Sarah

Skincare with Lyme Disease

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The struggles of Lyme Disease can strip you of purpose & identity. Part of your healing journey needs to include reclaiming these things from this debilitating illness. I view skincare with Lyme Disease as a small step in the direction of reclaiming yourself.

Whilst some may say that we have ‘bigger fish to fry’ when it comes to the effects of Lyme, I disagree. If you’re a regular reader of our blog then you’ll know that here at TOWL we advocate a holistic healing approach. A huge component of that is all about how you think & feel. I also disagree with those who say that it’s vain to care about how you look: Your face is one of the ways in which you present yourself to the world. I’ve spoken to countless women and men in our drop in clinics who struggle with the ageing effect of Lyme, and it got me wondering why no-one is talking about this.

How Does Lyme Affect Skin?

Collagen is a ‘building block’ protein used by the human body, and is also one of our most abundant proteins. It can be found in the bones, muscles, skin, tendons and the Central Nervous System (CNS). Unfortunately, Borrelia feeds on collagen, secreting substances to break down our collagenous tissues into their food. This is responsible for the vast majority of symptoms Lyme sufferers have, including arthritis & neurological problems.

Due to this, many with Lyme experience a rapid ageing effect in their skin. This occurs when the ‘scaffolding’ of the skin (collagen) is degraded, causing wrinkles, crepey-skin and loss of elasticity. Therefore skincare with Lyme Disease should aim to rebuild collagen and restore the skin.

Other Skin Effects

Skincare with Lyme Disease: Three Steps

Replace Collagen

There are myriad pills and potions on the market promising to restore collagen. They also usually have quite a hefty price tag and are clinically unproven. However, there are a couple of ways that do work and that don’t cost the earth either.

Exogenous Collagen

In other words, a collagen supplement. I would strongly advise the use of either beef or pork collagen (although plant based forms are available they are not as effective). This is the one I personally use.

Some would say that this simply feeds the Lyme, but it’s important to remember that Borrelia operates as a kind of parasite, scavenging its nutrients from the host. Borrelia will never allow itself to be deficient, but it will happily make you deficient!

A collagen supplement will not only help your skin, but will also aid with joint & gut problems, too.

Stimulate Cell Turnover

There are a number of ways to stimulate collagen production and cell turnover.

Retinol

Retinol is form of topical vitamin A, and let me tell you – it has a marvellous effect on the skin! It works by stimulating the production of collagen in the skin and the creation of new blood vessels, along with speeding up the natural turnover of skin production.

The retinol that I use is inexpensive, pure and doesn’t come with any unnecessary ingredients (like fragrance) that irritate sensitive skin.

With retinol, you must be sure to start slow as you will often experience what is known as ‘purging’ in skincare circles. Purging is where you skin adjusts to a new product that speeds up the skin cycle. Symptoms are typically some flakiness, pimples and some soreness. Always go slow, start with the lowest dose and reduce use of the product if your skin needs a break.

Retinol takes about 3 months to induce noticeable effects, but prolonged use has a wonderful effect on the skin. I recommend you google ‘retinol before and after’ to see some examples.

Note: Use retinol at night as it causes your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight.

AHAs/BHAs

Otherwise known as Alpha hydroxyl acids and beta hydroxyl acids, AHAs/BHAs are a type of chemical exfoliant (they remove dead skin cells). They also aid in speeding up the skin’s natural turnover and have a mild collagen-stimulating activity. My favourite is salicylic acid, but lactic acid, azelaic acid and glycolic acid are also good options. Once again, there are very expensive options out there, and some inexpensive options. Try to pick one without harsh fragrances, dyes and unnecessary ingredients.

Remember: You may experience purging with these products, but stick with it!

AHAs & BHAs are a great addition when choosing skincare with Lyme Disease as they are a gentle, effective way to treat the skin and combat collagen loss and skin congestion.

Dry body brushing

Dry Body Brushing does for the body what AHAs & BHAs do for your face, and more! The skin on your body is thicker and more resilient that that on your face, which is why manual exfoliation is an excellent addition to your skincare routine. (It would be far too harsh on your delicate facial skin – please don’t try!). Not only does it stimulate blood flow, it also aids in lymphatic drainage. This all contributes to healthier skin. When done every day you’ll see drastic improvements in a matter of a few weeks.

Another way to get the same effect is to use exfoliating mitts whilst taking a shower or bath. Just remember to use long strokes going in the direction of your heart.

Infrared Sauna

Using the infrared sauna has many, many benefits. However, as far as your skin is concerned, it increases the flow of oxygenated blood to skin. Oxygenated blood allows nutrients to reach the cells and waste material to be carried away by lymph. This is especially important because circulation is often hindered in those with Lyme.

Protect the Lipid Barrier

We all know that our skin is our largest organ and acts as a physical barrier. However, healthy skin has what’s known as a lipid barrier on the surface. The lipid barrier is made up of fatty acids, cholesterol and ceramides (waxy lipid molecules). A healthy lipid barrier helps to lock moisture in (plumping the skin), keeps the skin slightly acidic and prevents allergens & bacteria from penetrating the skin. When the lipid barrier is damaged it can lead to wrinkles, sagging & inflamed skin.

There is no evidence (to my knowledge) of Lyme directly affecting the lipid barrier on our skin. However, protecting and restoring our lipid barrier is integral to skincare with Lyme Disease.

Avoid SLS in cleansers

SLS, or Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulfate, is an industrial cleaning agent. It’s often added to skincare and shampoo because it lathers well. However, it strips all oils from your skin (which is a very bad idea!). Ditching this ingredient will have a huge impact on your skin, especially if you suffer with sensitivity or dryness.

Avoid Synthetic Fragrances

Skin sensitivity & rashes can be a huge problem with Lyme, and some of the most irritating chemicals added to our skincare is in the form of ‘fragrance’. Companies don’t even have to list what chemicals make up their ‘fragrance’, which is quite scary. Choose naturally scented or unscented products if you can. If you suffer with any form of rash or MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) then you should be running, not walking, away from all synthetic fragrance.

Choose Natural Ingredients (Where Possible!)

Now, I’ll be the first to put my hand up and say that not everything can be homemade, natural and purely organic. I know, because I’ve tried it! In no way am I implying that purchased skincare is always detrimental, but I do believe that ‘less is more’. I choose products without harsh ingredients and questionable additives (like parabens) because they work. However, I do also use a lot of natural products when possible. For example, I love using oils such as coconut, almond and jojoba to moisturise and cleanse my skin. Why? For starters, coconut oil has a chemically similar structure to sebum, which is our skin’s own built in moisturiser. It’s absorbed well and intensely moisturises my skin. However, I can’t use it if I want to get dressed afterwards as it does make you oily for a few hours! It’s all about striking a balance that works for you.

Sunscreen

Everyone should be wearing sunscreen, even in winter. UV light is the main culprit for avoidable ageing of the skin – period. Using a barrier sunscreen that has zinc oxide can be preferable to a chemical sunscreen – but this choice is up to you. This is the one I use.

My Own Skincare Routine

Here’s a round up of what’s in my bathroom cabinet – I don’t use all of these every day and I tend to mix & match depending on what my skin’s doing.

Note: None of these products are sponsored and all have been purchased by me.

I don’t believe that one size fits all, but there are some basic principles that apply to everyone. When you have Lyme, though, try to avoid any ingredients that could cause histamine issues to flare up. Your body is working hard enough on detox so don’t throw additional, unnecessary chemicals at it as well.

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