Can skin health affect your wider health and how can you protect it? Q&A w/ Dr Hitchcock

Skin microbiome specialist Dr Thomas Hitchcock is back to answer viewer questions around how to get naturally healthy skin, including how different skincare actives like vitamin C, peels and retinoids, affect the skin microbiome.
We also discuss the link between our skin and our wider health and the use of 'smart microbes' like C.acnes to tackle skin conditions and the signs of aging.
#skincare
Subscribe to my channel here / thehonestchannel
Read my articles on skincare and healthy aging www.honest.scot
Watch more on this subject:
• The microbiome discove...
• The link between SKIN ...
• My over 50 skincare re...
Dr Hitchcock co-authored a book on how to care for our skin microbiome Rebooting the Biome amzn.to/3wdo9fg
He also presents the Beauty and the Bacteria series available on the @CrownAesthetics channel, and @theskinsciencepodcast
He is chief science officer for Crown Laboratories and has helped develop the Biojuve.com skincare range, which is currently physician dispensed in dermatology and aesthetic clinics in the US and beyond.
MY SKINCARE ROUTINE shopmy.us/collections/243245 On this link you'll find most of the products I use in my routine with discount codes where available.
MY JEWELRY WORN IN THIS VIDEO
Gorjana Parker Layering Set go.shopmy.us/p-3849959
and Rose Hoop earrings go.shopmy.us/p-4108598
SUPPLEMENTS I TAKE: shopmy.us/collections/408665
I use affiliate links on this channel which means if you choose to buy a product using one of my links I receive a small commission - thank you! : )
This video is not sponsored.
Related studies and articles:
www.newscientist.com/article/...
www.sciencedaily.com/releases...
www.nature.com/articles/s4159...
www.nature.com/articles/s4157...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
Connect with me on social media:
/ honestclare
/ clares_j
/ honestclare
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
01:47 The link between skin and wider health
08:42 Is skinflammation always visable?
13:33 Vitamin C and the microbiome
17:37 Chemical peels
25:48 Retinoids
31:07 Sunscreen
35:39 Make-up
41:20 Castor Oil
43:05 Using microbes in skincare
Disclaimer: This video and all content on this channel is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice and should not be treated as a substitute for medical advice

[@szesze-bw8fz]

Know people who never did skincare but stayed indoor mostly, they have the most beautiful skin.

[@noodlep2547]

That was my mum. She would get a painful rash if she went in the sun, so she would stay indoors more or cover up with clothing, large hats and sunscreen. She had fabulous skin with hardly any wrinkles. Her skincare staples were soap for washing and original Nivea or Vaseline for moisturiser.

[@NinaN845]

That was great and I must say , he is so handsome , also in his demeanour

[@monicab204]

Fabulous discussion, Clare! I use to have so many steps in my skin care routine. The older I get, the less tolerance I have for all these steps. Your conversations with experts have helped me. And I only wash my face at night, no cleanser in the morning.👍❤️

[@thehonestchannel]

I’m so pleased you find these conversations helpful ❤️

[@thegreaterconundrum]

I really love Dr Hitchcock! He is a such a clear voice in all the chaos. Amazing interview as always.

[@thehonestchannel]

Feels like the right voice at the right time. Glad you enjoyed the conversation ❤️

[@susanmetzger1989]

Thank you and thanks to Dr Hitchcock. I ordered Biojuve essential serum and activating mist after the first interview. Still using the first bottle. I know it's expensive but what he said made sense to me. The bottle has lasted over a month and still going. I thought a lot of the comments were unfair. I gave up my cleanser, mositurizer, serums and retin A. Buying this product is saving me money. My skin is so soft now and healthy.

[@thehonestchannel]

Really interesting to hear your experience and I’m glad this approach is working out for you.

[@lindajoy23]

I’ve been waiting for this one, thanks Claire & Dr Hitchcock 🙌🏻

[@juStb4u]

Another great conversation, thx to you both!

[@andrearae8491]

Love listening to dr hitchcock. Total genius.

[@cristinamac-kay7175]

Loved this so much angel ♥️♥️♥️♥️ thank you 😘😘

[@thehonestchannel]

So glad you enjoyed it! ❤️❤️

[@Marge-]

Great talk! Claire, I couldn’t find you on Spotify! Are you not on it? Sometimes it’s easier to listen to podcasts there. Thanks for the great info you’re putting out for us 🙏

[@thehonestchannel]

At the moment I'm only sharing this as a KZbin podcast but it's been on my to do list for a long time to try to find a podcast partner to help me publish my conversations more widely. This is a good reminder for me to put that to the top of my to do list again!

[@juliafusco6430]

Love this scientist and all of these interviews with innovators. I am a skincare minimalist and will definitely try out some of his products when I am ready.

[@thehonestchannel]

Glad you find these interviews helpful! If you decide to try this I'd love to hear your thoughts.

[@pamlyon8176]

Very interesting. What he says makes a lot of sense. May try his products when they are available to the public. Thanks for your content!

[@thehonestchannel]

Thanks for watching!

