People with the MTHFR polymorphism often have a more challenging time detoxifying and eliminating chemicals, and so we’re always on the hunt for clean, natural skincare that we don’t have to make ourselves (not that I don’t love whipping up a batch of body butter now and then).
In the MTHFR for Life course, we talk a lot about making your home and life cleaner, and clean skincare is a huge part of that because we actually absorb as much through our skin as we do through our stomach lining, but things absorbed by the skin don’t go directly to the liver to be detoxified, they make a round through your bloodstream first. So skincare is an important source of chemicals that can largely be eliminated. A big part of the MTHFR lifestyle is clearing all of the unnecessary toxins out of your home and life.
Clean skincare with only 4-5 ingredients that we all recognize is even better. This interview with Renee Harris, founder of MadeOn skincare talks about her journey with her son’s eczema, a farmers market stand, and how the products have evolved since that time.
Renee’s website, hardlotion.com, is a great resource as well for DIY natural products as well as to order her wonderful hard lotion bars, completely delicious avocado facial soap, and other lovely things.
There can be several ways in which stress can affect your skin physically, such as:
- The stress hormone cortisol causes acne breakouts by overproducing sebum (oil) in your skin glands.
- Stress also makes a huge impact on your immune system, the reaction, and the sensitivity of your skin. In addition, the occurrence of rashes, hives, and redness can all result from stress.
- When we are stressed, we tend to exacerbate existing inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea, which can lead to flare-ups.
- In addition, stress may cause you to feel nervous or anxious, and may cause you to pick at scabs or acne, or scratch your skin until it becomes red or bleeds.
The effects of stress on your skin can be alleviated in many ways at home by following a few simple steps.
- Regardless of how tired or anxious you might feel on a particular day; it is significant for you to maintain a good skincare routine every day. As a result of being stressed and feeling tired, you may not want to take off your makeup and wash your face before you go to bed. However, you must follow your routine, as neglecting it could further worsen the skin condition.
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It is vital to exercise regularly. Exercise releases feel-good hormones that will improve your energy level, mood, and outlook on life and ultimately reduce your stress levels long-term.
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Make sure you eat a healthy and balanced diet filled with whole foods and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Your body is more prone to inflammation if you consume processed foods and foods high in sugar.
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Get enough sleep every night. A good night’s sleep allows your body to rest and heal and enhances your mood, energy levels, and cognitive abilities when you sleep well.
- Pampering yourself will be a perfect step. Take some time to relax and re-energize yourself in some way. These activities can include reading a book, taking a warm bath, getting a massage, listening to music, meditating, or practicing yoga and deep breathing exercises that make you happy.
MTHFR is a common genetic mutation that can contribute to anxiety, depression, fatigue, chronic pain, infertility, and more serious conditions like breast implant illness, heart attack, stroke, chronic fatigue syndrome, and some types of cancer. If you know or suspect you have an MTHFR variant, schedule a free 15-minute meet-and-greet appointment with MTHFR expert Dr. Amy today.
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