Healing Acne Naturally: it goes deeper than the skin.
Acne is more than just a skin condition—it’s often a reflection of what’s happening inside your body. The naturopathic perspective focuses on addressing the root causes of acne rather than just treating the symptoms. Here are some holistic approaches to help you achieve clear, radiant skin naturally:
1. Balance Your Gut Health
Your gut and skin are deeply connected. An imbalance in gut bacteria or inflammation in the digestive tract can contribute to breakouts. There are numerous reasons why inflammation or gut bacteria imbalances might be occurring in your digestive tract, so identifying your specific root cause will help you craft a plan to support sustainable wellness and clear skin. You can support your gut health today by eating bitter foods (such as arugula, mustard greens, or other bitter greens) prior to meals to send a signal to you digestive physiology to prepare for food. This helps optimize digestive acids, keeping gut bacteria in check.
2. Support Your Liver
Your liver plays a key role in metabolizing hormones and other toxins that may contribute to acne. Liver-supportive foods like leafy greens, beets, and dandelion root tea help the liver keep hormones in-check by supporting everyday detox. Common symptoms that your liver needs some love is waking regularly between 1-3 a.m., deep, painful or cystic acne along the jawline or chin, and noticing more anger/irritability, especially premenstrually.
3. Regulate Hormones Naturally
Hormonal imbalances are a common trigger for acne, especially if you’re noticing more acne flares prior to ovulation or leading up to your period. If you’re finding that acne is hormonally-driven, refer back to #1 and #2 listed above! These two strategies will naturally support balanced hormones. For men, acne can be triggered by imbalances in testosterone metabolism, which is easily supported & corrected through herbal and lifestyle strategies, such as nervous system support, optimizing sleep, increasing fiber, and strategic exercise.
4. Switch to Clean Skincare
Conventional skincare products often contain harsh chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin. Look for phthalate and fragrance-free products that leverage the healing power of nature and nutrients to build the skin’s lipid barrier. When the skin has what it needs to be resilient, it’s less likely to feel perpetually inflamed or irritated.
5. Cultivate resilience & Nervous system balance
Stress is an ever-present fact of today’s life, but can be a significant trigger for acne by way of impacting nearly every system of the body. Chronic, persistent stress impacts digestive function activating the sympathetic nervous system (fight, flight, freeze, fawn), which down-regulates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest & digest). When this occurs, the body produces less stomach acid (since it’s not focused on resting & digesting!), which can lead to gut bacteria imbalances, improper digestion & elimination, and more. Stress can also be a trigger for hormonal imbalances, resulting in a host of hormonal symptoms such as PMS, painful periods, hair loss, and more, in addition to acne.
Finding a stress-management system that works for you is key to keeping this in check. Common strategies include meditation (my favorite FREE app for this is Insight Timer), practicing say “no” to things that aren’t necessary or fun, and alternate nostril breathing, a tool I teach all my clients. Herbal remedies can also be very supportive for stress-management by supporting relaxation and building adrenal health resilience.
Healing acne naturally can take patience and a personalized approach. If you’re looking for tailored guidance, I’m here to help you uncover the root causes and create a holistic plan that works for your unique needs.