[@sheilamiller5237]

I found this so informative Clare . I find it good to follow the science when dealing with health. It is a fact that we have billions of bacteria in our body , and we need to keep the balance if we want to be healthy. It would be naive to think that doesn’t apply to the face as well. Dr. Hitchcock, was very impressive and obviously an authority on the science behind his product. I found him to be very genuine . Loved that the oils I use are the right ones.

[@thehonestchannel]

Totally agree! ❤️

[@andrearae8491]

Would love to hear trevor steyn from esse and dr hitcock discuss this together

[@amfoysal-official]

very helpful

[@thehonestchannel]

Glad to hear that - thanks.

[@Efrosyni300460]

Great video once more! so we'll done 😊

[@thehonestchannel]

Thank you! That’s really kind of you to say.

[@surrendertoflow78]

Oh and also would love to hear his take on the use of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) on the skin biome. It’s in so many remedies now and is a sanitizer but I’m wondering how it affects the skin balance. (We use it instead of other sanitizers because it’s much more gentle on our eczema-prone skin).

[@thehonestchannel]

It might we worth checking out his podcast which I’ve linked in the description because he covers different ingredients and topics in each episode.

[@CherylBerryl]

Yes, me too. Penny Smith, "Penn Smith Skincare" channel recommends hypochloric acid, & I've been using it, & it helps to keep my skin clear.

[@lindajoy23]

I would think hypochlorous acid would disrupt the microbiology as it is anti microbial. I was using it but I’ve stopped & am now using the Biojuve range & I love it. I’m so surprised how good my 65yo skin looks. I’ve also stopped using vitamin A & any form of exfoliation & my skin is smooth, bouncy & hydrated 😊

[@surrendertoflow78]

@@lindajoy23 I’ve read that HOCl leaves the “good” bacteria in tact but since it seems we don’t know exactly what good and bad are I’m just not sure. Plus everything is trying to sell something! So hard to get real info these days (one of the reasons I appreciate this channel so much.) Glad it’s working for you! Besides the exorbitant cost, I can’t use their serum or cream because they unfortunately put HA and/or squalane and both give me rashes. Not sure how just using the probiotic would help but I’ll have to wait until they have a more affordable option.

[@lindsayfarquharson2446]

@@lindajoy23are you in the UK? If so I was wondering where you purchased Biojuve from 😊

[@melissawoods610]

Excellent information. Makes me rethink my skincare regimen and I suspect I will be employing some of the things I do, things I took as “necessary” (10 steps of skincare morning and night haha) -I will be choosing more judiciously.

[@thehonestchannel]

Glad you found this helpful!

[@TheMijas07]

Hi Clare, I really enjoyed this interview, thanks for asking all those questions many of us are interested in! The Biojuve looks promising but it's quite expensive, although I wouldn't mind trying their sunscreen. It seems to be hard to source in EU. Have you tried the Biojuve duo yourself (with the activating mist)? I'd never have thought you were only wearing concealer and not foundation - your skin looks fabulous 🙂 x

[@TheMijas07]

Also, may I ask - do you prefer the Bluelene or the OneSkin Sunscreen? Hope to order one of them with your link.

[@thehonestchannel]

Hi Val! So glad you enjoyed this one. I think the loss of HD in the Zoom recording helps my skin tbh! I have a little video coming shortly all about lighting etc and the difference it makes.

[@thehonestchannel]

Both the Bluelene and OneSkin products are excellent but it's the Bluelene that I personally absolutely love because I find it adds a bit of moisture too. It has a couple of essential oils like lavender in it so if you have sensitive skin you might want to go with the OneSkin - my mum's favourite!

[@thehonestchannel]

p.s. I haven't tried the Biojuve yet due to availability - although there is a clinic in the UK that sells it online.

[@TheMijas07]

@@thehonestchannel thanks Clare. I'll be interested in how you get on with the Biojuve when you do try it! Thanks for trying out all these skincare items for us and being so meticulous in your reporting back! x

[@rogehnimunoz4327]

Biojuve works. I’d been using hydrocortisone all my life on the side of my nose for I have flaky skin whether I will put any skin care or not. Only biojuve took it away and for only 2 days. I felt the calming effect of the biojuve system. I used it as the last product in my daily skin care routine. I think I will try it with my sebborrheic dermatitis on my scalp that’s been my problem for a lifetime.

[@thehonestchannel]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@lakeside23]

I feel like I may have missed a point about creating chronic inflammation/damage with regards to dermaplaning and cosmetic micro needling. I watched twice! It definitely removes the entire barrier he says we actually need, and micro needling inflicts damage, so should we forego them? However, it seems peels are ok, although I'm just assuming he means more gentle peels. Thanks if anyone can clarify!

[@thehonestchannel]

We didn't really discuss dermaplaning in this interview so I'm afraid I can't shed any further light there. However. I have linked a research paper in the description that Dr Hitchcock himself was involved in that is about microneedling and concludes it 'neither damages the sebaceous glands nor disrupts the skin microbiome'.

