Glow Blockers: How Oxalates Attack Skin from the Inside and Out

Oxalates (oxalic acid) are natural plant defences found in many fruits and vegetables, serving as protection for the plant. In the human body, however, they act as anti-nutrients, binding to essential minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium, blocking their absorption, leading to systemic depletion and forming nanocrystals and microcrystals in the form of sharp crystals that can lodge in tissues and are capable of damaging cells throughout the body. When these crystals build up, they trigger pain, fatigue, inflammation, kidney stones, and skin problems- poor wound healing, fragile skin, and accelerated aging.

 

According to Sally K. Norton, MPH, a leading educator and author on dietary oxalates, these crystals can accumulate silently for years, injuring cells and tissues long before symptoms become apparent.

How Oxalates Harm You

Oxalate damage is not a sensitivity or allergy. It is a toxicity problem, an overburden of toxic compounds that your body cannot break down; it can only try to expel them. When cells must “handle” oxalate, they become stressed and inflamed in the process.

 

How Oxalates Can Harm Your Skin

• They cause inflammation. Oxalate crystals irritate tissues and trigger inflammation, which can cause your skin to become red, sore, or slow to heal.
• They can damage skin cells. The tiny, sharp crystals can injure cells, weaken the skin barrier, and break down collagen and hyaluronic acid, making the skin thinner, weaker, and less elastic.
• They block nutrients. Oxalates bind to minerals like calcium and magnesium, which your skin needs to stay strong and healthy.
• They may enter your skin through cosmetic products. Some topical products can add to your oxalate load. Certain hair and skin treatments, like glyoxylic acid hair straighteners, have been shown to form oxalates in the body. Even some natural ingredients, such as jojoba, naturally contain oxalate-forming compounds that may irritate sensitive or reactive skin when used in high concentrations. Additionally, Aloe Vera in cosmetics may cause severe irritation, as the skin of the aloe plant contains high levels of oxalate. Remember, our skin is the largest organ of the body, so anything applied topically can contribute to your overall oxalate burden and have an effect on your skin.
• They show up on the skin. In severe cases, oxalate crystals can accumulate under the skin, resulting in bumps, ulcers, or impaired healing.
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In short: Too many oxalates can quietly damage skin from the inside out, weakening its structure, slowing repair, and making it more prone to irritation, aging, and inflammation.

The solution: If you suffer from oxalate toxicity and want to reduce the oxalate load in your body, be mindful not only of what you eat but also of what you put on your skin.

At It’s All Good, we’ve developed a skincare range of low-ox products for your face & body, and we’re constantly expanding it. Our Low-Ox formulas nourish your skin without adding to your oxalate burden.

Low-Ox skincare by It’s All Good - Feed your skin gently and safely without adding to your oxalate burden.