We are here to support your overall health & target the root causes of your skin & health issues rather than just suppress your skin problems. Although skincare plays an important role, it is just a pillar of health alongside diet, lifestyle, environment, mental health & spiritual health.
Our 'Flower of Health' shows our key pillars that we target synergistically to return your body to harmony. Health is not simply the absence of disease or symptoms. Health is the flourishing and optimal state of being on a physical, mental, emotional, energetic & spiritual level.
We balance the internal & external to balance your mind, body & soul. We target gut & liver health & allergens/toxins/irritants in the food, personal care & environment which can be physical, mental or spiritual to encourage the body's innate healing response.
The way we view the skin effects the need for a holistic healing approach. Your skin is the largest organ in your body & reflects the overall health of the body. It makes up about 16% of your body weight & replenishes at a rate of 30,000 - 40,000 cells a minute.
Not only does it protect our organs, its functions include waterproofing, protection from foreign substances, filtering of UV rays, sensation, temperature regulation, excretion of sweat & toxins & Vitamin D synthesis.
It also allows us to express our emotions, culture, personality & health. We have the choice to adorn, tattoo, pierce, tan & lighten the skin so it plays a deeply identity related role as well.
It is home to millions of bacteria, fungi & viruses that compose the skin microbiome. These beneficial microorganisms protect against invading pathogens, educate our immune system & breakdown substances. The skin is a diverse ecosystem that needs to be balanced to be healthy. Its pH, moisture, acidity, lipids, immune cells & microbiome need to be in balance for healthy skin.
The liver & gut are together critical for moderating the immune system & detoxing the body. The guts key functions are related to metabolism, immune system moderation & protection against pathogen invasion. The liver is an essential organ of the body that performs over 500 vital functions. These include removing waste products & foreign substances from the bloodstream, regulating blood sugar levels & creating essential nutrients.
An improperly functioning liver can mean that the blood is not properly filtered, leading to skin problems. Many people with chronic skin problems also have ‘leaky gut’ meaning the lining of their gastrointestinal tract becomes porous from food toxins, sugar, alcohol, stress & excessive gluten. Undigested food particles & other wastes can more easily flow into the bloodstream causing inflammation, increased antibody production & excretion of waste through the skin.
The immune system then becomes overactive leading to food & chemical allergies. Healing the gut is crucial. The typical modern diet is not beneficial for gut health as it is overly processed, high in gluten, emulsifiers, preservatives, antibiotics, commercially farmed animals, GMO's & dairy. It is lacking diversity, micronutrients & fibre & laden with hidden toxins (artifical sweeteners, pesticides, microplastics, Teflon etc). Our overuse of antibiotics as well as on the animals we eat also effects a healthy & diverse gut microbiome.
We developed The Hypoallergenic Diet, a staged elimination diet low in the most common food allergens, natural chemicals such as (salicylates, amines and glutamate) & antinutrients (gluten, phytates, tannins, lectins), to support healing the gut & balancing the overactive immune system before slowly adding them back.
Balancing the immune system from inside & outside the body is crucial. Often time, particularly for long term skin issues, the problem is autoimmune related & there's an overactive immune response due to a damaged gut, skin barrier, diet, lifestyle & genetic factors.
Internally, when the gut lining is damaged, foreign substances can enter the bloodstream & trigger an immune response. Over time, the immune system becomes more overactive if the integrity of the gut barrier is not maintained.
Skin tissue contains an intricate network of immune cells crucial for defence & skin homeostasis. In the event of a skin insult, they are crucial for preventing infection & promoting healing. If the barrier is constantly broken from scratching, use of irritating products or steroids which then the skin over time, the skin barrier is weakened & immune system is in a hyperactive state. It becomes prone to infection, unable to hold enough moisture & overactive.
We believe in systematically removing irritants, restoring the gut barrier using our Hypoallergenic Diet & using physiological minimal skincare to support the skin instead of suppressing symptoms by constantly taking steroids, antibiotics & antihistamines.
There are many irritants & toxins hidden in personal care, skincare, household care & the environment that are effecting your health.
In personal care we review the top irritants/toxins: laundry powders, harsh soaps, fragrances, deodorants, fluoride, hair sprays, makeup, sunscreen, sulphates, colours, fragrances, alcohol, essential oils & certain preservatives.
In house care surface sprays, floor cleaners, air fresheners, toxic chemicals in cookware like Teflon, water contaminants are reviewed. Common environmental irritants include pets, dust, mould, grass, pollen, scratch fabrics/wools & pollution.
Certain substances are harmless & we need to help the body not overact to them, while others are hidden toxins that should be avoided for health in general. You can take a skin prick & blood test to determine your allergies & irritants although your immune system is constantly changing so it can be restored from the inside & outside. It is also useful to track your flares including the area it affected, the date & time, the environment & any actions you took in order to better understand the potential cause of issues.
