Principles Of Naturopathic Medicine & Skin Care

When I began thinking about how Naturopathic Medicine could help address skin concerns, the first place that connected all the dots was the Six Principles of Naturopathic Medicine – the tenants on which this field of medicine is built. It applies so beautifully to skin health and how to treat skin conditions.

The Six Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

First, Do No Harm

When considering healing the skin, whether it is from acne, pigmentation disorders, wounds or other concerns, I follow the philosophy of Corneotherapy – the idea that we must preserve and support the health and integrity of the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of skin). When creating a treatment plan, one of the first phases of care that I take my patients through is repairing the barrier function of the skin before we start to actively treat the primary concerns. This is why you will not see us offering aggressive peels, ablative treatments or microdermabrasion at CONNECTED – these therapies often further degrade that barrier and may cause more harm than benefit over time.

The Healing Power of Nature

This principle reflects the belief that the body innately knows how to heal so that our therapies and treatments should be supportive of that. When it comes to skincare, nothing could be more true. The skin cells regenerate themselves naturally and our therapies are designed to support that process, provide nutrients that are naturally present and enhance the health of those cells, and create a healthy environment for those cells to perform their functions.

Identify & Treat the Cause

It is always our intention to identify the root cause of concerns and address that. While we do provide alleviation from concerns, it is our ultimate goal to provide long term resolution by addressing that underlying cause. This is why we encourage all clients to work with a Naturopathic Doctor as well as their aesthetician/skin therapist in tandem – the Naturopathic Doctor can create a plan to address the underlying causes while the aesthetic treatments can help to enhance the results and provide more rapid alleviation of concerns. This collaborative approach delivers more sustainable results.

Doctor as Teacher

If you have ever had a visit with me then you know how important it is to me that you be an active and engaged participant in your care. It is critical to me that you be as educated and empowered in the process as possible and that we work collaboratively to create a plan that you can easily implement in your life. This is why I spend so much time providing all my patients with information about why we are doing exactly what we are doing, what we can expect from each step of the journey and that you start to understand how your body functions.

Treat the Whole Person

When it comes to skincare, it is so much more than just a cream or serum or a single facial. To provide corrective care for concerns (especially those that are chronic or have been resistant to past treatments) it is best to work from both the inside out with one of our Naturopathic Doctors as well as from the outside in with customized facials and treatments from our amazing aestheticians and skin therapists. The skin is often a reflection of overall health and any imbalances or internal concerns must be addressed to see resolution.

Prevention

Not only do we address acute concerns or problems once they arise but we provide important preventative care. There are strategies you can take today to prevent concerns in the future. From prejuvenation to regular sunscreen use, we are here to help you create a plan to promote both optimal health and beautiful skin in the years to come.