriasis
- Rosacea
- Warts
We focus on WHY your body created these specific symptoms to get your attention, and then HOW you can heal so you don’t have to deal with these annoying skin issues moving forward. Although each person has a specific and unique set of symptoms and causes, we have found that the most common imbalances for skin issues include:
Diet and Digestion
Gut health and skin health are interconnected, therefore, if your digestive tract (mouth to anus) is inflamed, leaky, or has microbial/flora imbalances, your skin can suffer. Minor dietary indiscretions or mild gut issues may produce the occasional pimple or dull or itchy skin, whereas psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema tend to occur when the digestive tract has been severely or chronically impaired. Some of the worst offenders to the digestive tract include:
- Consuming dietary intolerances, sugar, processed, fried, or contaminated foods.
- Medications such as antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors/PPI’s (Omeprazole/Prilosec), NSAID’s (Advil/Ibuprofen), oral contraceptives/birth control pill, or steroids (Prednisone).
- Deficient hydrochloric acid, enzymes, or beneficial bacteria which are all necessary for proper digestive processes.
- Structural imbalances which can include misalignment of the cranium, vertebrae, organs, nerves, muscles, etc.
- STRESS which impairs our nervous system’s ability to allow for efficient and proper digestive processes to occur.
- Toxicity and Impaired Detoxification Abilities
Toxicity and Impaired Detoxification Abilities
When your body is overburdened with ‘garbage’, the body alerts you with skin concerns.
Your brilliantly designed detox organs and pathways are powerful, but when they’re overwhelmed or compromised, your skin steps in to help out. This may not feel very helpful to you as it can result in itchy, dry, flaky, discolored, or irritated skin.
We know that the answer isn’t to shut down the body’s call for help with steroids or creams, but rather to support the body’s natural detox processes and pour less ‘garbage’ in to avoid overwhelming the body.
Gentle detoxification support may include:
- Homeopathic or drainage remedies to love on your liver, kidneys, bowels, and lymphatic system.
- Finding out your dietary intolerances to decrease intestinal toxemia. When we can’t break down and digest certain foods, in essence, we have garbage rotting in the intestines which creates toxemia and inflammation in our blood and body.
- Assessing sources of toxicity (home, work, cosmetics, cleaning products, food, water, alcohol, mold, etc.) and decreasing exposures.
- Comprehensive physical exam to evaluate toxicity burdens.
- Laboratory testing when indicated (heavy metals, mold, inflammatory markers, etc.)
- Guidance on supplementation to boost deficiencies, support compromised systems, and help the body function optimally. We do NOT use supplements to shut down or suppress symptoms.
- Lifestyle guidance to promote effective detoxification long term (aka healthy skin and chronic disease prevention).
Stress and Nervous System Balancing
Have you noticed that your skin issues may flare during or after times of increased stress or emotional turmoil? That’s not a coincidence. Keep in mind, skin issues can cause stress, just as stress can cause skin issues.
Your nervous system directly impacts your skin. When you’re stuck in chronic fight, flight, or freeze mode (aka sympathetic dominance, where most of society lives unfortunately), your digestion halts, your hormones go on a roller coaster ride, and your body is shifted into inflammatory overdrive. Any one of these issues can promote skin symptoms. So, if someone is stressed often, or for extended periods of time, it can create a recipe for disaster.
We know that it’s impossible to live in a land of unicorns and escape stress completely, therefore, we help patients improve stress resilience and balance the nervous system with modalities that can provide long-term solutions. We use the term “marshmallow suit” as patients often find that although we can’t control society, politics, weather, or other people, we can be less reactive and allow stressors to bounce off more easily and naturally.
Some of the most powerful modalities we use to balance the nervous system include:
✧ QNRT (Quantum Neuro Reset Therapy)
QNRT works by identifying and clearing neurological stress patterns, especially those that we may not even realize we’re holding onto. This fast and easy technique resets the brain, clears stored emotion/trauma/stress, and allows the body to heal faster. Resetting the brain can shift everything including our mood, energy, sleep, digestion, and skin!
✧ NET (Neuro Emotional Technique)
NET helps the body let go of unresolved emotional stress which may be delaying your healing. This technique can resolve past trauma and stuck emotion gently and easily. Therapists themselves say each session is like 10 years of talk therapy as it’s accessing deep, subconscious layers that have been running on autopilot without our conscious awareness. Functional MRI’s have shown powerful and positive changes in the brain with this life-changing technique.
✧ Bio Craniopathy
This hands-on therapy supports optimal health starting with our cranium/skull, where 80% of our nervous system is housed. By aligning cranial bones and restoring flow, Bio Craniopathy helps activate the vagus nerve instantly, while shifting cranial bones, allowing for more balanced posture and less stress on the body from the top down.
When the nervous system is balanced, your entire body, including your skin, is given a chance to heal.
What if your skin isn’t the problem, but the messenger?
Your skin is speaking up, and it’s time to listen!
Whether you’re dealing with painful, persistent skin issues or you’re tired of being dismissed with pills, topical creams, or being told to “wait it out,” we offer something different, and it works! At Hope and Healing Naturopathic, we don’t just treat your skin symptoms or diagnosis with a one-size-fits-all approach. We dig deep to understand the “why” behind your symptoms and create a customized plan to address the root causes so your body can show off and do what it was designed to do – heal itself!
If you’re tired of covering up symptoms and want to understand what’s really going on beneath the surface, we’re here to help. Skin healing is possible — and it starts by listening to your body.
