For endometriosis, one of the key accelerants is inflammation. In an ideal world, we would spend most of our time in a parasympathetic state (a calm, neutral state), says Gersh, but endometriosis often forces women to exist in the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight). This can lead women to clench their jaws or pelvic muscles, or grind their teeth. Many also experience spikes in cortisol, which can make hair and skin thinner, and impair the gut barrier.
For Gersh, an endometriosis-centered beauty routine starts with stimulating the vagus nerve — the longest cranial nerve in the human body, stretching from the brain to the gut — to drop back into the parasympathetic nervous system. This can include acupuncture, meditation, massage and laughing — I use a small, spikey orange ball used for myofascial release (easing tension in connective tissue) and a gua sha tool for lymphatic drainage massage (brands including Face Gym, 111Skin, and Sisley Paris already sell these).
Television host, model and cookbook author Padma Lakshmi was diagnosed with stage four endometriosis at 36. She says massages, Icoone treatments, exercise and diet are key to managing her symptoms.Photo: Inez & Vinoodh
When lowering inflammation is the main goal, your definition of beauty gets broader, presenting an opportunity for brands to expand beyond conventional topicals you would use on your face: Gersh recommends rubbing lavender essential oil into the bottoms of your feet; using a diffuser with lemon or orange oil; and drinking herbal teas like tulsi, chamomile, and kahwah. Then, there are ingestibles and supplements, like Epetome by Emily English (known online as Em the Nutritionist), although it’s always worth having blood tests to see which supplements you actually need before buying in bulk. “These are not woo-woo or frivolous endeavors,” says Gersh. “They can be truly life-changing. When you have good vagal tone, you sleep well, you digest well, your temperature regulation systems are right, and all your different organ systems are working.”
Television host, model and cookbook author Padma Lakshmi was diagnosed with stage four endometriosis at 36, later creating the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound) with her surgeon Dr. Tamer Seckin. While Lakshmi didn’t struggle with acne, she does have hyperpigmentation, which she treats with microdermabrasion. “All the lasers and peels other women swear by aren’t recommended for darker pigmented people,” she explains. Lakshmi also has regular massages to ease bloating, and has recently started getting Icoone treatments, a non-invasive technology used for reshaping, skin tightening, and lymphatic drainage. “It’s an investment, and it’s not permanent, like raking snow while it’s still snowing.”