Today, let’s talk about banishing acne, breakouts and achieving clear skin, even if you’re an adult. Breakouts generally occur on the face but can occur on different parts of the body, making one feel self-conscious and embarrassed, regardless of age. While it’s commonly associated with teenage acne, many adults also experience breakouts and struggle to get rid of them.
As a naturopath, I understand that breakouts are not just a superficial issue but can reflect what’s occurring inside the body. By looking at the whole person and addressing underlying health issues, we can help support the body’s natural healing processes, resulting in clearer, vibrant, and glowing skin.
If you’re struggling with breakouts and feeling self-conscious, know there are ways to deal with it. Seeking help from a naturopath can provide personalised and holistic support for your skin and overall health.
Let me share a story about one of my clients, Sally (name changed for privacy reasons). Sally came to me with adult acne, which affected her self-confidence so much that she didn’t want to leave her house. She resorted to putting on layers of makeup to hide her skin condition. Despite being a vibrant person who loved socialising, she stopped going out and limited herself to school runs and picking up her kids.
Sally had tried many skin treatments and dermal therapies, but nothing seemed to work for her. She had acne on her face and back and was also experiencing hormonal issues, including heavy periods and severe cramping during her menstrual cycle. When we delved deeper into her lifestyle, diet, and stress levels, we discovered that her liver needed some support, and a hormonal imbalance contributed to her skin issues.
I worked with her to support her liver function and balance her hormones. To her delight, she didn’t experience any new breakouts during her next menstrual cycle. Over the next few months, her skin cleared up entirely, and she regained her confidence and social life. Seeing my clients regain control of their lives and feel better about themselves is always gratifying.
If you’re also struggling with skin breakouts, whether adult or teenage acne, it’s essential to look at the bigger picture.
What’s causing the imbalance in your body leading to your skin issues?
By identifying and addressing the root cause, you can achieve true healing and clear, vibrant skin that makes you feel confident and radiant.
Bacteria on our skin is a natural occurrence, and it’s not the sole reason why cystic acne develops. When our body is in balance, the bacteria on our skin don’t thrive and cause skin problems. Therefore, it’s crucial to look internally when it comes to healing acne or any other skin condition. The external terrain of our skin is created by what’s happening inside our body.
Diet and Hydration
When working with clients, their diet is the first area that needs to be examined.
The key is a diet based on salad, fruits and vegetables with smaller amounts of nuts/seeds, beans/legumes, grains/rice and meat/eggs as desired.
Essential fatty acids, vitamins B5, B6, A, C, E, D, and zinc are crucial nutrients supporting skin health. In addition, drinking plenty of water is also essential for staying hydrated, especially during a change of season. Adequate water intake helps to cleanse the body and the skin.
Gut Health and Dysbiosis
Examining gut health is the next area to focus on if there are leaky gut or nutrient absorption issues. Optimum gut health is essential because our digestive system’s beneficial microbes will support nutrient absorption, immune system, and elimination channels.
Clearing out gut dysbiosis (non-beneficial gut microbes) is the next step. This step is critical because an imbalance of microbes in the digestive system can lead to an imbalance in the skin’s micro-organisms.
Detoxification Pathways
Supporting detoxification pathways such as the liver, lymphatics, and kidneys are essential for skin health. The skin is the largest elimination organ and will excrete toxins if the other pathways are ineffective, which can create acne and skin conditions.
Stress
Managing stress is also essential for skin health. Stress impacts multiple areas of the body and can cause various health problems. Stress management can help reduce skin outbreaks by improving the immune system. In addition, stress impacts gut health, liver detox pathways, and the skin, so managing stress is vital for overall skin health.
Hormones
As a naturopath, one of the key areas I focus on regarding skin health is hormonal balance. This is particularly important in the case of teenage acne, where hormonal imbalances can often be the root cause. However, it’s not just teenagers who struggle with acne and other skin issues – I often see adult women coming to me with skin breakouts that are exacerbated by their menstrual cycle.
It’s a frustrating cycle for these women: their skin clears up for just one week out of the month before the process starts all over again, just like Sally’s example. This is where ensuring hormonal balance becomes crucial. We can work towards more sustainable solutions that offer long-term benefits by addressing this key issue.
Naturopathy for Clear Skin
What sets naturopathic medicine apart is our focus on the whole person rather than just their symptoms. Taking a holistic approach and considering the complete picture of a person’s health and well-being can help identify the underlying causes of skin issues and develop targeted treatment plans that work.
To achieve this, I utilise a range of natural remedies and approaches. As mentioned above, diet is the key. However, adding herbs, supplements and homeopathics to support the liver, lymphatics, kidneys, digestion, and hormones can help clear acne and promote healthy skin.
If you’re struggling with skin issues and looking for support, I encourage you to explore the benefits of naturopathic medicine. Working together, we can help you move towards clearer, healthier skin and improved overall wellness.
Seeing my clients experience the transformative power of natural medicine and witness the positive changes in their skin and confidence is always a joy. So if you’re ready to take the first step towards clearer, healthier skin, I’d be honoured to help guide you.
Click here to Schedule a 15-Minute complimentary call with me.
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This is how gut microbes can influence weight!
Probiotics can help you gain weight or lose weight by interacting with our genetics, food and metabolism.
And yes, I did say lose or gain weight……..
Firstly, let me explain that the trillions of microbes in the gut need to be varied, meaning that there should be a large variety of species. There are many different species (or breeds) of microbes, and they all have their place in aiding health — the more variety and balance, the better health results.
Back to the weight loss or weight gain issue….
Do you eat yogurt and berries for breakfast? Thinking that it’s helping you lose weight?
Well, Lactobacillus acidophilus (like the species found in yoghurt) has been connected to weight gain.
I am not saying throw your yoghurt and berries in the bin. Instead, I am suggesting looking at the overall picture. If Lactobacillus acidophilus is the predominant micro-organism of the gut, then weight gain can result.
It is about the variety of species of gut microbes. Imagine if we only have trained german shepherd guard dogs in the world. It may be a safe world, but I am sure that other breeds may be more suitable as a family pet.
While Lactobacillus acidophilus is associated with weight gain, other Lactobacillus species correlate with weight loss.
Species like Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Bifidobacteria animalis have been found to support weight loss.
Want to lose weight?
Look at your gut flora to support your goal.
Tests can be performed to identify the predominant species of the gut, and specific species can be utilised to support weight changes.
Want more information about your gut health?
Or want to look at all the factors contributing to weight gain, I’d love to be able to help.
Click here to book your appointment!
