What's REALLY Going On When Your Rash Comes With Constipation & A Short Temper

Oftentimes, when people have an ongoing rash for years, they only think of it as a skin problem and don’t associate other things that might be going on in their body as having anything to do with it. What they don’t realize is that their skin, gut and brain are all connected.

If your gut isn’t happy, then your skin and your brain won’t be either! I believe that when you have skin issues you should pay attention to constipation, gas, bloating, reflux, and diarrhea. Today, I want to focus on constipation. Ideally, we want to have at least 1 bowel movement a day. If we don’t, that leads to constipation (the medical definition of constipation is 3 or less bowel movements per week… that isn’t enough in my opinion). The backing up of our bowels affects how our nutrients are absorbed, how many toxins we are holding onto, inflammation in our body, and more.

Not only does constipation affect our gut, but also our skin, causing rashes like psoriasis and eczema or acne. To keep it simple, this happens from the build up of toxins in our system that haven’t been eliminated properly, plus the imbalances in our microbiome (aka dysbiosis) and changes to our hormonal pathways. Our brain and nervous system are also affected, causing mood changes, grumpiness, fatigue, and brain fog. This can be why you are more snappy and short-tempered. Additionally, our gut houses part of our nervous system, the enteric nervous system, as well as a large part of our immune system. These are 2 of the ways that the state of the gut’s health contributes to the nervous system and brain’s health.

When we have dysbiosis (meaning the wrong kind or the wrong amount of good vs bad microbes, like bacteria in our gut) or food intolerances, those intolerances and imbalances cause inflammation which contributes to constipation. Magnesium deficiency and dehydration are other causes of constipation. 

There are medical issues that can make people more prone to constipation, like diabetes, hypothyroidism, SIBO or small intestine bacterial overgrowth, adrenal dysfunction, hormone changes- especially progesterone (increased in pregnancy), and nervous system disorders.

Medications can also contribute. Some examples are Vitamin D, Statins for cholesterol, Opiates for pain, Antihistamines for allergies, Calcium Channel Blockers for blood pressure, SSRIs commonly used for depression, Iron supplements, and Progesterone for menopausal symptoms.

...and we definitely can't forget STRESS as a cause!

Now you know that all these seemingly unrelated things are actually connected. These other issues can be improved once the constipation is addressed and the inflammation is calmed. We want to keep the bowels moving for optimal health. If constipation is an issue for you, there are some simple things you can try rather than just taking laxatives or stool softeners. The following are steps to take to "move" you in the right direction.

• Increase your water intake AND increase your fiber by eating more fruits and vegetables (prunes are a great choice). When increasing fiber, you need water to help get the benefits.
• Adding healthy fats to your diet like omega 3s from salmon or cooking with olive oil are helpful.
• Avoiding dairy, as it slows transit time.
• Bringing in exercise/movement
• Avoiding stress when possible and incorporating stress relieving strategies

Magnesium citrate is often hugely beneficial for people and when we aren’t getting enough, it can often cause constipation. This is my favorite form of magnesium for constipation. 

Probiotics can also be helpful as they can help replenish your good bacteria and crowd out the bad.

Disclaimer: Before taking magnesium citrate or probiotics, consult your medical professional.

To find out what food intolerances you have, you can do an elimination diet, which is something I teach people who work with me, OR you can take a food sensitivity test.

The test isn’t always as accurate as the elimination diet, but would at least get you pointed in the right direction. Here is the link to a test that I trust, if that is something you are interested in. There are different options depending on how many items you want tested. This is something you will order on your own and don’t need anyone to arrange for you. Check it out HERE.

*This is an affiliate link and I do make a small commission

Remember, your gut, brain, and skin are all connected. I believe that optimal digestion is imperative for good skin health. So, let’s get the bowels moving to improve your skin and your moods!

For more tips on how to LOVE THE SKIN YOU'RE IN, check out my FREE eBook "The 3 Day Jumpstart to Loving Your Skin." Click the image below.