What is Acne, and what are its causes?
Acne is an undesired and unpleasant condition that occurs in the form of pimples, cysts, and blackheads on the skin. Acne affects 50-80% of young adults and teenagers. It happens due to a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit (hair follicle and linked oil glands). Crucial factors contributing to acne are increased sebum, increased levels of Cutibacterium acnes, inflammation, and increased growth of material in the hair follicle. Clinically, acne is divided into three categories: inflammatory acne (red bumps), comedonal acne (blackheads and whiteheads), and nodular (painful, large cysts).
Hormones send messages to oil glands in the skin to increase their sebum production. A seal of keratin and sebum forms and blocks the hair follicle’s opening, creating black and whiteheads. The high proportion of sebum supports increased levels of P. acnes. This leads to increased blockage of the hair follicle opening and heightened inflammation. This leads to the bursting of the hair follicle, causing painful, large nodules. Insulin also plays a pivotal role in the formation of acne. Insulin and growth factors similar to insulin play their role by directly increasing the oil gland’s activity and indirectly raising the levels of other hormones that trigger the oil glands, including androgens and insulin-like growth factors.
Several factors must be considered when choosing the most effective and safe treatment plan: your acne’s severity, type, what has been used in the past, and any scars, and a dermatologist must assess the psychological impacts. For girls and women, we also collect information about their menstrual cycle (history, duration, regularity, and quantity of blood), and signs of hormonal abnormalities (insulin resistance, excessive facial hair) are also important.
Integrative Treatment of Acne by Nature of Skin Dermatology
Acne isn’t just a skin concern; it reflects our body’s internal dialogues intricately connected to our overall health and well-being. At Nature of Skin Dermatology, we firmly believe that the journey to clear skin is more than a topical adventure. It requires a comprehensive understanding that merges the latest dermatological science with holistic insights.
Delving deeper than surface blemishes, integrative treatment addresses the root causes of acne, considering factors such as hormonal imbalances, dietary habits, stress levels, and gut health. Through this multifaceted approach, we aim to alleviate the visible symptoms and fortify the skin’s natural resilience and balance. We use integrative treatment for acne, as this modern science approach harmoniously blends with ancient wisdom to create a robust, tailored strategy for combating acne.
Whether you’re a teenager grappling with the onset of acne or an adult mystified by its sudden appearance, our integrative approach provides a holistic pathway to clearer, healthier skin. Our holistic dermatology clinic uses the following integrative approaches to treat acne.
Skin Care
Sticking to gentle skin care practices is the primary step to treating acne. You must gently rinse the skin with warm water once or twice daily. You should use cleaners that are appropriate for your skin type (oily, combination, sensitive, dry, or normal) and avoid all washcloths and other harsh materials. Detergent-based toners, soaps, and astringents irritate and dry the skin.
Although they remove sebum and oil from the skin’s surface, they don’t change sebum production inside the oil glands. Eventually, overlying dry skin sends a message to the pilosebaceous units to produce more oil to protect the skin adequately. Moisturizers can be helpful for acne, but it’s vital to ensure any cosmetics or moisturizers are labeled non comedogenic and specific to your individual skin type.
The urge to pick and squeeze pimples is common and can be hard to overcome. These practices can result in quick gratification and slow the disappearance of particular acne lesions. They also cause tissue injury, leading to potential scarring, infection, and more inflammation that’s hard and almost impossible to reverse.
Nutrition
Healthy dietary choices are crucial for overall health and well-being. Mediterranean or anti-inflammatory-style dietary treatments have been found effective in increasing several health aspects, particularly for inflammatory diseases. Skin inflammation can improve when dietary changes align with the foods that stop inflammation. In clinical trials, low glycemic load / low glycemic index diets have been proven to improve acne.
Limiting or avoiding all forms of dairy can be helpful. Dairy intake has been associated with increased severity and risks of acne. This is because of stimulating high levels of growth factors that are more insulin-like. Limiting the food intake high in additional hormones like dairy and meat may also be helpful as these foods may change your hormonal balance and may cause over-stimulation of oil glands.
We also recommend adding vegetables to your diet as a treatment for acne. As plants are loaded with partially digestible or indigestible prebiotics by humans, the microbiome in our guts can metabolize them. Plants help in feeding the gut microbiome and help in keeping it healthy. A plant-based diet has several mechanisms for improving acne: normalizing insulin sensitivity and blood sugar, modulation of hormones, and anti-inflammatory perks.
Supplements
We suggest supplements based on their accuracy of labeling, legitimacy of claims, and presence of adulterants featured by the manufacturer. These are some of the supplements and dietary changes we recommend in an integrative treatment for acne:
Omega-3 fatty acids: they have been shown to reduce the production of hormones and inflammatory compounds that play an important role in acne. Moreover, groups of people who consume a high proportion of omega-3 fatty acids have less acne than those with a deficiency of this nutrient. We recommend adding foods like walnuts, flaxseeds, and fatty fish (sardines, mackerel, and salmon) to add to a person’s diet.
Vitamins and minerals: we may add vitamins like zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin E sources in a patient’s diet to treat acne. Foods rich in vitamins like oysters, poultry, pork, beef, nuts, beans, eggs, fish oils, cod liver oil, liver, whole grains, wheat germ, fortified cereals, leafy greens, and other oils may be helpful for patients with acne.
Probiotic and other supplements: we may recommend specific probiotics and vitamins, among others, to supplement a person’s daily diet to help treat acne.
Topical Botanicals
There are many topical botanicals that can be helpful for treating acne holistically. These are two topical Botanicals we sometimes recommend to treat acne:
- Green Tea: some compounds in green tea carry anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. They also decrease sebum production. We sometimes recommend topical green tea creams and gels to treat acne.
- Tea Tree Oil: is extracted from the Australian tea tree. It has amazing antimicrobial effects against C. acnes and best serves mild to moderate acne. We sometimes recommend using a diluted product with Tea Tree oil that is specifically formulated for use on acne-prone skin.
Mind-body therapy
We understand that acne carries significant social and emotional burdens. Many patients talk to us about lower self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. Depression and stress can cause acne flares. We sometimes recommend mind-body therapy for our patients. If needed, we will refer to a cognitive behavioral therapist, which can be very helpful for managing anxiety and depression.
Experience the difference at Nature of Skin Dermatology
Beyond just healing, our mission is to empower you with skin that radiates confidence and health. If you’ve been on a relentless quest for clear skin and yearn for a comprehensive approach that respects the interconnectedness of your body’s systems, our services are tailored for you. Embrace a future where your skin’s clarity is a testament to its inner health and vitality. Don’t let acne define you. Choose Nature of Skin Dermatology’s Integrative Acne Treatment today, and embark on a transformative journey towards the skin you’ve always dreamed of.
Revolutionize Your Skin’s Story by Diving into a World Where Integrative Dermatology Meets Skin Wellness, and Say Goodbye to Acne from the inside out!
Book Now
Disclaimer: The information provided on the site is for educational purposes only, and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.
