Tag: skin routine over 40

Topical vs Internal: How Gut Health Shows Up on Your Face

Posted in Skin care-gut connectionLeave a comment

Because no amount of $98 serum can outdo a constipated colon.

Let’s be real: your skin is a tattletale. It spills the tea on your sleep, stress, hormones, and yes—your gut health. So if you’re slathering on all the serums but still waking up with breakouts, dullness, or that charming mid-40s inflammation glow, it might be time to stop blaming your skincare and start asking your digestion what’s up.

As a nurse with 22 years of experience (and as someone who’s obsessed with both poop and peptides), I’m here to walk you through the ultimate skin showdown: Topical vs Internal.

🧴 Round 1: Topical Treatments (a.k.a. The Skincare Cabinet MVPs)

There’s a reason the beauty industry is worth billions—we love a cream with a promise. And some of them do work:

  • Retinoids boost collagen and smooth fine lines
  • Vitamin C brightens and defends
  • Peptides help firm skin
  • SPF (bless it) protects from further damage

Topical products treat the surface symptoms—and they matter. But if you’re trying to cover up what your gut is crying about, it’s like putting concealer on a bruise without treating the injury underneath.

🩺 Nurse truth bomb: If your gut is inflamed, your skin will stay cranky—no matter how fancy your serum is.

🥦 Round 2: Internal Health (a.k.a. The Gut-Skin Pipeline)

Your gut and skin are basically in a long-distance relationship with major chemistry. What happens in your intestines shows up on your cheeks, chin, and even your forehead. Here’s how:

  • Leaky gut = inflamed skin (hello, redness, rosacea, and breakouts)
  • Poor digestion = poor nutrient absorption = lackluster skin
  • Constipation = toxin buildup = skin tries to detox = acne or dullness
  • Gut dysbiosis (imbalance) = systemic inflammation = aging skin + flare-ups

If your skin’s acting up and you’ve tried everything topical? It’s time to talk poop. (This is my happy place.)

👩‍⚕️ Common Skin Clues Your Gut Is Mad at You:

  • Chin acne? Often linked to hormonal imbalances + poor elimination
  • Red, bumpy cheeks? Could be food sensitivities or gut inflammation
  • Dull, dry skin? Are you even absorbing your nutrients?
  • Eczema flares? Check for gut dysbiosis or leaky gut triggers

✨ The Best Skin Routine? Inside + Out

Here’s your glow-up protocol, nurse-approved and gut-friendly:

Topical Heroes

  • Gentle cleanser (ditch the 10-step routine)
  • Vitamin C (AM)
  • Retinol (PM, 2–3x/week)
  • SPF 50 (every. single. day.)
  • Moisturizer with peptides and ceramides

Internal Game-Changers

  • Probiotics: balance your gut flora
  • Prebiotics: feed the good bacteria (think asparagus, garlic, onions)
  • Fiber: aim for 25–35g daily—your bowels and skin will thank you
  • Magnesium: helps with motility and stress (which both impact your face)
  • Collagen + Vitamin C: support healing from the inside out
  • Hydration: water, herbal teas, broths—get those cells plump and happy

💩 Bonus Tip: If you haven’t pooped today, don’t expect your glow to show up either.

🧖‍♀️ From My Nurse Brain to Your Face

After two decades in healthcare and four decades in this face, I can confidently say this: you need both. The internal and the external. The broccoli and the balm. The poop talk and the peptide cream.

You can’t fake a glow that comes from the inside—but when your gut and your skincare routine hold hands? That’s when the magic happens.