Banishing Acne
Acne should be viewed as a symptom, rather than a diagnosis. Finding the root cause is essential for achieving clear skin.
Natural Clinic Acne Consult: $75
Book your appointment with a qualified practitioner who will…
Work with you to discover underlying hormone imbalances
Reveal nutrient deficiencies driving your acne
Provide expert dietary and lifestyle coaching to heal your skin
Give you access to practitioner-grade nutritional and herbal medicine tailored to you
Book now to achieve clear skin.
Book AppointmentTo learn more about the condition and kickstart your acne-healing journey, read on for our Naturopathic Guide to Banishing Acne.
Natural Clinic Clinical Guide to Acne
WHAT IS ACNE?
Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition, characterised by being annoying at best and ultimately uncomfortable at its worst. Principally seen in pre-adolescents and teenagers, it is also increasingly seen in adults through to age 40. While hormonal changes are often considered the main driver in teen acne, there are several internal and external factors at play throughout the age-groups.
CAUSES & TRIGGERS OF ACNE
Changes in your hormonal profile can trigger an outbreak. Typically surges in androgens can stimulate the overproduction of sebum which in turn leads to inflamed sebaceous glands, triggering an acne outbreak. For menstruating women, you may be more prone to breakouts around ovulation when your testosterone surges and just before your bleed when your progesterone and estrogen drop rapidly. Both incidents can cause an increase in sebum secretion.
Accumulating evidence shows inflammation as a fundamental driver of acne lesions. The gut-skin connection is not able to be ignored in acne presentations, with inflammation and bacterial imbalances in the gut driving those painful breakouts. Science has shown that the inflammatory cascade begins even before clinical detection of the acne lesion! Added to this, the bacterial colonisation of Propionibacterium acnes can cause an immune reaction (inflammation and redness) locally in your skin.
- B vitamins, particularly B6
- Essential Fatty Acids
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Vitamin D3
- Bacterial / fungal overgrowth (SIBO, SIFO, large intestine dysbiosis)
- Food intolerances- specifically gluten and dairy
- Leaky gut
- Candida overgrowth
- Insulin resistance
External factors that can exacerbate acne breakouts include irritating topical agents and comedogenic triggers:
Find out what is driving your acne with a one-on-on consultation today.
Remove the guessing-game and get results.How your diet plays a role
Attenuating inflammation and correcting deficiencies through the food on your plate is key to managing acne.
Eat less aggravating foods
- Gluten
- Dairy Processed, refined vegetable oils
- Refined sugars
- Coffee (when excessive)
- Alcohol
Eat more anti-inflammatory foods
- Healthy fats: avocado, walnuts, macadamias, fish
- Wide variety of organic, seasonal fruit and vegetables
- Moderate weekly intake of grass-fed red meat
Increase water intake
1.5 – 2L per day is optimal
Correct nutrient deficiencies
Test for deficiencies in blood testing and rectify through diet and supplementation.
Pharmaceutical and conventional treatments for acne
- Oral antibiotics to reduce acne bacteria: tetracycline, doxycycline
- Topical retinoids
- Topical antibiotics with benzoyl peroxide
- Topical azelaic acid / salicylic acid
- Combined oral contraceptives
- Isotretinoin
Suspecting you have food sensitivities?
REVEAL WHICH FOODS ARE CAUSING YOUR BREAKOUTS WITH OUR COMPREHENSIVE FOOD ALLERGEN AND GUT MICROBIOME TESTING.
Speak to one of our practitioners for more information.
Call UsNatural treatments to manage your acne
Synergistic nutrient combination to reduce acne lesions, reduce inflammation, stimulate skin healing, and normalize hormone levels. Zinc & B6 are commonly depleted in acne presentations so rectifying deficiency is crucial.
We recommend BioCeuticals Zinc Sustain
Potent antioxidant to reduce oxidative stress in the skin, reduces inflammation in the gut and skin epithelium, stimulates the liver to increase detoxification of excess hormones and toxins.
We recommend Cell Logic EnduraCell Plus
Lowers cortisol production to decrease sebum levels in the skin, stabilizes hormones, reduces inflammation and regulates blood sugar. Magnesium helps to calm the redness and irritation associated with acne.
We recommend Eagle Mag Restore
Turmeric harnesses strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, rendering it a powerhouse nutrient for skin health. It also supports detoxification of the liver to normalize estrogen & androgen levels.
We recommend Designs for Health Curcum Evail
One of the richest forms of omega-3 fatty acids, cod liver oil reduces sebum production, decreases hyperpigmentation and scarring, improves skin integrity, reduces inflammation and normalizes hormone production.
We recommend Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil
Tired of taking multiple supplements for your acne?
Let us narrow it down to one that works.
Your acne can have multiple causes and that’s why you often need to use multiple products.
We can compound one product that replaces all your existing products. Your very own, tailored nutritional formula with ingredients at dosages specific to your skin.
Speak to one of our practitioners.
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