Fatigue, weight gain, depression, constipation, and dry skin are all signs of slow metabolism related to a poorly functioning thyroid. Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disease that can be due to an underlying attack by the immune system, a lack of nutrients, miscommunications between other hormones like cortisol, and of course surgery or treatment to remove the thyroid. While the causes of hypothyroidism may be different in each individual, one of the most common treatments prescribed no matter what the cause is due to is thyroid medication.

The skin care market is flooded with topical lotions, potions, and serums promising relief of dry, itchy, red, blotchy, you-name-it problems of your skin. But as I mentioned in the last blog, there are several ingredients to be wary of that many of these topicals contain. Today I’m going to talk about what ingredients you should consider and why, according to Dr. Trevor Cates, an expert in naturopathic skin care.

Autoimmune diseases start with an abnormal immune response; therefore, we generally treat these conditions from within the body with a focus on the gastrointestinal tract where the immune system starts. But I often get asked, “what should we put on the skin itself to help with these diseases and what should we avoid?”.

Autoimmune diseases are described as diseases in which the body’s immune system attacks certain parts of the body itself. Depending on the disease, it can attack different parts of the body all the way from the nervous system such as in multiple sclerosis, the pancreas such as in type 1 diabetes, or the musculoskeletal system such as in rheumatoid arthritis.

Multiple Sclerosis is a neuroinflammatory disease in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheaths that line the nerves connecting the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms vary by individual but can include numbness and weakness, tremors, vision problems, bladder and bowel problems, fatigue, insomnia, slurred speech, and dizziness.

There are few more challenging times of life in which women’s hormones change than menopause. Although PMS, pregnancy, and peri-menopause can be difficult, menopause is often described as the switch when women no longer feel like themselves.