Q&A with Dr. Laura Belus
1) Tell us a bit about yourself
I am a practising naturopathic doctor in Mississauga Canada. My focus is on hormonal health, specifically when it comes to acne, PMS and fertility. My own journey to health started with seeing a naturopath in my early 20s after I started to get adult acne. I hadn't known much about naturopathic medicine before then!
2) How do you approach skin health in your practice?
During the initial 1 hour consultation we discuss what kind of skin issue the person is having, when it started as well as other lifestyle questions that can help us uncover the root cause. I often suggest testing like blood work, urine testing for stress hormones or a digestive stool test to get the answers we need. I prescribe a combination of supplements, dietary and lifestyle changes to improve my patients' health.
3) What is the most common skin concern you see in your practice, and how do you go about addressing it?
By far the most common skin issue would be acne. A lot of women I work with experience hormonal acne so we work on rebalancing their hormones (often too much of one hormone) by using herbal supplements, dietary changes and personalized skincare changes.
4) How does skin relate to gut health? How do you address gut-related skin issues?
There is a large connection between our skin and our digestive system. If you poorly digest foods or have a comprised gut barrier (often from a history of pain meds, stress, or past infections) it can show up on your skin. Especially those people experiencing acne around the mouth, eczema and rosacea, we always adress healing the gut. If you've ever been on multiple rounds of antibiotics, had food poisoning more than once, or have been on the birth control pill, your gut likely has some level of compromised function. Testing the gut function through a thorough at-home stool test is the best first step.
5) How does skin relate to hormonal health? How do you address hormonal-related skin issues?
Our hormones get broken down by the liver and are excreted from the body through our instestines. This means that the liver and gut health are the two cornerstore aspects to healthy hormones. If you have hormonal concerns we almost always start with a liver detox to get things moving.
6) What philosophy do you abide by when it comes to skincare?
Less is more. As a previous acne sufferer I know how easy it is to overdo it when it comes to skincare. Keeping things gentle and simple is the best way to go. However, I often suggest my patients add in 1-2 specialized products depending on their skin concerns for faster results.
7) What are your top tips for preventing premature ageing?
The best ways to slow aging on the skin (or the body in general) would be to avoid smoking, limit sun exposure on the face (since the skin is so thin) and eat antioxidant rich foods (fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs and spices)...and SLEEP!
8) What foods do you recommend adding and removing from your diet for someone who is looking to optimize their overall skin health?
I generally recommend high nutrition foods that are not just empty calories. I also believe many people feel better reducing (or eliminating) dairy and gluten. For some of my patients we will run a food sensitivity test to see specifically which foods they should avoid, but for most people adding enough of the good stuff is key. Some of my favourite skin-loving foods would be dandelion greens, beets, sweet potato, blueberries, avocadoes and hemp/chia seeds.
