A little about me…
My acne flare ups began, as they typically do, in my teens. By my mid-twenties I had hoped I would simply ‘grow out of it’ but much to my dismay, that didn’t happen. After several years of experimenting with topical treatments and then medications, my skin hadn’t improved. I then began experiencing severe digestive issues and was diagnosed with IBS. I was given a leaflet, told to avoid a range of food groups and sent on my way.
I became obsessed with what I was eating, scared it would trigger a bout of acne or cause digestive upset which would last for several days till I got it ‘under control’ again. I cut out entire food groups, had a very long list of ‘no-go’ foods and would avoid social events in case I felt pressured to have a celebratory drink or a slice of cake. Slowly I felt that food had control over my life, I was simply trying to manage it. It was at this point I realised I needed to educate myself on digestive and skin health, its potential links and how I could educate myself to feel better.
Health complaints are usually multifactorial and progressive. Pinpointing how it develops is just a piece of the puzzle when creating a customised health plan. It is important for us to understand why our health may not be optimal to be able to collaboratively seek an answer.
My aim is to work with the individual to create a plan that works best without judgement and without a focus on restriction. I want to get to the root of a problem without the person feeling compromised or going ‘without’.
I aim to spread the word that healthy eating doesn’t mean losing out. You can be educated and empowered to gain control of your health in a way that fits you.