‘I don’t mind my acne.’ Said NO ONE ever. Acne is incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re an adult. As a Naturopathic Doctor with a clinical focus on hormones and PCOS, I see a lot of acne in my practice.
But doc, I came in for my acne, why are you treating my liver?
Acne is a complex, multifactorial skin condition that requires a comprehensive, whole-body approach for effective treatment. More and more we are discovering that underlying oxidative stress and inflammation can be major triggers for acne. Inflammation elsewhere in the body can result in breakouts, cysts and the formation of new lesions.
Can we treat acne naturally?
Emerging research has looked at the role of antioxidants, liver support and micronutrients for getting to the root of acne. In fact, one study found that supplementation with milk thistle (the king of liver herbs), NAC (our body’s most important antioxidant) and selenium (an often overlooked mineral) resulted in significant improvements in both acne and markers of antioxidative activity.
My point? Acne isn’t just about what you put on your skin, we must treat the body internally to see changes externally. It is about proper liver detoxification, removing inflammatory foods, treating gut dysbiosis, balancing hormones, and choosing better beauty products. Yup, Naturopathic Doctors do all of that….and more.
Is your diet causing your acne?
One randomized control trial compared the effects of a low glycaemic load diet with a conventional high glycaemic load diet on hormonal and clinical aspects of acne vulgaris. After three months, the subjects in the low glycaemic group had significantly fewer acne lesions and lower levels of testosterone on blood work. Learning how to balance your blood sugar and make better food choices is a key step towards clearer skin.
You don’t have to live with acne forever. Book your 15-minute complimentary discovery call and start getting the answers you deserve.