Acne - from a natural perspective

Acne is a painful and unsightly skin condition that affects about 85% of teenagers and adults alike. Commonly known as pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, zits, it is a skin condition where a blockage occurs in the opening of the sebaceous glands. A sebaceous gland is a small gland attached to each hair folicle which secretes sebum, a natural oil responsible for protecting the skin.

There are many causes and triggers for acne so it is a good idea to be aware of some of these so as to avoid them when possible and also to know what you can do to reduce the severity.

Common causes of acne and triggers that make it worse

Poor diet - It was once believed that acne was caused by eating too much chocolate, dairy and sugar. This has now been proven relatively untrue, however, that doesn't mean that it's OK to eat bad foods and think that your skin will be OK. Having said that, the occasional chocolate or sweet food is not going to have any effect either way on acne. Your skin is an organ which performs many functions such as providing a barrier between your insides and the outside environment, waste excretion and detoxification through sweat, thermoregulation (helping to maintain internal temperatures) and fluid balance. Poor dietary habits can affect the functioning of any organ in the body and the skin is no exception.

Fresh foods are best. So, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, fresh cooked lean meats all form a healthy diet. Try to reduce processed foods as much as possible. Processed foods are devoid in nutrition, so by eating these foods you are not providing your skin with the substances it needs to be healthy. Your skin will benefit from a healthy diet and an abundance of natural vitamins and minerals. Your skin also needs plenty of fresh, pure water. Dietary changes alone won't stop acne altogether but it will contribute to healthier skin.

Sometimes certain foods may trigger acne. Be aware that different foods may trigger acne in different people so be mindful of what you have eaten or have had to drink and how your skin feels the next day.

Hormones - Sex hormones such as testosterone may have a negative impact on your skin. Typically, acne that begins in teenage years is caused by an imbalance of testosterone. Both girls and boys can have an imbalance of this hormone. It is not specifically testosterone itself that is the problem but a slightly different form of it called dihydrotestosterone which increases the production of sebum. Herbal medicine can help when these hormones are out of whack. For women in their 20's, 30's and 40's, acne can be a problem premenstrually, typically seen mostly around the chin area. Again, herbal medicine may help with hormone imbalance here too.

Stress - Stress has been shown to make acne worse. Stress may reduce immune system function as well as play a role in creating hormone imbalance, both leading to an exacerbation of acne. So, consider stress reduction activities such as massage, yoga and meditation during stressful times.

Hereditary - While it is not absolutely definite that if your parents had acne that you will have acne, but there does seem to be a higher incidence in children who's parents have acne. This may make it more difficult to treat, so it is important that you maintain a healthy diet and reduce stress in order to reduce the severity of acne regardless of the origin.

Infections - Acne does have a bacterial componant which is why doctors commonly prescribe antibiotics. There are many anti-bacterial cleansing products on the market and it's a matter of trial and error to see which one suits you. Personal hygiene is very important here. Always make sure you have clean hands and avoid constantly touching acne affected skin. Squeezing acne spots is one of the worst things you can do because you are introducing more bacteria which can further exacerbate the problem.

Environmental - Living in an environment that is polluted can contribute to or trigger your acne outbreaks. It doesn’t have to be the world outside your door like factories and car emissions. If someone in your home smokes, the heavy pollution of particles in the air could be irritating your skin and clogging your pores.

Lack of sleep - sleep is rejuvenating. During sleep cells repair and your immune system is re-charged. It makes sense that if you are not sleeping well then it might affect your skin health. Sleep deprivation is stressful for the body which is its own right may exacerbate acne. Stress itself can also cause insomnia. If you are unable to sleep a naturopath may be able to help. Herbal medicines and correcting nutrient deficiencies can make a huge difference to your sleep patterns.

So, what makes acne better?

In my practice I use many different types of treatment for acne. Everyone is different despite presenting with similar symptoms. Herbals medicines are great for acne and I use these almost every time. Nutritionally, I always consider zinc. Zinc is the most important skin mineral and if you are deficient in zinc it usually shows with poor skin health and poor immune system health. Fish oils are also important. They are anti-inflammatory and may help to create a better skin oil balance. Vitamin C is the most important skin vitamin which many people seem to over look. Vitamin C is important for increasing the production of collegen in the skin which may help reduce scar tissue.

It is important to look at all aspects of causes and triggers of acne. Treating one contributing factor alone will not give you great results. I also let my patients know that skin conditions can take many weeks to many months to clear up so don't expect over-night results. This can be a frustrating fact to accept, however, if you stick to the treatment and make positive changes to your diet and lifestyle you should see improvements.