We use nature identical minimal biocompatible skincare to support the skin barrier with skin compatible ingredients. Problem skin is often deficient in skin lipids & natural moisturising factors effecting its ability to maintain water levels & proper barrier function.
The skin surface lipids of those with atopic dermatitis for example, show reduced wax esters & squalene in comparison to healthy skin. In addition, the composition of the triglycerides in atopic skin is altered, being low in long chain fatty acids, again effecting its barrier function.
Most pharmaceutical products are based on petrochemicals like mineral oil, dimethicone & petroleum jelly as they are inert, cheap & don’t tend to cause irritation. Yet they can not be metabolised by the skin & be integrated with the skins natural lipids. They can reduce water loss & give the skin flexibility but are superficial in effect.
They may also potentially effect the natural functions of the skin including excretion & temperature regulation, especially in the copious amounts often recommended, which may build up leading to clogged pores, dependance & irritation. The skin tends to become reliant on petrochemicals for superficial moisture loss reduction, but often becomes even dryer when they are washed off.
Conventional advice advocates for frequent bathing to boost skin moisture & trapping this with copious amounts of moisturiser multiple times a day. This seems logical on the level of reducing water loss yet it is a superficial strategy that effects the natural skin functions & can make the skin overly reliant on an external barrier.
Kevin’s lifelong experience with eczema & research reveals a more developed model of thinking about moisturisation & the skin. Continual over-moisturisation of the skin will lead to the skin becoming dependent on an external source of lipids & moisture. The skin will slow down its own production of lipids as it senses there is already enough.
The type of moisturiser is also important. If it is incorrectly formulated (most are) it is likely to damage the skin barrier. Petrochemical based moisturisers are usually quite superificial in effect & since the skin can't metabolise them, over moisturising can lead to dependance, pore clogging & breakouts. Especially if it is high in a silicone like dimethicone. It should use skin identical ingredients, be formulated in a certain ratio, be pH balanced & supplement the deficient skin lipids. It should use an emulsifier that doesn't damage the skin barrier.
We recommend using the minimum amount of a physiological moisturiser to maintain comfort & support the impaired skin barrier. As the skin heals, this amount should be reduced in order to encourage the skins own lipid production. Use the minimal amount needed to maintain mositure. Don’t constantly moisturise areas which aren’t dry or exposed to the elements. Don't use any moisturiser if it is extremely humid as it will effect sweating & lead to irritation.
They should only be there to support especially if you have a genetic predisposition to skin issues or on areas which are often exposed to the elements or washed very frequently.
A good indication of whether a moisturiser is good for long term skin health is how long your skin can maintain comfort & moisture before feeling the need to reapply it. Over time, does your skin require less product? How does your skin feel after washing, without any moisturiser? Is it becoming healthier?
Conventional advice recommends frequent washing in order to increase the water content of the skin, then immediately applying a copious amount of moisturiser. This is superficial thinking.
Overly frequent bathing or showering for extended periods weakens the skin barrier. Extended water contact dissolves the skin lipids, washes out the natural moisturising factor & elevates the naturally acidic pH of the skin. Any beneficial effect is temporary & the skin will be drier once the water has evaporated.
Showering should be limited to once per day (twice if playing sport, or if you went out or if in hot weather), kept as short as possible ideally between 1-3 minutes & using lukewarm water. At the start & end of day is ideal. Use a shower filter if possible especiaIly in countries that flurodite their water. Its main purpose is to remove substances like dust, pollution, chemicals, sweat & excess oils, it also has a cleansing mental effect.
The pH of most tap water is between 6.5 - 8.5 while the skin is between 4.7-5.75. In Europe, the tap water has a pH around 8.0. This will increase the skin pH up to 6 h after contact before returning to its natural value. Many soaps & detergents can also elevate the skin pH so we recommend pH balanced products.
Constantly elevating the skin pH can lead to a disturbed skin barrier & skin microflora. Those with chronic skin problems exhibit a reduced ability to buffer against strongly acidic or alkaline substances so repeated water contact will lead to longer than usual elevated skin pH.
Don't strip the skin with harsh soaps or cleansers. Wash the body using warm water & a soft sponge. On the hair, face & groin use a gentle cleanser a few times a week. Use a deep cleansing clay every 1.5-2 weeks on the face.
Diet, irritant avoidance & healing the gut & skin barrier are critical ways to address the root cause of problems.
Antibiotics interfere with the normal function of the immune system & the diversity of gut bacteria. They may be needed in serious cases of infection however it is not beneficial to constantly allow your body to become so imbalanced that you regularly need to use antibiotics.
