Internal factors affecting skin: when skincare isn’t the whole story
- Wild Alchemy Botanicals
- Jan 25
- 3 min read
Part 2: Internal & Lifestyle Factors People Often Reflect On
Series context
In Part 1, we explored why persistent breakouts and oil imbalance don’t always respond to topical skincare alone — and why that isn’t a failure of products or the person using them.
This second journal gently widens the lens.
Rather than offering solutions or advice, it outlines a few internal and lifestyle areas that people commonly choose to reflect on when their skin feels “stuck,” despite consistent, well-chosen skincare.
The observations shared here are offered for general awareness and personal reflection only. They are not intended as medical, nutritional, or diagnostic advice. For personalised guidance, consult a qualified health professional.
Skin as a reflection, not a problem to solve | Internal factors affecting skin
Internal factors affecting skin are often considered when breakouts or congestion persist despite consistent, supportive skincare.
Skin is often treated as something to correct or control. But for many of us, ongoing congestion or breakouts behave less like a surface issue and more like a reflection of what the body has been navigating over time.
When skincare is supportive but results plateau, it can be helpful to step back and ask broader questions — without assuming anything is “wrong.”
Digestion and elimination
Some people notice a relationship between how their digestion feels and how their skin behaves.
Feelings of sluggish digestion, bloating, or irregular elimination are commonly discussed in relation to systemic inflammation — which, for some, may show up through the skin as congestion or dullness.
This is an area many people choose to explore further with qualified practitioners, especially when skin concerns persist despite topical care.
Food sensitivities and low-grade inflammation
Not all reactions are immediate or obvious.
Low-grade food sensitivities are often described as subtle and cumulative rather than acute. For some individuals, these sensitivities are associated with general inflammation in the body, which may influence skin behaviour over time.
This isn’t about restriction or elimination — it’s about awareness and noticing patterns.
Stress and the nervous system
This is one of the most consistently observed influences on the skin.
Periods of prolonged stress can coincide with:
Increased oil production
Slower skin recovery
More frequent or stubborn flare-ups
Many people notice that their skin changes less in response to products — and more in response to what their nervous system has been carrying.
The gut–brain–skin conversation
The connection between the gut, the brain, and the skin is increasingly discussed in both research and clinical settings.
Rather than separate systems, they are often described as communicating continuously — meaning strain in one area can sometimes be reflected in another.
For some people, this broader understanding offers reassurance: skin struggles don’t always originate at the surface.
Holding the line with skincare
When internal or lifestyle factors are under strain, the role of skincare often shifts.
Instead of correcting or transforming, skincare becomes about:
Reducing additional irritation
In these periods, gentle, non-reactive routines can help the skin feel supported while other aspects are explored at a personal pace.
Coming up next
In Part 3, we’ll look at how to use skincare wisely during times when the skin is influenced by internal stress — including why consistency often matters more than intensity.
→ Continue to Part 3: Using Skincare Wisely When Skin Is Under Internal Stress
