Edit skin and menopause

<p><strong>What is going on under the skin?</strong></p> <p>Cortisol is a hormone, and it normally fluctuates during the 24 hours of the day as part of your sleep-wake cycle. It is naturally a little higher just before you wake and is designed to reduce during the day. However, if you are emotionally under pressure or physically you can continue to release cortisol with it reaching higher than normal levels and staying there. This triggers inflammation in your body affecting all your systems, reducing your libido causing erectile dysfunction, and it wreaks havoc with your skin. It also interferes with insulin your ‘master’ hormone which promotes weight gain, and together they store fat on your tummy.</p> <p>It is not just emotional stress; you can stress your body with both zero exercises and over-exercise as well as overeating and extremely calorie-reduced diets.</p> <p><strong>The role of the gut.</strong></p> <p>The gut microbiome is being recognised now for the significant role it plays in your entire body. The gut microbiome is made up of more cells than you have in your body and weighs the same as your brain. The microbiome is fighting to keep your body working as well as it can 24 hours a day. We now know this is where most of your serotonin is produced and stored ready for release.</p> <p>Serotonin is a key hormone responsible for your mood balance. This is part of what is known as the gut-brain axis. The gut and the brain communicate with each other to support your body systems.</p> <p>Cortisol inhibits serotonin production as does alcohol, which also destroys your stores of serotonin in the gut which evidence shows is why you get the ‘beer fear’ with a hangover.</p> <p>The gut microbiome also plays a huge role in your skin health. This is known as the gut-skin axis. When it is disrupted by high cortisol, high alcohol or elevated levels of ultra-processed food, the gut barrier becomes weakened, and the number of good gut bacteria is taken over by bad gut bacteria. These can access your blood system through your weakened gut wall. Visible signs of this happening in the skin include susceptibility to sun damage and premature ageing, breakouts, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema. Research has shown that treating these conditions by focusing on the gut has fantastic results.</p>

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