Skin Health: The Functional Medicine Approach

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and has multiple functions. This physical barrier offers protection against damaging environmental factors such as ultraviolet light, germs, and injury. The skin also helps to regulate the body’s:

• Temperature
• Water balance
• Responses to invading bacteria and viruses

In addition, a diverse range of friendly microorganisms reside on the skin, known as the skin’s microbiome. This component of the skin also has important functions. These microbes have a two-way relationship with skin cells, the immune system, and even the gut microbiome.¹ They also affect the skin’s ability to function as a barrier, to heal wounds, and to potentially influence the health of other body systems.^1,2

Personalized Approaches to Skin Health

How the skin appears may indicate obvious issues such as dehydration, nutrient imbalances, lack of skin components known as lipids (e.g., ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol), sudden injury, and skin irritation. Characteristics such as chronic skin redness, inflammation, and lesions may also indicate skin conditions and diseases such as:

• Acne
• Allergic reactions
• Eczema/atopic dermatitis
• Psoriasis

Genetics,³ overactive immune system responses, psychological stress,⁴ increased skin permeability,⁵ disruption of the skin’s microbiome, overall gut health, or an imbalanced gut microbial community^1,6,7 may all contribute to skin health and disease. 

With a wide range of potential contributors to skin health and things that can go wrong to cause skin conditions and disease, healthcare professionals should look at each person’s specific set of circumstances when providing guidance on prevention and treatment strategies. Functional medicine practitioners take the time to consider each individual patient’s complete health story, any clinical imbalances that may be associated with their skin condition, and personalized treatments involving modifiable lifestyle factors that may be appropriate, such as:

• Stress management
• Identifying food allergies
• Addressing gut health

Summary

Maintaining optimal skin health and function is important for overall health, and modifiable lifestyle factors may impact both skin health and disease. Within the functional medicine framework, practitioners partner with patients to develop personalized treatment plans that best fit each patient’s current conditions and concerns. 

Learn more about how the functional medicine approach and lifestyle-based strategies support skin and overall health by contacting a functional medicine practitioner near you.