Nutrition for Skin & Hair Health
AREAS I SUPPORT
Living with persistent skin conditions or unexplained hair loss can be deeply distressing, especially when you've tried countless products, changed your diet or been told it's simply something you have to live with. Whether you're experiencing eczema, acne, rosacea, dermatitis, psoriasis or hair thinning, nutrition can play an important role in supporting healthier skin and hair alongside appropriate medical care.
As an Integrative Nutritionist in Christchurch, I work one-on-one with people to better understand the many interconnected factors influencing inflammatory skin conditions and hair concerns. Together, we develop personalised nutrition and lifestyle strategies, guided by an evidence-informed approach, that help support healthier, more resilient skin and hair.
Does this sound like you?
RECOGNISING THE PATTERN
Perhaps you've been diagnosed with eczema, dermatitis, rosacea, acne, psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, perioral dermatitis or hair loss.
Or perhaps you haven't received a diagnosis at all.
Instead, you might be experiencing:
Skin that is persistently dry, itchy, flakey, inflamed or easily irritated.
Redness, flushing or sensitivity that seems to come and go without explanation.
Hormonal acne that continues despite changing your skincare routine.
Hair that is thinning, shedding more than usual or has changed in texture or density.
Skin or hair changes that began after illness, stress, hormonal shifts or medication.
Symptoms that seem to fluctuate alongside digestive issues, hormonal changes or periods of stress.
A bathroom cabinet full of products and supplements, yet you're still searching for answers.
Whether you've been living with these concerns for years or they're a more recent change, they can affect far more than your skin or hair. They can feel isolating, influencing confidence, comfort relationships and quality of life.
Looking beyond the surface
A LITTLE CLARITY
Healthy skin is about far more than what we apply to the surface. It is influenced by the health of the skin barrier, gut microbiome, immune system, hormones, nervous system and the trillions of microbes that live on the skin itself. Together, these interconnected systems form what is known as the gut–skin axis.
One of the reasons inflammatory skin conditions can feel so confusing is that they aren't always triggered by something new. When the gut or skin barrier becomes compromised, the body may become more vulnerable to foods, microbes, allergens and skincare ingredients that were once well tolerated.
It's often not that the world around us suddenly changed; it's that the body's ability to interact with it changed.
Supporting skin health often means looking beyond the surface. Emerging research is expanding our understanding of skin health, and like every organ in the body, your skin depends on the right building blocks. Nutrition provides the nutrients needed to support microbial diversity, immune regulation, cellular repair and barrier function, while the health of the skin itself is influenced by its microbiome, barrier integrity, skincare choices and everyday factors such as stress, sleep, water quality and sun exposure. Together, these internal and external influences help support healthier, more resilient skin over time.
This Work Is Personal
WHY THIS MATTERS TO ME
For most of my life, I never experienced problems with my skin or hair. That changed when I developed severe hair loss due to telogen effluvium following surgery and COVID-19 vaccinations. This was initially misdiagnosed as a permanently scarring alopecia, and I was prescribed a potent topical steroid, leading to topical steroid withdrawal, perioral dermatitis, and persistent skin sensitivity, flushing and ocular rosacea.
Living with hair loss and inflammatory skin disease gave me firsthand experience of the impact these conditions can have on anxiety, confidence and quality of life.
This changed not only the way I cared for my own skin, but the way I think about skin health altogether. Supporting the skin barrier is just as important as supporting the systems within the body that influence it. It also taught me to surrender to the discomfort without surrendering hope, and to recognise that healing is often gradual, imperfect and deeply individual.
How I work with you
WORKING TOGETHER
My role is to complement conventional care where appropriate by helping you understand the many interconnected factors that influence your skin and hair health.
01
Your initial consultation
A 70-minute consultation, in person in Christchurch or online, where we'll explore your health history, skin or hair concerns, lifestyle and the patterns that may be influencing them.
02
Building Foundations
A personalised nutrition and lifestyle plan to support healthier skin. This may include restoring nutritional adequacy, therapeutic elimination, and supporting the gut–skin axis & barrier function.
03
Further Investigation
Where appropriate, we'll discuss whether functional testing such as such as GI-MAP, gut barrier or food sensitivity test may provide additional insight along-side collaboration with your GP or dermatologist.
04
Ongoing coaching as you progress
Regular follow-up sessions allow us to refine your plan as your skin and hair respond, helping you build confidence, resilience and a deeper understanding of your triggers and progress.
The skin is only one piece of the picture. Supporting your health often means considering the other systems influencing it, so you may also find these related areas helpful.
Related areas I support
CONNECTED AREAS
AREAS I SUPPORT
Gut & Digestive Health
Digestive health is closely connected to many other systems throughout the body, including the skin. Together, we'll work to support a healthier gut from the inside out.
AREAS I SUPPORT
MCAS & Histamine Intolerance
Immune dysregulation involving histamine and mast cells can affect multiple systems in the body, including the skin. Together, we'll explore whether they may be contributing to your symptoms.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions people often ask
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Nutrition can play an important role in supporting skin and hair health, particularly when underlying factors such as nutrient status, gut health, immune function or hormones are involved. Whether you're wondering about an “eczema diet”, nutrition for rosacea, acne or another skin concern, the important thing is understanding your individual health picture rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.
While it's rarely an overnight change, supporting the body from within can lead to meaningful improvements over time.
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Sometimes. Therapeutic elimination diets can be a valuable way to identify foods that may be contributing to symptoms. Any dietary changes are personalised, purposeful and, wherever possible, temporary.
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Not necessarily. Stool testing and food sensitivity testing can provide valuable information in some situations, but they're not appropriate for everyone. We'll decide together whether testing is likely to add value to your care.
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Yes. My role is to complement conventional medical care, not replace it. Where appropriate, I work alongside your GP, dermatologist or other healthcare providers while supporting the nutritional and lifestyle factors that influence skin and hair health.
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Yes. I work with clients throughout New Zealand via secure online consultations, as well as offering in-person appointments in Christchurch.
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I am currently certified in both Integrative Nutrition and Performance Nutrition and am completing my final year of supervised clinical mentoring towards becoming an Accredited and Registered Clinical Nutritionist and Complementary Medical Practitioner in Australasia. As part of this process, I continue to practise under the guidance of an experienced clinical mentor.
A GENTLE NEXT STEP
Not sure where to start?
A complimentary 15-minute chat is a simple way to connect, ask questions and explore whether we're the right fit. No pressure, no obligation, just a conversation.