This Skin-Wellbeing Coach Creates Eating Plans To Cure Eczema And Rosacea And Her Results Are Incredible

Skin-wellbeing coach and author, Hanna Sillitoe, 'cured' her own psoriasis, acne and eczema through her diet and is now helping others with auto-immune conditions with her delicious plant-based recipes.

Hanna from Manchester experienced her parents divorce when she was 15 and going through her GCSEs. And the stress triggered skin conditions including psoriasis, acne and eczema that she'd suffer from for the next 20 years. "It was a roller-coaster of emotion and that stress showed on my skin," she explained exclusively to Pretty52.

Fast forward 20 years and she'd been managing her symptoms with steroid creams and other prescribed topical creams and medicines.

She went through a divorce following a Christmas full of sugar and junk food and her skin was overwhelmed and took a total nose dive until doctors prescribed her methotrexate - an immune-system suppressant, which is also used to treat cancer.

"One of the side effects is organ failure and, when you're taking it, you have to have regular liver checks to ensure it's still functioning," Hanna, 40, explains.

"I couldn't do that. I turned it down and told the doctor I was going to try to regulate - and not suppress - my immune system with my diet. I was told it was a waste of time.

"After 28 days of a strict diet full of anti-inflammatory ingredients I was able to go out in public for the first time in years with my arms out. Yes, they were scarred, but they looked noticeably better. That's when everything clicked into place in my mind."

Hanna started blogging to share her experiences and researched extensively what does and doesn't work for autoimmune conditions.

First up - helping her body stay 'calm' with alkaline foods and avoiding anything too acidic (like sugar and processed foods) is essential.

Acidic food puts the body in a state of 'acidosis' if its pH drops below 7.2. It's in crisis and has to work overtime to try and neutralise the excess acid, which for your body is exhausting and means other essential functions and feeling well are put on the back burner.

Alkaline foods rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, and potassium, found in green leafy vegetables, are essential and stop the stress of your body constantly trying to pull itself out of the danger zone.

She also shared her creative recipes that, although sticking to the anti-inflammatory principles, were tasty enough to make sure eating was enjoyable and the lifestyle, sustainable. "If I got bored of my diet then I'd have quit regardless of the consequences," she admitted to Pretty52.

Slowly and steadily Hanna started to receive emails from people who were having similar skin problems as well as other autoimmune problems like arthritis and Lupus. They were asking her advice and support and then sending before and after photos to show their incredible progress.

"It makes me quite emotional when I speak to people who are literally suicidal and see no way out and I'm able to help them," she confesses.

And they come from all walks of life and economic backgrounds. "I had a woman in Sweden first, then someone in Malaysia and more recently a woman in the Philippines.

She was worried she wouldn't be able to afford to do the recipes, but she realised how it didn't have to cost the earth and saw a difference within a month."

Two years ago she wrote her first book called: Radiant, £18,99 and you can buy it here. It reached number two on Amazon and has sold 17,000 copies to date.

Here are Hanna's golden rules for healthier skin within weeks without medication:

1. Drink 2-3 litres of clear, still water per day. Sparkling water is a treat because: bubbles. But carbon dioxide and water react chemically to produce carbonic acid, a weak acid that stimulates the same nerve receptors in your mouth as mustard. This triggers that moreish prickly sensation that's so refreshing when you sip it. But the pH of carbonated water is 3-4, which means it's acidic - unlike pH neutral still water.
2. Grab a food pH chart and select foods that are predominantly from the alkaline side of it to stop your body struggling to stay balanced and pH neutral. Finding 100 per cent hard? Opt for the 80/20 rule or just add a green juice to your day to make a difference.
3. Opt for natural skincare products like coconut oil whose fatty acids are antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Of course, always listen to your doctor's advice, but avoid anything that contain paraffin oil (like some aqueous creams), as it can send skin into a downward spiral.
4. Try to incorporate anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric, shiitake mushrooms and green, leafy vegetables into your diet - they can counteract the effects of stress and a sedentary lifestyle (to an extent). And juicing your greens with fruit is still great if you're not a fan of veggies.
5. Tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines and chilli peppers are part of the nightshade family (yeh, like the deadly stuff). Obviously most of us should be eating them as part of a healthy and balanced diet, but for those with an auto-immune condition, their natural, in-built pesticides (used in nature to stop animals eating them) can cause your body to go into fight mode to try and protect itself. A good alternative to tomato sauce for your spag bol: beetroot, carrot and lemon.

Topics: Hair and Beauty, Life News, Real, Food And Drink, Healthy, Health

Amelia Jones

Amelia is a freelance journalist and editor specialising in beauty, health, fitness and lifestyle. She has previously worked for titles including Women's Health, Cosmopolitan, Stylist, Red and the Mail on Sunday.

@ameliajeanjones