The next installment to my Surviving the Teenage Years trilogy for Western Sydney Mum’s Hub is about dealing with acne.

The teenage years can be a trying time for parents, but often it is just as hard for the teenagers themselves. A common issue that many teenagers face is their skin health, with acne being such a problem for some that it significantly affects their self-esteem.

Acne affects:

• 36% of 4-7 year olds
• 28-61% of 10-12 year olds
• 79-95% of 16-18 year olds!
• 12% of middle aged women and 3% of middle aged men

Why do teenagers get acne?

The hormonal fluctuations can get a bit out of control during the teen years, and the levels of the hormones testosterone (present in both males and females) and insulin (related to diet, genetics and activity levels), nutritional status, immunity and genetic tendencies can make acne more prevalent.

As the hormone testosterone rises it causes an increase in oil production in the skin, and this oil feeds the bacteria that live in the pores. When the bacteria in the pores grow rampant they irritate the skin and pimples can become very red and sore.

You can help keep the testosterone more in control by eating foods rich in zinc, which is an essential mineral in testosterone metabolism. This mineral is also essential for skin healing, mood, immunity and general reproductive health. Zinc is high in oysters, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds wheatgerm, shellfish and fish, red meat, sesame seeds, pepitas, and almonds. Also important is keeping blood sugar levels stable by eating a low GI diet and exercising regularly.

If you are eating a lot of sugar, carbohydrates or refined foods then the hormone insulin becomes very high. This can then cause the testosterone to climb. It’s happening very frequently that teenagers are eating a lot more junk food, and this is making the problem worse.

Insulin resistance occurs when the body has been making a lot of insulin for a long time, and the cells begin to ignore it. As a result, you have a lot of insulin circulating around the body not doing what it’s meant to do, and it can cause other problems. High insulin causes high testosterone, which worsens acne in both boys and girls. In girls it can also contribute towards PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), a condition that affects ovulation. Acne is a common problem with PCOS, alongside hirsuitism (excess hair growth in unwanted areas).

In addition to that, there’s less exercise and activity happening, and that worsens the problem as well. Exercise is one of the best ways to manage insulin resistance. 150 minutes of exercise a week can be very helpful for this.

• See Part 1 of navigating the teenage years for tips of a low GI diet which can help insulin resistance.

Minimising Acne

Diet

Healthy diet is the foundation for good skin.

DO:

• Eat a variety of fresh vegetables including green leafy foliage. Green, yellow, red and blue fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidant compounds.
• Fresh fruit – aim to consume at least three pieces every day. Raspberries, blueberries and strawberries are rich in antioxidants and protect your skin from free-radicals.
• High fibre foods such as whole grains and legumes are important and assist with eliminating any toxins as well as improving your digestion.
• Include good quality protein rich foods such as lean meat, fish, chicken, dairy and eggs, or if vegetarian beans, lentils, chickpeas and wholegrains. Protein is important as it contributes to your skin’s elasticity and firmness.
• Good fats are known as ‘moisturising foods’. Sources include avocado, nuts and seeds, fish, olive oil and flaxseed oil.
• Eat regularly – three meals per day with healthy snacks in between. Your food is your fuel, choose foods wisely and eat them in sensible amounts, your body and skin will look great.

DON’T

• Eat too much dairy. Many people find that eliminating dairy from their diet can reduce the severity of their acne. For some, choosing to include cheese and yoghurt may be tolerated, however it’s advisable to trial avoiding dairy completely first.
• Eat foods that you are intolerant to. Many people find that eliminating foods they are intolerant to can help with acne, likely because food intolerances worsen digestive health and subsequently inflammation and immune system can be affected.
• Eat processed food, which often contains hidden sugars and inflammatory oils.
• Eat too much sugar and sugar containing foods. Too much sugar can affect blood sugar level balance, and can also disrupt the balance of bacteria in the digestive system.

