Louise Thomas-Minns is a skin specialist and therapist

Question: Is beauty really skin deep? Main text : What is this Holy Grail of skin care?

Answer:? Nope it goes a lot deeper than that and I’m not just talking about finding beauty in peoples personality, although that is, of course, worth far more than just their outward appearance.

 I am talking about the root to glowing skin, the basis of a lot of skin problems and the area that had become a passion of mine and an integral part of the facial treatments I provide to my loyal clients. What is this Holy Grail I hear you cry? Nutrition, diet, food, grub, tucker, whatever you call it what we put in will, ultimately, one way or another, sooner or later, determine what we look like on the outside.
 I take comfort in the fact that those people who regularly tuck into junk food, caffeine laden beverages, binge on alcohol, will, at some stage, see the error of their ways staring back at them in the mirror.
Now don’t get me wrong, I have in my life so far, dabbled with all of the above and then made a conscious effort to change my lifestyle for the sake of my Acne suffering skin to be delighted with the huge improvement. I still have to deal with the odd outbreak, but treating my skin and my clients from the inside out has positive benefits, so much so I now collaborate with a nutritional therapist to target general skin health, skin problems or to fight the ageing process.
It still fascinates me the fact that Acne, Rosacea, Eczema, Psoriasis and ageing of the skin are all exasperated and affected by diet. Having an understanding of this gets to the route of the problem and can start the healing process from within. Doesn’t it just make sense?
Below are some one size fits all nutrition advice targeting improved skin health; however you should seek advice of your GP and a good nutritional therapist (I can recommend one) before making any drastic dietary changes.

• Now I know I’ve mentioned this before, but it really does make you feel like you’ve had a spring clean from within. Drink hot water with a wedge of fresh lemon squeezed in, on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.
• When it comes to anti ageing think anti oxidants. These are found in all brightly coloured fruit and vegetables. Blueberries, carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach are particularly good. These nutrients mop up the scavengers of youth called free radicals.
• Drink at least one and a half litres of water a day. I know it’s  boring and a piece of advice we read about everywhere but that’s because it’s so vital if you want your skin to function properly.
• Eat seeds. Pumpkin, sunflower, flax and hemp all contain the essential fats that form the building blocks of our skin.
• Drink green or white tea packed with anti oxidants not only does this fight ageing but it stimulates the metabolism, detoxifies and can inhibit pigmentation so great if you have age spots on your skin.
• A little of what you fancy is good. A small glass of red wine or a few squares of 70% cocoa chocolate has benefits to the skin as well as the body as a whole, but don’t get greedy or it will have a deteriating effect.

So next time you head to the supermarket or local store don’t just search in the skincare product aisles for the answer to your skin issues as a healthy skin starts in the fruit and veg section.

Louise Thomas-Minns CIBTAC CIDESCO BABTAC is a skin specialist and therapist with over 12 year’s experience. She is the owner of U Treatments, a beauty business that brings the salon to you and is about to launch a London skin clinic. She lecturers in, and is an NVQ assessor part time, in beauty therapy.
Her specialism in the skin and ingredient technology requires her to be a regular guest on Radio Norfolk and write for some national periodicals.
Visit www.u-treatments.co.uk or call Louise on 07810 872 633 for details of her bespoke treatment menu.