Holistic Acne Treatments

Katrina Browne from Katrina Browne Naturopath

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.

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