6 Root Causes of Acne
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions of adolescence, and can even occur into adulthood! If you’ve ever struggled with acne breakouts, you know how hard it can be on your self-confidence!
While acne stems from localized, chronic inflammation and bacterial overgrowth of the hair follicle and oil glands of the skin, there are several important contributing factors (aka root causes) of acne. By addressing the root causes of acne, we as holistic doctors, can help you stop the cycle of acne breakouts for good!
Below are 6 Root Causes of Acne:
Poor Gut Health
Gut health has become a trending wellness topic, and for good reason! We are made up of more tiny microbial cells than human cells, and these microbes play an important role in our overall health, especially our skin. More research is being published on the Gut-Skin-Axis which describes the intimate connection between our gut and skin health! Poor gut health can look like too much “bad” bacteria and too little “good” bacteria, too much of both types, yeast overgrowth, parasites, viruses, or any combination of these factors.
Any trendy influencer will tell you that the best thing to do to support your gut health is to take a probiotic, but we doctors know that not all probiotics are the same and that sometimes adding more bacteria into the mix isn’t always the answer. As a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor, my approach is to order comprehensive stool analysis testing on my acne patients, to see how we can customize a holistic treatment plan that is personalized to them and their gut health concerns.
Blood Sugar Imbalance
Blood sugar stabilization is a very important part of a holistic acne treatment. Our blood sugar spikes when we eat foods that are high in processed carbohydrates and low in fiber like chips, white pasta, white bread, and white rice. When our blood sugar spikes, our insulin levels also spike, and activate an inflammatory pathway called IGF-1. This inflammatory pathway causes an increase in testosterone and oil production on the skin leading to the development and worsening of acne. This connection between the foods we eat, and our skin health can help patients feel empowered to take their health into their own hands. The foods you eat matter when it comes to acne, and together, we can create a nutrition plan that can best support not only your skin health, but your overall health, too!
Nutrient Deficiencies
Both macro and micronutrient deficiencies have been linked to acne lesions. Some essential nutrients for clear skin include Vitamin A, D, E, B complex, zinc, copper, selenium, and chromium. While it is important to eat as many different kinds of healthy foods as possible, sometimes additional supplementation, especially for the micronutrients is needed to help acne. There are specialty blood tests that can test the levels of macro and micronutrients in the body to help assess which need to be enhanced either through diet, or supplementation, or both!
Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal shifts leading to increased oil production on the skin during the teenage years play a significant role in acne breakouts most commonly along the lower half of the face, lower cheeks, and jawline. An imbalance in these important hormones (testosterone, DHT, DHEA, and progesterone) can lead to acne formation in both men and women. Hormones also influence acne breakouts that persist into adulthood, especially in women. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine condition in women of reproductive age and is a common cause of cystic acne in adult women. Medications can be prescribed to treat PCOS, but incorporating dietary, lifestyle, nutrients, and herbal medicine can help make treatments more effective. Hormonal acne can still occur aside from PCOS so it is important to get your hormone levels checked if you have persistent, adult acne, and reach out to your local Naturopathic Doctor to see how they can help you balance your hormones naturally!
Poor Detoxification
Our skin, along with our lymphatic system, lungs, liver, kidney, and large intestine are all organs of elimination and detoxification. Since our skin is the largest organ in our body, it is also the largest, and in my opinion, most important detox organ! By exfoliation, dry brushing, and sweating, we allow toxins to be excreted out of the body through our skin. It is important to support our body’s natural ability to eliminate and detox through deep breathing, proper hydration, daily movement, sweating, and moving our bowels regularly. If one or several of these things are not happening consistently, it can lead to lymphatic stagnation, toxin and cellular debris build-up, and whole-body inflammation that can contribute to acne. While there are targeted supplements and herbs that can help support the body’s natural ability to eliminate toxins, focusing on the foundational aspects of detox support listed above is the most important place to start.
Whole-Body Inflammation
Systemic, or whole-body inflammation can contribute to acne as well! Overall inflammation does not just have one cause, but can be from poor gut health, nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, hormonal imbalances, poor detoxification, and more- the list is endless! If you are experiencing acne, chances are, you have high levels of inflammation in the body, and it is up to you with the help of your Naturopathic Doctor to find out the root cause of the inflammation to properly address it, and your acne. Although an Anti-Inflammatory diet can help reduce inflammation, specific food sensitivity testing can be done to see what specific foods are contributing to your inflammation. These foods can vary from person to person, so it is important to test to assess exactly what foods are triggering each person’s inflammation.
Holistic Acne Treatment is Individualized
Acne is a complex condition with many local and whole-body causes. It is important for each person experiencing acne breakouts to gain a clear understanding of what their specific root cause of acne is, so that it can be addressed holistically. The goal of finding the root cause of acne is so that when you treat the source of the breakouts, you can stop it once and for all, and enjoy the clear skin that you deserve!
Still struggling with acne? Let us help you heal! Dr. Dumont is a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor at Coastal Thyme Holistic Skin + Wellness in Portsmouth, NH and specializes in holistic acne treatment. She offers a complimentary discovery call to learn more about her Naturopathic approach to acne. Click here to request your discovery call with Dr. Dumont today!
