Beyond Creams: How A Whole-Body Approach Helped Women Reclaim Their Skin from the Inside Out

You’ve tried everything. The £80 serum that promised to clear stubborn adult acne. The gentle cleanser for sensitive skin. The five-step routine you saw on social media. Yet every morning, the mirror reflects the same frustrating reality: skin that just won’t behave, no matter how much effort or money you’ve invested in products that promise to transform your complexion overnight.

For many women, skincare has become an endless cycle of buying hope in a jar, only to find that the next breakthrough product fails to deliver lasting results. What if the answer isn’t about what you put on your skin, but about understanding why your skin is struggling in the first place?

Your Skin as a Health Detective

Dr. Galina Mironova, a naturopathic doctor specialising in functional medicine, approaches skin health from an entirely different angle. Rather than treating symptoms, she investigates the underlying causes that conventional skincare often overlooks.

‘Holistic skincare is not just about what you put on your skin—it’s about understanding how your diet, hormones, digestion and immune system impact your complexion,’ explains Dr. Galina. ‘Your skin is your body’s largest organ of elimination. It’s a reflection of your internal health, and when it’s not thriving, it’s often trying to tell you something important about what’s going on beneath the surface.’

Recent research increasingly supports the connection between internal health and skin appearance, particularly when it comes to hormonal imbalances and adult skin problems. It’s a refreshing take that goes beyond the typical focus on skin confidence through topical treatments.

The Detective Work Behind Clear Skin

Walking into Dr. Galina’s clinic involves more than a basic skin assessment. Patients undergo comprehensive testing that explores factors often overlooked in conventional dermatology: food intolerances, gut microbiome health, nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalances.

‘I act like a detective, looking for patterns and signs that help me identify what’s really happening inside the body,’ Dr. Galina explains. Her investigative approach might include advanced functional medicine testing such as comprehensive hormone panels, food sensitivity assessments and gut microbiome analysis.

The connection between internal health and skin conditions keeps getting stronger scientific backing. A 2024 study published in Archives of Dermatological Research found significant hormonal imbalances in women with acne and PCOS, including elevated testosterone and altered hormone ratios compared to those with isolated acne. Meanwhile, research into the gut-skin axis reveals that gut microbiome dysbiosis worsens skin conditions like acne and eczema.

It’s Not All in Your Head

For women who’ve been told their persistent skin issues are simply part of ageing or stress, Dr. Galina’s approach offers validation and relief. Many of her patients discover that their chronic skin concerns have identifiable root causes.

Adult acne, for instance, is often linked to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hormonal imbalances. Research from the Androgen Excess and PCOS Society identifies adult female acne as a clinical expression of hyperandrogenism, emphasising hormonal imbalance as the real driver rather than simply a surface-level concern.

Chronic dry skin tells another revealing story. What many women dismiss as a natural part of ageing may actually signal deeper health issues. Studies show that hypothyroidism commonly manifests as xerosis (dry, scaly skin), particularly on extensor areas, palms and soles, due to thyroid hormone’s crucial role in skin cell regeneration and oil production.

‘Understanding these links empowers patients to take control of their health,’ says Dr. Galina. ‘And the skin is often the first place where positive change becomes visible.’

For women experiencing menopause-related changes, research confirms that declining oestrogen reduces skin collagen, elasticity and sebum production, resulting in dryness, thinning and increased sensitivity. This isn’t simply inevitable ageing—it’s a hormonal change that can be addressed through targeted interventions.

What Actually Works: Personalised Plans

Dr. Galina’s treatment approach moves far beyond generic recommendations. After identifying specific imbalances through comprehensive testing, she creates personalised care plans that may include targeted dietary changes, specific supplements, hormone support and natural skincare guidance.

For some women, this might mean identifying food sensitivities that trigger skin inflammation. For others, it could involve addressing insulin resistance that contributes to acne, or supporting thyroid function to improve skin hydration and texture.

The gut-skin connection plays a particularly important role here. Research shows that probiotics and prebiotics can reduce inflammation and improve skin barrier function, while functional medicine testing can identify specific gut imbalances that contribute to skin problems. It’s an approach that aligns with ancient wisdom about gut health and overall vitality.

Clean Topical Care Still Matters

While internal health forms the foundation of Dr. Galina’s approach, she emphasises that what goes on your skin remains important. However, her guidance extends beyond ingredient lists to focus on products that support the body’s natural barrier function without disrupting hormonal or immune health.

Research reveals the extent of endocrine disruptors in conventional skincare products. Parabens and phthalates, common in many skincare formulations, can mimic or interfere with hormones and are linked to reproductive harm and hormone disruption. For women already dealing with hormonal imbalances that affect their skin, avoiding these additional disruptors becomes particularly important.

Listen to Your Skin’s Story

If you’ve struggled with persistent skin issues despite trying numerous products and routines, your skin might be trying to tell you something important about your internal health.

Does your skin worsen around your menstrual cycle? Have you noticed connections between certain foods and skin flares? Do you experience digestive problems, fatigue or mood changes alongside skin issues?

Consider discussing comprehensive testing with healthcare providers, including hormone panels, food sensitivity assessments or gut health analysis. While not all practitioners are familiar with functional medicine approaches, increasing numbers recognise the connections between internal health and skin conditions.

Pay attention to your skin’s patterns and triggers. Notice whether stress, certain foods, hormonal fluctuations or lifestyle factors correlate with skin changes. The modern approach to skincare is becoming more sophisticated, with technology helping us understand these complex connections.

The First Sign of Change

Dr. Galina’s philosophy centres on a simple observation: when internal health improves, the skin often responds first. ‘The first visible sign of positive inner change is often brighter, healthier skin,’ she notes.

Rather than masking symptoms with topical treatments, addressing root causes can create lasting improvements that extend far beyond skincare concerns. For women who’ve felt trapped in cycles of disappointing products and temporary fixes, this approach offers genuine hope.

The research supporting connections between hormonal health, gut function and skin appearance validates what many women have long suspected—that their skin struggles reflect deeper health patterns. By treating the whole person rather than isolated symptoms, approaches like Dr. Galina’s can deliver genuine, lasting skin health that radiates from within.