Holistic Acne Treatments
The majority of us have experienced acne – it’s right there for the world to see, and instantly affects our self-confidence, mental health, and wellbeing.
There are several factors that cause acne making it a complex condition to treat:
1. Hormonal imbalances – certain medical conditions, and life stages such as adolescence and perimenopause can create hormonal imbalances. This can cause excess oestrogen or androgen hormones which get converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes the body to produce sebum for acne bacteria to feed on. The more DHT, the more sebum, the more bacteria, the more acne.
2. Genetic susceptibility – some people have gene SNPs that reduce their ability to eliminate toxins and used hormones from the body. This can cause a build-up of excess oestrogen or androgens which can get converted to DHT causing acne.
3. Diet – both sugar and dairy are strongly linked with acne. Sugar causes the body to produce the hormone insulin to shunt glucose into cells so we can produce energy. However, consuming too many sugary foods, drinks, or refined foods can cause excess insulin to be produced. Insulin then upregulates the production of DHT causing acne. Dairy contains inflammatory mediators that can make acne worse.
4. Stress – when you are stressed, your body produces cortisol. Cortisol causes your body to release glucose and produce insulin (so you have energy to deal with physical or emotional stress). However, if you are stressed for prolonged periods of time, excess cortisol is produced, which can cause insulin to be converted into DHT causing acne.
There are other factors such as poor gut health, nutrient deficiencies, sleep problems, and environmental factors that can contribute to acne too.
It is important to take an integrated approach and treat all the contributing factors for acne to go away. This can differ for every person. Therefore, an acne treatment plan, tailored especially for your unique situation, can help you enjoy clear skin again. This may include targeted acne supplements or a herbal tonic, topical treatments, dietary, and lifestyle recommendations.
#acne #acnefree #acnetreatment #hormonalhealth #hormonalsupport #cysticacne #preventacnescarring #naturopath
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.3% Yes
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15% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we are having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️