Editor’s Comment

The impact that both mind and gut health have on the skin is well understood in the beauty and spa profession but it’s taking a while to trickle through into consumer awareness.

The recent focus on mental wellbeing has tended to centre around the impact that stress and anxiety have on physical health, yet its effect on the skin can also be substantial, leading to conditions such as eczema or acne that can, in a vicious cycle, exacerbate those negative emotions.

The study of this link between the mind and the skin is known as psychodermatology and we explore its significance for therapists and salons on page 103, sharing tips from neuroscientists and dermatologists on how a deeper consultation can help you get to the root cause of some skin issues, while incorporating emotional techniques such as visualisation into your treatments can work towards tackling them.

Nutrition is an equally important piece of the skin-health puzzle, and this month we delve a little deeper into its role. Our focus on supplements on page 97 explores formulas that can be tailored to address specific skin concerns and meet the needs of each individual client’s lifestyle, be that by combatting the effects of pollution or delivering vegan ingredients in eco-friendly packaging.

Of course, the key to long-term change is to consider all elements of wellbeing in a holistic way, and our Trend Watch piece on page 92 explores the new wave of businesses doing exactly that. These trendy new co-working spaces allow people to incorporate treatments and fitness, as well as mental wellbeing and nutritional initiatives, into their daily lives in a sustainable way that also improves employee productivity and retention.

Editor