[@lindseycassini1560]

I have invested in the Biojuve full range last month. I wanted to try mainly because I have had a course of topical antibiotic and wanted to restore my skin microbiome. After using the products for more than a month, I do feel my skin is less sensitive and more resilient. However, the acne got much worse 😢 I kept waiting to see if it was temporary, but no, I kept getting more and more inflamed pimples. It was so expensive though, so I will keep using it, but I will not repurchase.

[@thehonestchannel]

I'm sorry it didn't help you and thank you so much for sharing your experience here.

[@surrendertoflow78]

I do think microbiome-supporting medicine and skin care is crucial and will be more mainstream in the future. It’s frustrating to know this (already knew before his interviews) but for most products (that I have access to) to not be taking this into account yet. His product now is not affordable to most people, including me. I do look forward to hearing about new, more affordable products that intentionally “rewild” and support our skin microbiome!

[@thehonestchannel]

Yes, and rather than focusing on Dr Hitchcock’s skincare range which we discussed previously, this conversation was more about helping us be a little more mindful about what we apply on a daily basis and why. My biggest takeaway was to try to choose products with a shorter ingredients list when it comes to preservatives. But I need to educate myself on this. I’ll do more around preservatives in skincare on the channel soon.

[@brooke8888]

My dermatologist and endocrinologist and ENT doctors brush me off but my food allergies trigger my cystic acne (started at age 21) and my allergic asthma. My nose was swelling so much that I couldn’t breathe. When I take probiotics food allergies are subsided and my skin heals and I don’t break out. Our Microbiome and skin is truly connected!

[@thehonestchannel]

Sorry to hear you’ve been struggling with this. Totally agree about the interconnection. We have so much more to discover.

[@CherylBerryl]

Eat & drink fermented foods, like Raw sauerkraut, kimchi, Kevita, & Kombucha for the good bacteria our bodies need.

[@jackiemyers1196]

Just this week i had a Halo laser treatment and now am wondering how that could possible be good for my skin health. Plus when my dad was 90 years old i noticed that his skin was basically wrinkle free , and he used no skincare and no sunscreen. I think i am going to make a lot of changes in my skin health journey.

[@thehonestchannel]

The laser treatment is an interesting one because there is research that links the severity of photo-aging on the skin with a decline in helpful microbes on your skin. So you could make an argument that in treating photoaging with something like laser you could be improving underlying skin health and therefore helping to reboot the microbiome longer term. Just a theory but one I would love to see research on.

[@elizabethmadness5277]

Your skin is looking gorgeous ❤🎉😊

[@thehonestchannel]

Thank you!

[@katrinheneghan8238]

There is an American called Dr. John Douillard who practices ayurvedic medicine, he has been talking about the skin microbiome for at least 10 years and how ayurvedic herbs can support it. It would be interesting to get him on the channel. He has also been talking about gut health for a really long time, before I heard about that topic from “normal” doctors.

[@thehonestchannel]

Hi. Thanks for the suggestion. I've made a note to look him up.

[@rosemensah5959]

This Dr Hitchcock probiotic serum can't be easily found to buy on the web. Not available in UK or EU. Only 1 US online store found. How can we buy ?

[@thehonestchannel]

Yes, we talk a little about this at the end of the interview. It is physician dispensed currently. I think it is sold by a couple of UK clinics online.

[@kettle589]

Where can I purchase biojuve skincare

[@thehonestchannel]

There’s a list of clinics that sell the products on their website.

[@tahitinui2010]

Would Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid be oclusive skin products?

[@thehonestchannel]

Occlusives form a layer on the top of your skin so they are typically heavier oils or petroleum jelly.

[@ginamatthews-pr3kr]

I have a question....If you don't micro-needle do you need to add growth factor into your skincare routine. I'm trying to simplify my routine and if I don't need it I'm not adding it. I try to cover all the bases. tretinoin, sunscreen, and serums, and moisturizer.

[@thehonestchannel]

There are pros and cons with growth factor treatments, and of course those treatments in themselves vary wildly. You'll find some dermatologists and skin specialists who are increasingly pro some of the more evidenced growth factor serums and others who believe their efficacy and safety needs much greater exploration. Not a clear answer I'm afraid. I use a growth factor product cautiously but take frequent breaks from it.

[@ginamatthews-pr3kr]

@@thehonestchannel Thank you for your honest opinion. I know some are really pushing it and with the way skincare is selling now I feel like I'm struggling to keep up with what's necessary or what's just marketing to those chasing the fountain of youth. Thank you again!

[@lindajoy23]

After reading Dr Hitchcock’s book my takeaway is there would be no point using the Biojuve range if you also use products with anti microbial & antiseptic properties. I expect this is why the range is clinically dispensed. When I purchased I was given clear instructions on how to use it & what not to use to get the best results 😊

[@thehonestchannel]

Interesting! Would love to hear how you get on with the Biojuve products.

[@cm-ui1dt]

:)

[@zahram4473]

Im watching this after placing my order of 10 skin care products 🫣

[@thehonestchannel]

Oh wow. Hope you get great results with those products.

[@zahram4473]

@@thehonestchannel Thank you!