Topical Options

• Tea tree oil has antiseptic and antifungal properties and is a great skin disinfectant therefore limiting bacterial growth on the skin. To use, mix the oil (5-15% solution) in warm water and wash the affected areas. Make sure to thoroughly clean and dry the face washer between each use so that bacteria do not build up between washes. Alternatively, the face can be ‘splashed’ with the tea tree infused water straight from the bathroom sink. For best results, wash the affected areas 2-3 times daily.
• Witch Hazel water can be used as a toner daily, and this help tighten pores and reduce bacteria build up. This can be a bit smelly so is best applied before going to bed.
• Lavender essential oil can be dabbed directly onto spots. You can also try this with tea tree oil, but it can be a bit strong for some people, so you may need to dilute it.
• Some people find betonite clay masks effective. This needs to be applied daily for two weeks, then once or twice a week for 3 months afterwards.  Due to the drawing nature of this, you may find that your skin will be red after washing off the mask, and acne may temporarily worsen in the first week before it improves.

Herbs and Supplements

• If the above suggestions don’t work, then you could see a practitioner who can guide you with herbal medicine and nutritional supplements.
• The most commonly prescribed herbs I use are Burdock, a cleansing herb which helps to clear the cystic type of acne, Echinacea for the immune system and to stimulate the lymphatics, and Phelledendron for it’s antimicrobial effect.
• I often will recommend Vitamin A, Omega 3 fatty acids and Zinc as nutritional supplements for their benefit to the skin healing and immune system.

Consult your health practitioner if you would like further advice on managing acne.

The post Surviving the Teenage Years, Acne – Part 2 appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Health & Wellbeing Podcast #19 with guest Hayley Stockbridge

Acne can be very troubling, affecting your self confidence and at times rather painful. It’s synonymous with the teenage years and often with PMS as well, but it doesn’t have to be. There is so much that can be done to help your skin if you are experiencing acne, including nutritional medicine, diet support and herbal medicine.

A lot of people believe that the only solutions for acne are medications such as the oral contraceptive pill, roaccutane or antibiotics, but all of these have their potential side effects and certainly aren’t for everyone. If you’re looking for a different solution to your skin complaints, naturopathy may be your answer.

In this episode Hayley and I chat about a naturopathic approach to acne, the underlying causes of acne, how to improve your skin with your diet, and more.

Hayley practices at Manly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and in Stanmore in Sydney’s Inner West. Her major focus is always educating her patients to live healthier and happier lives. She treats women, men and children of all ages and a wide variety of health issues such as weight loss, digestive problems, anxiety/stress, fertility, hormone imbalances, food intolerances and headaches.

You can also connect with Hayley on Facebook and Instagram.

Want to subscribe to get podcasts automatically? You can do that here: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/health-wellbeing-podcast/id1006574743

Podcast Breakdown:

0:00 Intro and disclaimer
0:40 Meet Hayley
1:24 What’s going on in someone who has acne?
2:40 Why do some people get acne and some don’t?
3:52 Hormonal acne
6:43 Adult onset acne
7:34 The meaning behind the location of acne
8:55 Keratosis pilaris
9:20 Foods that can cause acne
13:20 Conventional treatments for acne and some issues with them
16:40 Naturopathic treatment for acne when coming off the pill
18:25 Topical treatment that Hayley recommends for acne.
MooGoo Acne Cleansing Cream – https://moogoo.com.au/acne-cleansing-…
19:35 Essential oils for acne
20:30 Clay masks
21:00 Moisturisers and oils
22:40 Scar treatment
22:55 Nutrients for acne
25:26 Herbs for acne
28:45 The benefit of a wholefood, plant heavy diet for acne
29:30 Anti-inflammatory foods for acne
30:33 How to get in contact with Hayley and Alison

The post A Naturopathic Approach to Acne appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Guest Post by Hayley Stockbridge

Acne vulgaris is a disease that affects the skin’s oil glands. The small holes in your skin (pores) connect to oil glands under the skin. These glands make an oily substance called sebum. The pores connect to the glands by a canal called a follicle. Inside the follicles, oil carries dead skin cells to the surface of the skin. A thin hair also grows through the follicle and out to the skin. When the follicle of a skin gland clogs up, a pimple grows.

