Winter Stagnation and FunKY skin symptoms + how to navigate with care + science
My sweet lil skin post facial, struggling with a little yeasty overgrowth in my forehead.
In winter time my skin usually struggles, well I struggle really. My motivation to care for myself, to get moving, to cook nourishing meals, my circadian rhythm, it’s all really out of wack. My Vitamin D and immunity is lowered, and all of this usually manifests in suboptimal skin functioning for me.
This winter’s iteration of that has manifested in Seborrheic dermatitis in my forehead, and eyebrows (fun). Even I as a long time practicing holistic esthetician didn’t clock it, and was treating it as Adult Acne.
I recently drove to Cleveland to get a facial from my friend Leia, fellow Botnia nerd and holistic esthetician, and she spotted the sticky fungal overgrowth in my brows, hairline and forehead. The value of having a professional identify, treat, and guide me is huge. I knew something was off, I was feeling a shift in my oil production, on top of, and informed by all the above mentioned shifts in my body due to the winter stagnation.
I was getting somewhere, I knew I needed to get really regular and consistent with a simple and nourishing regimen, incorporate more nourishing foods, less dairy, coffee, sugar (my own personal triggers for fungal issues and breakouts), but Leia’s consultation, analysis nd intuition have helped steer me down a more clear path to support and healing.
Now I know that the issue is that my biome is off, adding some stress hormones to the party, and some self neglect to that (yeasts are so opportunistic and were just waiting to have a party on my skin when I stopped doing my regimen super regularly).
If you find yourself navigating skin shifts, and symptoms this season, you are not alone, each season can affect our bodies, and therefore our skin differently, and professional, personal, holistic support is so valuable. It really is so stressful when our skin starts shifting and changing and we don’t understand why.
Things I’ll be doing to bring my skin and body back into balance:
Keeping it simple and consistent with my skincare. I can’t force healing or speed it up, but I can gentle guide and support my skin.
Drinking ample water, opportunistic microbes thrive in dehydrated tissue.
Affirming to myself that I am lovable even when my skin is shifting and inflamed, and also affirming that this will balance out. TRUSTING AND BELIEVING, STAYING THE COURSE.
trying to reduce stress levels, reducing stimulants, slowing down where I can, working with my therapist, asking for help, getting enough sleep, meditation, journaling, and gentle movement. Acupuncture!!
Having support from a naturopath, acupuncturist or functional Dr. is so helpful if you suspect your gut is off. In hind site I have had awful brain fog for months, and working with someone to repair gut imbalances is not cheap, but worth the investment. I often advise clients to use their resources towards working with a naturopath instead of spending hundreds on complex skincare regimens. I often refer my clients out to amazing acupuncturists here in pittsburgh, as well as Naturopathic doctors: Tara Nayak and Cait DiCicco
Eating as whole and nourishing as I can. I am a snacker, but I know that dairy, and refine sugar increase “dampness” for me, feeding the parasitic yeasts that are having a party on my scalp and forehead. I don’t believe in restrictive diets, as they are not sustainable, but I know what feels good for my body and what leaves me feeling really off, and it is worth it for me personally to eat more of what leaves me feeling energized, alive, and balanced.
Giving my skin a break from any emollient rich makeup and hair produts as much as possible (certain microbes feed on lipids and emollients in beauty care products) and taking a break from beanies.
-Check out my shopmy picks for a healthy skin biome
Marie Veronique favorites for a healthy biome:
Rescue tonic (better for active inflammation and flares)
-Balancing hypotonic (better for maintenance)
E.O free cleansing oil or gentle cleansing gel
Barrier restore serum
-Soothing B3 serum
-color free zinc
For personalized support, book your treatment with me!
