Mar 20, 2025
Clear Skin Starts in the Blood: Uncovering the Hidden Clues to a Radiant You
Think your skin is healthy? Learn about important markers that impact your skin's appearance from within.
Written by
Mito Team
Ever feel like you've tried every skin care product or treatment for your skin, yet those pesky breakouts, rashes on the skin, or dullness just won't budge? Sometimes, the secret to truly clear and healthy skin isn't just on the surface. There are skin conditions that are considered symptoms of even bigger health problems.
What Makes Your Skin Healthy?
Healthy skin is typically smooth, even in tone and texture, and well-hydrated. As the body’s biggest organ, healthy skin reflects a healthy body. When things are out of whack internally, our skin is one of the first places to show the signs. That's where certain markers in our blood give us hidden clues about what's influencing our skin health from within.
Skin Health and Inflammation
You've probably heard of inflammation. It's your body's natural response to injury or infection. But sometimes, inflammation becomes chronic and low-grade, and this messes with your skin.
One blood marker for inflammation is hs-CRP, or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Think of it as a general alarm bell for inflammation in your body. When it’s at a high level, there’s some underlying problem that appears on your skin as redness, irritation, or acne breakouts.
To help with inflammation, omega-3 fatty acids are the good guys. You often hear about them for heart health, but they're also fantastic for calming inflammation throughout your body, including your skin. Getting enough Omega-3s keeps that inflammatory fire tamed, leading to a smoother, happier complexion.
Balancing Hormones For Clear Skin
Our hormones are like tiny conductors in our body, and they definitely have a say in our skin's story.
For example, hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone influence the oil glands in our skin. If these hormone levels are off, it might lead to oilier skin that causes acne. The same goes when your blood sugar levels are high. It triggers inflammation and even contributes to conditions like acne.
Ever notice how your skin reacts when you're stressed? That's often cortisol at play. This stress hormone, released when you're under pressure, disrupts your skin's barrier function and even worsens inflammatory conditions.
The Skin and Gut Connection
Believe it or not, your gut health has a surprising impact on your skin. The gut-skin axis is a complex relationship where the health of your gut microbiome is linked to the health of your skin.
Both the gut and skin microbiomes are important for keeping our immune system in check. They’re connected with our tissues and organs to keep everything balanced.
But when that balance gets messed up, which we call dysbiosis, it changes how our immune system responds. This contributes to skin issues, like eczema, psoriasis, acne, dandruff, and even. And according to some studies, it might be linked to skin cancer.
Vitamins & Nutrients Matters
Known as the "sunshine vitamin," Vitamin D is great for more than just your bones. It helps your immune system and supports the growth of skin cells. If you have low levels of Vitamin D, it’s linked to skin issues like eczema.
This tiny mineral is a real hero for your skin! It helps with repair and keeps your immune system balanced. Without enough zinc, you might face skin problems like dermatitis, and it slows down your healing process.
Blood tests measure levels of nutrients such as vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin B9, and vitamin B12. These minerals maintain your skin’s elasticity, hydration, and protection against oxidative stress.
Detoxification and Your Skin
Your liver is a powerhouse organ with many jobs, and one of its most important is detoxification. It filters out waste and toxins from your blood. There are specific proteins in the liver, called liver enzymes, that assist in this process.
High levels of Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), and Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) in your blood may mean your liver is under stress or damaged. If your liver isn't functioning well, toxins build up, and you may notice itching, yellowing of the skin, or other changes in your skin. Even nonalcoholic fatty liver disease causes symptoms to appear in the skin, like jaundice, rosacea, dermatitis, and itchy skin.
So, What Can You Do?
The good news is, you have more control than you might think when it comes to influencing those internal biomarkers and, in turn, the health of your skin. It's all about embracing a holistic approach to well-being:
Nourish Your Body: Eat foods high in Omega-3s, antioxidants, and zinc. They help fight inflammation and keep your skin healthy.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water. It helps your skin stay elastic and keeps your cells functioning well.
Support Your Gut: Foods rich in fiber and fermented options like yogurt help maintain a balanced gut, which is great for your skin.
Manage Stress: Activities like exercise or mindfulness keep stress hormones in check, which is good for your skin.
Love Your Liver: Cut back on processed foods and watch your alcohol intake. A happy liver helps your skin detox.
Get Enough Sleep: Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night to kick off skin rejuvenation. Your skin needs time to repair and regenerate.
Talk to Your Doctor: If you're having ongoing skin problems, it might be worth chatting with a dermatologist or a healthcare professional. They help you figure out what's going on and may suggest some tests to dive deeper.
Glowing skin isn't just about the products you use. It’s also about what's happening inside your body. By paying attention to the hidden messengers in your blood, you’ll be on your way to a healthier body and skin.
To start helping your skin, get your blood checked with Mito Health. Our comprehensive lab test looks at over 100 markers, helping you uncover any health issues that could be behind your skin breakouts and other skin worries.
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