The gut-skin-axis; healing skin from the inside out

Skin health is never just about what you put on your skin.

As a nutritionist, I see the skin as a living, intelligent organ… one that reflects the state of your gut, liver, nervous system, immune balance, and overall toxic load. When the body is under stress internally, the skin often becomes the messenger.

This interconnected relationship is known as the gut–skin axis, and understanding it can completely change how you approach skin concerns — whether or not you ever buy a skincare product.

Skin is an internal signal, not a surface problem.

From a clinical and nutritional medicine perspective, skin symptoms are rarely isolated issues. Acne, eczema, rashes, pigmentation, sensitivity, rosacea and premature ageing are often external signs of deeper internal imbalances, including:

• Digestive dysfunction or microbial imbalance

• Increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut)

• Liver congestion or impaired detoxification

• Chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation

• Nutrient depletion (particularly zinc, vitamin A, essential fatty acids, B vitamins)

• High cumulative toxin exposure

The skin is not something to control or suppress, it is something to support.

The gut-skin-axis explained simply.

The gut-skin-axis refers to the two-way communication between the gut microbiome, immune system, nervous system and skin barrier.

When gut health is compromised:

• An imbalanced microbiome can drive systemic inflammation

• Intestinal permeability allows inflammatory compounds to enter circulation

• Immune activation and oxidative stress increase

• Sebum composition and skin barrier lipids are altered

• Skin becomes more reactive, inflamed or slow to heal

This is why gut issues so often precede skin flare ups, and why topical treatments alone rarely create lasting change.

The liver-skin connection: skin as an elimination pathway.

One of the most overlooked aspects of skin health is liver function.

The liver is the body’s primary detoxification organ. It processes hormones, metabolic waste, environmental toxins, excess histamine, inflammatory by-products and chemical exposures. When liver pathways become overloaded or sluggish, the body looks for alternative routes of elimination.

The skin is one of them.

This is why liver congestion often shows up as:

• Acne or congestion along the jawline and cheeks

• Rashes, itching or eczema

• Pigmentation or dullness

• Strong body odour or excessive sweating

• Sensitivity to skincare products

In my detox work, I consistently see skin improve when liver pathways are supported. Not because the skin is being treated directly, but because the internal burden has been reduced.

How you treat the inside of your body is paramount.

Detox, gut repair & skin health go hand in hand.

True skin healing happens when detoxification and gut repair are addressed together.

A well designed detox protocol should:

• Support bile flow and liver clearance (not aggressively stimulate detox)

• Restore digestive integrity and microbial balance

• Reduce inflammatory load and chemical exposure

• Replenish depleted nutrients

• Support nervous system regulation

This is why I often combine structured gut healing with liver support — whether through my 30-Day Gut & Metabolic Reset or targeted detox protocols such as liver flushing for the right person.

When internal pathways are supported, the skin no longer needs to compensate.

Why minimalist skincare matters during internal healing.

While internal work is foundational, what you apply to your skin still matters… a lot! Especially when the body is detoxing or under stress.

The skin barrier is largely composed of lipids (fats) and is easily disrupted by:

• Synthetic fragrance and petrochemicals

• Harsh preservatives and foaming agents

• Over-exfoliation and aggressive actives

• Long ingredient lists that increase toxic load

Overloaded skincare routines can keep the skin in a constant state of irritation, making it harder for true healing to occur.

This is where minimalist, low-toxin skincare becomes incredibly supportive.

Why I recommend (and personally use) Alam Farma

I’m often asked what skincare I recommend, and my answer is always aligned with biology, not trends.

I recommend and personally use Alam Farma, a natural skincare brand based in Bali, Indonesia, because their formulations respect the skin as a living organ rather than something to correct or override.

Their products are:

• Intentionally minimalist

• Free from synthetic fragrance and toxic fillers

• Lipid-rich and barrier-supportive

• Designed to work with the skin’s natural function

Built around cold-pressed moringa seed oil, Alam Farma products support the skin barrier during periods of gut repair, detoxification, hormonal shifts or high stress.

Moringa oil’s fatty acid profile closely mirrors human sebum, making it particularly supportive for sensitive, acne-prone or inflamed skin.

When internal healing is underway, this kind of skincare reduces external stress, allowing the skin to repair rather than react.

The best results come from an inside-out approach.

I see the most profound skin transformations when people:

• Repair gut health

• Support liver detoxification pathways

• Reduce total toxin exposure

• Regulate the nervous system

• Pair internal healing with simple, nourishing skincare

A detox protocol combined with natural, minimalist skincare, such as Alam Farma, is not about quick fixes. It’s about creating the conditions for the body to remember how to heal.

How I support clients with skin, gut & detox concerns

I work with individuals and families to address the root causes behind skin issues, fatigue, inflammation, hormonal imbalance and chronic stress.

My work includes:

• 1:1 Nutritional consultations
  Personalised support for gut health, skin concerns, detoxification, autoimmunity and burnout.

• 30-Day Gut & Metabolic Reset
  A structured program to restore digestive integrity, reduce inflammation and rebalance metabolism.

• Detox & liver support protocols
  Including education around liver flushing and gentle detoxification when appropriate.

• Stress-aware, nervous-system-informed care
  Because no amount of supplements can override a body stuck in survival mode.

Skin is never the problem…. it is the feedback.

Check out Alam Farma ethical skincare here, and a product in particular I adore, the serum (which was a 2025 silver winner at the Clean & Conscious awards).

When the gut is supported, the liver is unburdened, and external stress is reduced, the skin follows.

This article is educational in nature and does not replace personalised medical advice.