Skin Health Treatments In San Diego

Our skin provides an outward reflection of our inner health — when we take care of ourselves, it shows in our glowing complexion. However, pimples, acne and psoriasis can be indicators of something deeper going on in the body — a disrupted microbiome, food intolerances, an overactive immune system or nutrient deficiencies.
A woman smiling into a mirror while applying a facial cream for a better condition of her skin

To truly get to the root cause and achieve lasting skin health, a holistic approach is key. Investigating each factor allows us to address all aspects of the issue for long-term results.

It’s essential to recognize the intimate relationship between skin health and gut health — the “gut-skin axis”. Our skin has its own unique microbiome, and the bacteria in our gut can influence bacteria on our skin. To have glowing, healthy looking skin, taking care of your gut is key. By creating a balanced environment in the digestive tract and nourishing it with proper nutrition, we can have lasting results for beautiful skin.

A young man concerned about his skin, touching his facial skin in a mirror, examining his acne scarring

What Causes Unhealthy Skin?

There are many lifestyle and nutrition factors that can contribute to unhealthy skin, including:

  • Poor gut health i.e. leaky gut, dysbiosis, H. pylori infection
  • Exposure to environmental toxins and pollutants
  • Hormone imbalance
  • Chronic stress
  • Low omega-3 fatty acid intake
  • Excess omega-6 fatty acid intake
  • Low vitamin D and other fat soluble vitamins (D, E, and K)
  • Excess inflammation
  • Poor hygiene
  • Poor detoxification
  • Nutrient deficiencies (Vitamins A, D, E, zinc, selenium)
  • Poor diet
  • Food sensitivities or food allergies
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Consuming alcohol
  • Deficiencies in bile acid

Common skin conditions we treat:

Acne:

Symptoms of hormonal acne:

  • Painful cysts under the skin
  • Shiny and oily skin
  • Pimples that show up at similar times each month for women
  • Zits along the jawline and chin, and sometimes in the shoulders,back, and neck.

Eczema (atopic dermatitis)

Symptoms of eczema:

  • Inflamed, red, and usually itchy areas on the skin
    • Typically followed by scaling, dryness, and skin thickening
  • Flexural regions (on the inside crease of the elbow, and behind the knees), hands, wrists, feet, ankles, and/or face (typically the forehead and around the eyes)

Psoriasis

Symptoms of psoriasis:

  • Scaly, silvery, red patches on skin
    • Mostly asymptomatic, although some people report itchiness
  • Extensor surfaces (elbows, knees), scalp, lower back, sacral region
An matrix of connecting structured lines, overlay-ed on a isolated woman's face

Conventional Treatments:

Conventional treatments typically include mild topicals all the way through potent immunosuppressive drugs, depending on the disease severity.

A man smiling into his bathroom mirror in a tower, admiring his skin and hair

Typical medications include:

  • Antibiotics i.e. clindamycin, erythromycin, doxycycline, tetracycline, minocycline
  • Topical Retinoids
  • Isotretinoin (Accutane)
  • Salicylic acid
  • Oral tetracyclines
  • Azelaic acid
  • Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) i.e. clascoterone, spironolactone
  • Benzoyl peroxide
  • Oral corticosteroids (for severe inflammatory acne)
  • Biologics i.e. ustekinumab, ixekizumab, brodalumab, secukinumab
  • Methotrexate

Naturopathic Approach:

While medications can be helpful and indicated in some cases, they don’t necessarily get to the underlying cause of the skin problem. Some of our approaches include the following:

Isolated woman with her palms at the side of her cheeks, with a palm leaf behind her

Gut health – skin health is closely linked to digestive health, also known as the “gut-skin axis”. This relationship exists through multiple pathways: the gut houses around 80% of our immune system, inflammation from the gut can spread throughout the body and impair skin health, and nutrient absorption depends on a healthy gut. To maintain beautiful skin, it’s important to take care of the gut microbiome.

Food Allergies and Sensitivities – unrecognized food allergies and sensitivities can cause the immune system to be triggered, leading to inflammation in the body which appears on the skin. Common food sensitivities may include dairy, gluten, eggs, and soy. If you suspect you have a sensitivity or allergy to one or more of these foods, it’s best to consult a doctor so they can perform proper testing.

Hormone Imbalance – hormonal imbalances are prevalent, especially elevated testosterone levels in women. High androgen levels lead to excessive sebum production, resulting in breakouts on the skin. It’s important to work with a doctor to determine if hormones may be the underlying cause of any skin issues.

Stress reduction – stress is a major contributor to skin issues, as the release of cortisol and proinflammatory cytokines can cause inflammation. Furthermore, unhealthy dietary choices made in times of stress such as consuming large amounts of sugar can lead to additional skin issues. It’s important to find ways to manage stress for healthy skin.

Detoxification – detoxification is a complicated process, involving the organs responsible for eliminating toxins from the body such as the liver, kidneys, colon and skin. When these functions don’t work properly, toxic substances can be recirculated within the body and may result in various skin conditions, as well as general poor health.

Immune health – psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are examples of skin conditions caused by an overly active immune system, leading to heightened levels of proinflammatory cytokines which can harm the skin’s protective barrier. To improve these types of skin conditions, it is essential to keep the immune system in check and in balance.

Vitamin D – having optimal levels of Vitamin D is crucial for skin health, as it helps to increase levels of antimicrobial proteins in the skin, reduce inflammatory cytokines, support a healthy immune system and improve skin barrier function.