Acne Naturopath Adelaide

Acne is a common skin condition that is typically associated with adolescence however, acne can affect individuals at any stage of life.

Beyond the visible impact on the skin, acne can deeply affect mental health, contributing to feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness, anxiety, and even depression. For many, the emotional toll can outweigh the physical symptoms, influencing self-esteem and quality of life.

There are several mainstream and topical treatments that may provide symptomatic relief but it is important to understand that treatments like the pill and rouaccutane do not address the deeper imbalance that caused the acne to develop and unfortunately, for many women, breakouts can return once these treatments are stopped.

Working with an acne naturopath will help you to uncover the real root cause of your skin challenges. Once the root cause is revealed, you can being your protocol to resolve these underlying imbalances.

While your primary goal may be to heal your skin, it is important to know that as you resolve the root cause of acne, you will notice positive health changes in other areas too. Many of the women I have worked with have noticed an increase in energy, better gut health, better resilience to stress, better sleep and even unintentional weight loss as they work towards clear skin.

Acne Naturopath Adelaide: Types of Acne and Their Causes

1. Comedonal Acne (Blackheads and Whiteheads)
This type of acne occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and debris. Blackheads form when the clogged pore remains open, oxidising the material inside, while whiteheads develop when the pore closes, trapping the material under the skin. Hormonal changes, excess oil production, and improper skincare routines often trigger this type.

2. Papules and Pustules
Papules are small, inflamed red bumps that don’t contain pus, whereas pustules are similar but filled with pus. Both are caused by bacteria like Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) thriving in clogged pores, leading to inflammation. Hormonal fluctuations and stress can exacerbate these breakouts.

3. Nodular Acne
Nodules are larger, deeper, and more painful than typical acne lesions. They occur when a pore becomes clogged and infected, spreading the inflammation deeper into the skin. This type of acne is often linked to genetics and significant hormonal changes, such as during puberty or menstrual cycles.

4. Cystic Acne
The most severe form of acne, cystic acne, presents as large, painful, pus-filled lesions under the skin. It’s often driven by hormonal imbalances, particularly an overproduction of androgens, which stimulate excess oil production. This type of acne can leave scars if not treated appropriately.

5. Hormonal Acne
Characterized by breakouts along the jawline, chin, and lower face, hormonal acne tends to flare up cyclically, often coinciding with the menstrual cycle or periods of heightened stress. Hormonal imbalances, such as those seen in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), are common contributors.

6. Fungal Acne (Malassezia Folliculitis)
Despite the name, fungal acne isn’t true acne. It occurs when an overgrowth of yeast (Malassezia) on the skin clogs hair follicles, leading to small, uniform, itchy bumps. Warm, humid environments and excessive sweating are common triggers.

7. Acne Mechanica
This type of acne develops due to friction, heat, and pressure on the skin. Wearing tight clothing, helmets, or masks for prolonged periods can irritate the skin and clog pores, causing breakouts.

8. Stress-Related Acne
Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that can stimulate oil production and lead to breakouts. Stress-induced acne often appears on the forehead, cheeks, and jawline.

9. Cosmetic Acne
Improper use of skincare or cosmetic products can clog pores and lead to breakouts. This type of acne, also called acne cosmetica, is typically mild and appears as small bumps.

10. Adult-Onset Acne
Unlike typical teenage acne, adult-onset acne occurs later in life, often linked to hormonal changes, stress, or underlying medical conditions.

The appearance of your acne, your current symptoms and your health history will help your naturopath to identify what type of acne you may be experiencing. If additional information is required your naturopath will be able to order functional tests to uncover potential hormone imbalances, gut issues and mineral deficiencies.

Acne Naturopath Adelaide: Areas of Focus

Depending on the type of acne you are experiencing and the root cause of the acne, your naturopath may support you in the following areas:

Hormone Health

Changes in hormones like estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, insulin, prolactin and testosterone can affect the appearance of the skin. Skin changes like acne, rosacea and melesma can all be linked to hormonal changes.

Hormonal imbalances may develop after a period of prolonged stress, during or after puberty, after using the oral contraceptive pill or they may develop “randomly” without a clear root cause.

Although some hormonal imbalances may appear to develop randomly, it is important to know that there is always a root cause or underlying driver and your naturopath will work with you to uncover what that driver is. Taking the time to uncover the root cause of hormone imbalance will help to prevent a relapse in symptoms later down the track.

Your acne naturopath will work with you to address your underlying hormone challenges so you can begin to notice improvements in your skin.

Gut Health

Gut health is almost always a driver when it comes to skin conditions and acne. Many women often assume that they must have severe gut symptoms to be experiencing gut health issues but the truth is, even mild symptoms like bloating, mild constipation, mild food intolerance and occasional reflux or indigestion can be a sign of a deeper issue.

Low stomach acid, leaky gut, dysbiosis and bacterial overgrowth are common triggers of skin issues like acne.

Optimal gut health is required for optimal nutrient digestion and absorption, optimal detoxification and optimal hormone health.

Your acne naturopath will work with you to ensure your gut health is optimal and not holding you back from achieving clear skin.

Detoxification & Reduced Exposure to Toxins

Our elimination pathways must be open and working optimally for our body to detox effectively. Our detox and elimination organs include the lungs, lymphatic system, bowels and digestive system, liver, kidneys and skin. If any of these detox pathways are impaired, the body will begin to rely more on the other pathways which can lead to a variety of symptoms including:

– Hormone imbalance
– Bacterial overgrowth in the digestive system
– Skin issues e.g. acne, eczema
– Bad breath or excessive body odour
– Fatigue & brain fog

Your acne naturopath will work with you to ensure all of your detoxification and elimination pathways are working optimally.

Nervous System Health

Stress can be a major trigger for acne. From gut health issues to hormone imbalance, stress can wreak havoc on our health.

Your acne naturopath will support you to regulate your nervous system, improve resilience to stress and rebalance any changes that may have developed due to acute or chronic stress.

Seek Support

Trying to heal acne without guidance and support can be overwhelming, ineffective and costly. When you choose to work with a naturopath to heal your acne you will receive a clear plan that targets the underlying cause of acne, improvements in several health markers (not just skin), access to high quality supplements, herbs, bio resonance support or any other proven and effective interventions that may be right for you.

While topical treatments can cause the appearance of acne to improve, it is important to address the true underlying cause to prevent your skin concerns from returning. Naturopathic treatment can complement topical treatments which will support you to get the best outcomes long term.

If you’re ready for healthy, glowing skin, here are 3 ways I can help:

1. Work with me! Book a consultation in person (Evandale, SA) or AUS + NZ wide online via Zoom

2. Listen to the Holistic Weight Loss Podcast

3. Connect with me on Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | LinkedIn | Facebook