We recommend targeting the cause of the irritation whether it is a food, toxin, irritant, allergen, new product, lifestyle change or stress. There is a reason your skin itches & has a rash. Constantly suppressing it is not removing the cause or helping it in the long run.
There are a few key questions to ask which can give an indication of the nature of your skin problems, however please consult a medical professional for assurance.
How long have you had skin problems?
If you have had it since birth it is a sign of a more chronic problem which is a combination of genetics, lifestyle and diet factors. If only of late there could be changes in your environment, stress, new products you are using or a contact irritation.
Where does it affect?
If it affects your entire body it is more likely a chronic problem otherwise is could be a food allergy or irritation to a chemical that is coming in contact with your entire body. For example laundry powders and detergents tend to cling and build up on clothes or it could be a soap or body wash. If it only affects your hands or face it is likely something coming in contact with those areas. If your mouth is itchy after a certain food it could be a food sensitivity.
When does it affect you?
If problems occur not long after a meal it could be a food allergy. If you are itchy at night mainly it could be from the bed sheets being too dusty or too hot causing heat rash. If it is after showering it could be from a product you are using or the towel. Start tracking your diet, flares and lifestyle habits to better understand the potential cause.
The brain, gut & skin are interconnected. Chronic stress impacts the balance of your gut bacteria, which can lead to inflammation. Recent studies have shown that stress also has a negative effect on skin barrier function, resulting in water loss & reduced healing capacity. We also know that about 50% of dopamine is produced in the gut & that altered gut bacteria is associated with various mental health disorders.
Having a skin problem is stressful but how we view it, our lifestyle, our relationship with ourselves & our support networks have a large bearing on our overall health. We advocate mindfulness & spirituality through modalities such as meditation, yoga, sound healing, breathwork, exercise, plant medicines & philosophy.
Join one of the many skin support groups & follow other warriors & other people who have healed on their journey.
We developed our philosophical framework Aetherialism to help you better understand yourself.
When you have a skin problem it is easy to feel identified by your skin. However you are much more than your skin. How can it be you if it's always changing? The true you is that inner conscious awareness as a fragment of a greater universal consciousness.
Developing healthy habits in all areas of your life including sleep, diet, exercise, sleep, relationships & hobbies. Pay attention to whether a habit energises or drains you. Whether it supports your health or hinders it.
Limit things like smoking, dairy, sugar, alcohol, fluoride, processed foods & drugs that are not beneficial to your health. Neither are some relationships, friends or jobs. Surround yourself with people, roles, activities & environments who energise you. Add self-care practices to your regular routine. Whether that be journaling, meditation, time in nature, a massage or sound therapy.
Think about how your environment influences your health as everything is connected. In fact, everything is energy. Create a positive, uplifting energy in your home environment to support your healing. Ground your feet in the earth 3 times a week to reduce inflammation naturally.
Ideally you want to have plenty of sunlight, fresh air, access to nature & a home that supports your lifestyle. Take the time to make your house a home. It should be a place that supports your healing. Think about balancing the positioning of your furniture according to Feng Shui principles, adding plants, removing clutter, adding a mix of your favourite colours & personal touches.
There is a primordial life force that pervades every atom, cell, sand grain, star, plant, animal, human, animal & dream. This life force, chi, qi, prana, spirit or Aether as referenced by all ancient traditions is Source, The All or God & it pervades, expresses itself through & transcends all life. It is beyond matter, time, space & dimensions.
In our modern life, we are disconnected from this primordial, quintessential, Aetheric life force of Source due to excessive materialism, not knowing who we are, lifestyles, nefarious influences, mental & environmental toxins & limited access to nature. By connecting to Source, we can heal ourselves, align or energy to something greater, raise our consciousness, understand our interconnection with all life & realise our highest expression.
Regularly practice a self healing meditation either seated or laying down. When seated sit with a straight back, feet flat on the floor but not touching & palms up resting on your knees. When laying down face up, place your palms face up by your side or place one hand on your heart & one on your gut. You can have some calming music or sound healing frequencies playing & incense like sandalwood, sage or palo alto. Take slow deep breathes through your nose, pay attention to how you feel, your heart, gut & body & imagine every cell of your body being charged & rejuvenated by a divine light, allowing the force of life to pervade your body. Show gratitude for the gift of life, connect with the esence of your soul & feel your ailments being healed.
If you have tried everything, Aether is for you. Our mission is to help free you from your skin problems & unlock your highest potential.
There are no quick fixes to problem skin. This is why we created the world's first complete skin health system to target every major variable effecting the skin.
For 30 days you can try any of our products risk free. If your skin is not significantly healthier or you are dissatisfied for any reason, we will offer you a full refund. Simply return the products, even if they are partially used.
You can heal. We are here to support you on your journey.
