Where to Begin Treating Acne Naturally (treatment plan included)!

Acne is one of the biggest concerns we treat in the clinic. There are many underlying causes of acne and it can be challenging to identify and treat them (quickly). This is the reality of taking a natural approach to treating the skin from the inside out. We don’t say this to discourage you, but to provide you a proper understanding of committing to long term outcomes.

Ultimately, treating the root cause will bring you more success long term and reduce potentially negative health implications of the medical alternatives. The following article outlines most of the information provided in a first visit addressing acne, we have even provided you our go-to protocol (scroll to the end of the article).

Acne is the result of an overgrowth of acne bacteria on the face. It requires a combination of increased oil secretion and inflammation to create the ideal environment for the acne to develop. Inflammation, external exposures, and hormonal imbalance are often to blame.

The first foundation of acne treatment is reducing inflammation.

1)    Internal– dietary triggers, blood sugar imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, and dysbiosis in the gut.

2)    External– chemicals and irritants in skin products + makeup, environmental toxins, sweat and dirt (touching face, picking pimples). 

There are many ways you can reduce inflammation; we have listed our favorites below:

1)    DIET – reduce refined sugar, reduce alcohol, avoid dairy, eat more vegetables and drink green tea.

2)    Removing dairy and sugar – Dairy and sugar promote acne by increasing insulin-growth like factor, a protein that has been directly correlated with increasing oil production and skin cell proliferation = acne.

3)    Yoga and Meditation, both of these activities have been shown to help effectively protect the body from stress. Less stress = less inflammation.

4)    Appropriate nutrient supplementation with clinical trials to support its efficacy: high EPA fish oil and zinc.

• High EPA Fish Oil – EPA is the essential fatty acid structure that reliably metabolizes into ANTI-inflammatory cells. Additionally, EPA has been shown to reduce oil production at the follicles to help reduce breakouts. 2,000 mg of EPA daily. Quality is important. This is a therapeutic dose of EPA and challenging to get in generic vitamin brands. The quality of the oil is important. We trust NFH and find the dosing is more consistently achieved using this product and BEND anti-aging oil.

• Zinc is one of the most clinically effective supplements to treat acne. It reduces oil production, kills bacteria, reduces inflammation and improves the healing time of existing breakouts. Additionally, it helps increase estrogen and reduce testosterone in women which is a foundational piece in treating the hormonal component of acne.

5)    Sleep – one of the most important and foundational ways our bodies reduce inflammation and heal. We need this time to regenerate our cells and properly eliminate the damaged cells. Regulating sleep is also key to regulating hormones overall.

Next, we discuss hormone imbalance. At the root of most “hormone imbalance” is chronic stress. Stress directly impacts the skin cells to increase acne but also disrupts other hormones in the body which play a role in acne formation as well.

Emotional stressors and/or physical stressors send a signal to the brain to secrete our stress hormone, cortisol. This can increase what we call androgen based acne. It can be tricky to treat as there are several different mechanisms that lead to increased breakouts. Androgen based acne usually looks like:

1)    Deep, large and painful pimples

2)    They present along the chin, jawline, neck, chest, and back

3)    Enlarged pores and increased oil production on the skin

It can be challenging to determine what is ultimately the root cause without using the DUTCH test (click here to learn more). So generally, we treat to reduce androgens and to improve their conversion to estrogen (which when balanced helps keep the skin clear!).

Estrogen and progesterone can also play a role in acne and the presentation of acne but the reasons why are not as clear. We do know that estrogen (when in proper balance) is excellent for the skin. It improves barrier function, which reduces the risk of developing acne in the first place and improves skin healing which reduces the length of existing breakouts.

We provide targeted nutrient therapy to reduce androgens and balance hormones based on other hormonal symptoms discussed in our initial consults. We also talk about appropriate topical protocols (what you put on your face). It is important to understand what “actives” (retinol, acids, vitamins etc) are effective and the appropriate doses within the product! This is a big component of treatment plans but extremely individualized. Consult with an ND or trusted health professional (well versed in acne) before implementing a plan.

When treating acne, using all of the above techniques to reduce inflammation and oil production is a foundational place to start. Getting to the root cause of hormonal acne can be challenging and often requires focused testing. Book in with our ND’s today to get focused treatment options for you. We also have an in house medical aesthetician for micro-needling and chemical peels. Once we begin correcting the root, we can refer for additional services!

Sample Treatment Plan to reduce inflammatory burden, reduce oil secretion and promote the healthy conversion of testosterone to estrogen

1)    NFH ZINC SAP – 2 capsules daily, with food for 3 months.

2)    NFH High EPA SAP – 2 capsules daily for 3-6 months. Or indefinitely for overall  wellness and preventative health.

3)    Cultured Coconut Probiotic Food Supplement – 2 tsp daily, first thing in the am.

4)    Removing dairy from diet and minimizing refined sugar and alcohol.

5)    Professionally Compounded B3 cream AM and PM + Province Apothecary Toner AM and PM.

• Additional actives determined in visit based on skin type and severity of breakouts.

All supplements listed available at EASTND (both Moncton and Charlottetown locations)

In Health,

EASTND Naturopathic Team