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Interview with Dr. Laura Belus, ND, on Naturopathy and Skincare

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Today I’m pleased to present my interview with Dr. Laura Belus, ND. As a graduate of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Dr. Belus believes that health is attainable at any age. As a young adult she made the connection between the foods we eat and how we feel. This was a powerful tool in reversing her long history of migraines and skin concerns. Today, we’re going to talk naturopathy and skincare!

  1. What is naturopathic medicine? What makes it different?

Naturopathy is a form of medicine that addresses health from a root cause. It uses natural therapies to not only reverse symptoms of an illness or complaint, but also prevents it from recurring. As a naturopathic doctor, we look at the whole person and treat this way too! If you come in with ezcema, for example, we don’t just want to give you something to put on your skin, but we also want to know about your stress & what foods you’re eating. When we find out what is really causing the problem, and address that ,you can finally get your body back into balance— without the symptoms

  1. What made you get involved with naturopathic medicine?

In my early twenties, I was in university and working a stressful job, I suddenly noticed i was breaking out regularly and NOTHING I was applying on my skin was helping! I would spend hours googling and finally one night read that I may need to detox (especially since most of my acne was on my forehead). I saw a natuorpathic doctor and 3 weeks later I was healed! I was truly shocked and have never looked back. Now as a naturopath myself, i believe healthy skin is an inside-out process.

  1. How does naturopathic medicine impact the skin?

Since our skin is our largest detox organ, it is vital to pay attention when we find we are breaking out, getting flare-ups of eczema or psoriasis, or lacking that ‘glow’. Naturopathic medicine gets to the science of healthy skin by providing patients with the nutrients (and foods) necessary for proper hydration, healing, and an even complexion (no more dark circles!).

  1. What are your days like as a naturopathic physician?

I spend my days balanced between two clinics, patient research and community outreach (talks, seminars)— education is the first step to better health (and no, I don’t mean Dr. Google:)

  1. What are some of the naturopathic treatments for wrinkles and fine lines?

Many of patients who are concerned about fine lines and wrinkles are often suffering from a certain level of dehydration. Now, drinking  more water is great, however, if your skin is missing the building blocks of ‘plumper’ skin, more water will not be your solution. I often recommend marine or hydrolyzed collagen on a daily basis, plus a good-quality, high-dose EPA fish oil. I work with an acupuncturist that does cosmetic facial acupuncture too (a great natural stimulant for new collagen production).

  1. What are some of the naturopathic treatments for age spots and hyperpigmentation?

These concerns have a lot to do with proper skin cell turnover and adrenal health. The former, skin cell turnover, can be encouraged with regular exfoliation & topical vitamin A (as well as ingested). Adrenal health (or our stress hormones) control our melanin production to some extent, so making sure we address any imbalance can greatly reduce darkened spots and uneven skin tone.

  1. What are some of the naturopathic treatments for acne?

My favourite question! All of my patients go through some sort of detox program for their skin (often my 21 day whole body detox program). This includes omitting inflammatory foods (wheat, dairy, alcohol, sugar) and supporting the liver to remove toxins that end up trying to come out through the skin. We also address oil production by balancing hormones. Some treatments may include fish oil, vitamin A, dairy-free probitoic and topical niacin gel. This can be very personalized depending on where on the face the acne is occuring, and whether or not it is affected by a woman’s menstrual cycle.

  1. What is the average cost to see a naturopathic physician for skin concerns?

An initial visit for a naturopathic doctor is approximately $180-200. We spend about an hour on the first visit to get a very thorough health history in order to help us get to the real root of the issue. Follow up visits range between $75-90 and are often required every 4 weeks until the concerns are resolved or greatly improved (often by 3 months).

  1. What are some of your best selling products?

I don’t sell products that are created by me. If needed, I can compound topical gels/creams for the skin through a pharmacy. But some of the professional brands that I like and include: ZYMOGEN, Designs for Health, Pure Encapsulations.

  1. How can readers book an appointment?
For more information on my private practice, health videos and online 21 day detox program, please visit my website www.drlaurabelus.com!

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