Pimple prone skin and breakouts can be hard to control and often limited relief is seen with topical treatments alone. Unfortunately medical treatments are also limited and not ideal long term strategies. The oral contraceptive pill is often prescribed to women with hormonal acne which can have many long term side effects such as increased risk of some cancers, clotting disorders and hormonal problems once the pill is stopped. Daily antibiotics are another common medical treatment which can have huge ramifications on long term microbial balance and gut health. The last resort is roaccutane, a drug that has been linked to depression and causes a huge drying effect on the skin to the point of having flaky and dry lips, eyes and hands.

The key to successfully controlling acne is to determine what is causing it in the first. For some this can be obvious (such as a poor diet or hormonal acne) while for others there may be a combination of contributing factors. The following list documents some of the most common causes of acne from a Naturopathic perspective:

1.  Acne on the chin and jaw line is often hormonally driven; particularly in females however can be present in these areas in males as well. Acne that gets worse premenstrually or at ovulation will also have a hormonal influence.

2.  Acne on the chest and back is thought to be due to generalized toxicity. This is often seen with a poor diet. This may include a diet high in sugars, processed foods or junk foods. This type of acne can be addressed by undertaking a simple detoxification program to clean out the body and lymphatic system.

3.  If present on the cheeks, this is often due to a sluggish digestive system or colon toxicity. These patients often have a history of digestive issues and may suffer from constipation, gas or bloating. This acne can be reduced by improving digestive function, regulating the bowels and following a high fibre diet.

4.  High sugar diet or high glycaemic index diet can cause acne by increasing circulation levels of insulin. This then causes an imbalance in androgen levels, which triggers an increase in sebum production under the skin. The best way of dealing with acne is balancing blood sugar levels and reducing circulating insulin. This is particularly prevalent in women with PCOS. A low sugar diet has been well researched to improve acne and is one of the best ways to control breakouts in the long term.

5.  A high dairy diet has also been linked to acne. Dairy products are acidic and inflammatory and many of my patients have been able to control their breakouts by reducing dairy intake.

6.  An infection with the bacteria Propionibacterium on the skin will also make any current acne or breakouts worse. This can be controlled by improving the immune response using either nutritional or herbal medicines. Topical application of tea tree oil diluted with some warm water also helps to keep this bacteria at bay. Start by applying each night before bed and after washing your face.

7.  A Zinc deficiency can lead to poor skin health and acne. Zinc is essential for skin healing as well as immune regulation. Supplementing with zinc helps to ensure scarring does not take place as the skin improves.

8.  A Vitamin A deficiency can also contribute to acne. Vitamin A supplementation helps to reduce sebum production under the skin and therefore goes a long way to improve skin health.

9.  Poor liver function can contribute as our liver is our major detoxification organ responsible for flushing toxins out of the body. If your liver is sluggish, toxins and waste products are not effectively cleared from the body and need to escape somewhere- this is often through the skin. A healthy liver makes a huge difference for health skin.

Hayley Stockbridge, Naturopath

B. App. Sc (Nat Stud) Post Grad Dip Nat

Hayley is a Naturopath at Better Health Practice in Stanmore, and Sydney Health and Fertility, Manly NSW. A passion for a healthy lifestyle lead her to become a Naturopath. With over 6 years of experience in the industry, a passion for a healthy lifestyle lead her to become a Naturopath.  Her major focus is always educating her patients to live healthier and happier lives. She treats women, men and children of all ages and a wide variety of health issues such as weight loss, digestive problems, anxiety/stress, food intolerances and headaches.

