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Chronic fatigue syndrome affects many different parts of your body, including your skin. Most of us know that products affect our skin, but what about what’s happening inside your body? CFS could be the root cause of many common skin problems, like acne and psoriasis.
Common skin problems are often caused by toxins, gut imbalances, food allergies, or nutrient deficiencies. And chronic fatigue syndrome brings about its own set of symptoms that impact your skin.
If you’re dealing with CFS and experiencing skin issues, you’re not alone. Luckily, there are some solutions to help you cope!
Why Is It Important To Address Common Skin Problems?
Common skin problems can affect more than just your skin. For example, dry patches of skin might be a sign of excess insulin—and excess insulin can lead to diabetes. Dry skin is also an indicator of low thyroid function.
If your skin feels itchy, you may be eating foods that trigger allergies, or an imbalance diet Foods that contain inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids and trans fat can contribute to skin inflammation.
And that inflammation can cause brain fog, anxiety, depression, and dermatitis. On the skin, dermatitis shows through rashes, eczema, and acne.
Clearly, there are lots of ties between other parts of the body (and medical conditions) and common sin problems. CFS is another area that can both trigger and show up in different skin issues.
Knowing how to deal with common skin problems will help you feel better as you cope with your chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms.
How To Handle Common Skin Problems Caused by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
How do you address common skin problems when they run so much deeper than your skin? Look for where the imbalances start. Then, you can acknowledge what is causing the imbalance, which is usually something from your diet or lifestyle. Once you identify the problems, you can help your body find its balance again.
Helping your body repair itself internally will also help clear up your skin. Here are a few ways to start that change in your body!
Change Up Your Diet and Prioritize Gut Health
Your diet affects way more than just your digestive system.
Foods containing sugar and processed ingredients can actually age different parts of your body, including your skin. Studies have shown that there is a link between dairy and acne. And gluten intolerance is often connected to autoimmune diseases, allergies, and psoriasis.
Identify your food sensitivities and keep a list of what foods cause any flare-ups in your skin. By eliminating food sensitivities out of your diet, you’re giving yourself an opportunity for better internal health and clearer skin.
Changing up your diet can also stabilize your gut health. Your gut health is closely connected to skin conditions and chronic fatigue syndrome. You can add probiotics to your routine, which helps your gut and common skin problems like inflammation and acne.
Try to develop a diverse, nutritious diet. Many nutrient deficiencies contribute to multiple skin conditions. Including a high-potency multivitamin or mineral in your diet could also boost your body’s function.
Remember, there are usually links between what’s happening inside and outside your body. For example, dry skin can signal a deficiency in fatty acids. So if you’re experiencing dry skin, try including omega-3 foods like fish and flaxseed in your daily diet.
Be sure to talk with your doctor before taking any vitamins and making any significant changes to your diet.
Add Exercise To Your Routine
While exercising can be more difficult with chronic fatigue syndrome, it also helps improve your symptoms. Finding ways to move and sweat can actually help clear your skin. As you exercise, your body temperature rises, boosting blood flow in your body.
Sweating gives your body a chance to excrete toxins. Exercising is a great way to sweat—or you can use a sauna or steam bath.
Just remember to wash your skin after sweating. Otherwise, toxins can build up on the surface of your skin and cause more irritation.
Related: Why Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Exercise Is So Important (and How To Do It)
Reduce Stress Wherever Possible
Emotions have tight control over how our bodies react. For someone who has chronic fatigue syndrome, too much stress can cause major setbacks, including exhaustion and achiness. But stress can also trigger common skin problems like psoriasis and acne.
Finding methods of relaxation can help reduce stress. Try out yoga, meditation exercises, or self-care practices to help alleviate stress.
Work To Improve The Quality Of Your Sleep
Sleep is very important for chronic fatigue syndrome, but it also affects the condition of your skin. Researchers found that poor sleep quality can age your skin and eat away at your skin’s protective barrier. A lack of sleep also increases stress…and creates an intense cycle!
That increased stress triggers your CFS, which impacts the quality of your sleep, and the cycle continues.
Getting eight hours of sleep every night is essential. Not only does more sleep help your body feel energized, but it keeps your skin healthy and awake.
Create A Skincare Routine That Addresses Common Skin Problems, But Works WITH Your CFS Symptoms
While you shouldn’t rely solely on skin products to help common skin problems, if you find the right products, it shouldn’t hurt to use them!
Wash Your Face Daily
Setting a time to wash your face every day is a great way to start taking care of your skin. Using face wash doesn’t interfere with your chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms—it actually ensures that your skin is clean from toxins.
When you struggle with CFS and the muscle and joint pains it triggers, using a washcloth might be a challenge.
Instead, try thinner (and softer, gentler) reusable baby face washcloths to limit contact with your hands. Baby washcloths are often hypo-allergenic, which helps curb irritation for sensitive skin. These washcloths can also help you wash your face quickly, to ensure a clean face even when you’re feeling tired.
Use Toner
Adding a toner to your skincare routine can work well with your chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. Toner helps remove any dirt or clogs in your pores. On a bad day, you can just quickly use toner to clean your skin. Witch hazel and micellar water are both popular toners.
Add Masks To Address Common Skin Problems
Using any type of skincare mask weekly is a great way to take care of your skin. There are masks that can help with cleansing or moisturizing your skin, or even address many common skin problems.
Masks are simple to use. And if you’re having a bad symptom day, you can rest while letting the mask sit…which helps reduce stress! It’s a win-win.
Find The Perfect Moisturizer
Since so many common skin problems involve dry skin, moisturizer is very important in any CFS skincare routine.
Finding a moisturizer might be a process of trial and error. Everyone’s skin is different so depending on your skin, you may need a lighter or heavier moisturizer.
It can be frustrating dealing with the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome on top of skin irritation. Understanding that common skin problems start within the body can help you find the issue and the solution. Making changes to your diet, getting more sleep, and establishing a solid skincare routine can help clear up your skin!
