What is Holistic Dermatology?
As a Naturopathic Doctor one of my areas of focus is Holistic Dermatology.
During the doctor’s visit I collect information about your overall health, nutrition and stress levels and with this information in mind I will treat the underlying causes of skin problems using the least invasive methods possible. I usually start the treatment with botanical and nutritional recommendations instead of pharmaceuticals. I understand that every individual is different and for some people the use of pharmaceuticals will be necessary for an acute flare; however, I will implement a treatment plan where the use of less invasive methods of care can be used for the long-term goal. My focuses when delivering a treatment plan are on nutritional factors and also the patient’s gut microbiome state of health. Additionally, I will try to remove potential sources of body inflammation as they are major sources of pathological skin conditions.
I always focus on the patient’s digestive system as it is a major source of overall inflammation. During the appointment I will suggest to you changes in your diet and lifestyle if they are necessary. We will make a plan that works for the patient for the long run. If necessary, I will recommend laboratory exams to investigate the possibility of food allergies and food intolerances which may be aggravating the patient’s skin condition.
Sometimes nutritional supplementation will be recommended to accelerate the healing process; however, I always prefer to focus on nutrition when possible. Holistic dermatology and functional medicine always walk side by side for the best and most effective skin treatments.
Most of the time your skin is an expression of what is going on inside of your body. If your body is accumulating toxins (pesticides, preservatives, flavoring agents, natural extracts, petrochemical products, heavy metals, sugar…) and due to poor digestion is not able to get rid of all these environmental insults, the skin may express the accumulation of these problems with flares which may last for a life time if not with the right treatment. I believe that for most skin conditions the right treatment will help the whole body to heal itself. It may take a while and it may not be the cure for all skin disorders, but the right treatment will help immensely to alleviate the symptoms and flares for most people.
If you let me, it will be my honor to help you help yourself in this journey. I promise I will be guiding you every step of the way with the most scientific approaches and at the same time using the holistic dermatological approaches that we have as Naturopathic physicians. I will use all my tools to take care of your whole health, including nutrition, botanicals, lifestyle counseling and if needed pharmaceuticals to active your best results.
Please give me a call or write me an e-mail to schedule your appointment.