Check out her website for more information www.hayleystockbridge.com.au

Related Posts:

A Naturopathic Approach to Acne – Podcast
Surviving the Teenage Years, Acne
Busting the PCOS Myths

The post What’s causing your acne? appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

When we consider the adage “more than skin deep” we think of the truism that beauty is more than what we can see on the outside.  As a naturopath, I apply this philosophy to the treatment of skin conditions as naturopaths consider the skin to be a representation of not just the body’s external, but also internal milieu.

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, with a total surface area approximately 2m² and a total weight of 4.5-5kg.  The skin isn’t just a simple plastic bag that keeps out insides in and the outsides out – it is a sophisticated, semi-permeable barrier that is involved in many functions critical for good health, such as fluid regulation, detoxification and Vitamin D synthesis.

Dysfunction of the skin can occur in conditions such as acne vulgaris, eczema/dermatitis, psoriasis and acne rosacea.

There are many factors which influence the health of the skin.  I am going to discuss two of the most important ones:

Immune health – Allergies, Auto-Immunity and Infections

• Eczema/dermatitis is an allergic condition where the body reacts to an allergen (this can be a contact allergen or an internal allergen) and creates an inflammatory response in the skin.
• Psoriasis is considered to be an auto-immune conditions, where the body attacks the keratinocytes causing inflammation, as well as an unmediated over proliferation of keratinocytes.
• Infections are a common factor in most skin conditions.  Eczema is often associated with a Staphylococcus aureas infection, and we know that this bug creates inflammation and immune activation in the skin.
• Acne vulgaris is caused when the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes feeds from the excess sebum that is produced, thrives, and then causes inflammation in the pore.
• Acne rosacea is associated with an infestation of the mite Demodex folliculorum.  This causes inflammation of the follicles when it gets out of check.  Although a little disturbing to note, this mite is on everyone.  It is when our immune system is low and does not control them that problems arise.
• Conditions such as the cold sore virus and fungal infections have a direct connection with our immune system.  These conditions are obvious infections, and therefore our immune system needs to be strong and fit to keep these at bay.

Digestive Health – Bowel regularity, Microflora and “Leaky Gut”

• There is a strong connection between digestive conditions and skin conditions.  In a 2004 study analysing the correlation between skin and digestive health it was found that 14% of patients with ulcerative colitis, 24% of patients with crohns disease and 25% of patients with coeliac disease had a skin condition.
• The balance of bacteria in the digestive system, if disturbed can cause a large array of problems.  The good bacteria control our immune system, certain vitamin and enzyme synthesis and are important for regulating inflammation.  The gut microflora are disturbed by medications such as the pill, anti-biotics, by poor diet, alcohol or in conditions such as constipation.  An imbalance in the microflora can worsen or cause many skin conditions such as eczema and acne rosacea.
• Acne rosacea has a strong connection to infections of the small intestine.  A common cause of this is an overgrowth of Helicobactor pylori which stimulates inflammation and dilation of the blood vessels in the face.  This bug is famous for causing reflux, but it can also cause acne rosacea.  A 2002 study showed that eliminating H. pylori infections improved 51 out of 53 patients with rosacea.  The good news is that there are fantastic herbs and essential oils that kill this bug.
• According the Bernard Jensen, a famous iridologist and nutritionist: “When the bowel is underative, toxic wastes are more likely to be absorbed through the bowel wall and into the blood stream.  The blood then circulates these toxins to every part of the body and deposits some of them in tissues, with the greatest amount retained in the constitutionall weakest tissues.”  This is known as a condition called “leaky gut” and can be understood to mean that a slow, sluggish bowel can cause issues in other parts of the body because chemicals that were meant to be excreted have been re-assimilated into the body.  This phenomenen is also known as auto-intoxication.  Leaky gut occurs when the membranes in the bowel become inflammed and porous, usually due to long term constipation, food allergies or microbial imbalances.  You can be tested for leaky gut with a urine test, however this can often by picked up with iridology.

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