Hormonal Acne

There is a strong link between stress and the body’s adaptation to hormone production due to stress. Stress triggers a cascade of hormonal changes in the body, primarily through the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which leads to the release of stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. These hormones are crucial for the “fight-or-flight” response. Prolonged stress creates …

Acne testing plays a crucial role in diagnosing the specific causes of acne because the causes can vary significantly from one person to another. By identifying the underlying factors, such as hormonal imbalances, bacterial overgrowth, inflammation, gut dysbiosis, or compromised detoxification, acne treatment plans can be individually tailored so as to address these root causes rather than just their symptoms. …

There is much discussion about how certain dietary interventions affect hormonal acne. Hormonal acne is primarily influenced by fluctuations in hormones, including testosterone, androgens, estrogen, and progesterone. These hormones play a role in increasing oil production in the skin, leading to inflammation and acne. High-glycemic foods and dairy products can spike insulin and other hormones that may exacerbate acne. While …

When it comes to skin health the number one principle is balance… balanced skin pH… balanced sebum production… balanced hormones… balanced skin microbiome. But one area that is often overlooked is a balanced skincare routine. We often find our acne patients using a boxful of skincare products as they try desperately to fix their acne. And this isn’t surprising because …

Hormonal acne (acne vulgaris) is influenced by hormonal fluctuations in the body. This can occur in women and men during puberty, and women during the menstruation years, pregnancy and menopause. The primary cause of hormonal acne is androgen hormones such as testosterone, which stimulate the sebaceous glands in the skin to produce excess sebum. This leads to inflammation and breakouts. …

You may have heard the saying “The best things in life are free” and this is more than true when it comes to taking a daily walk. The benefits of walking are immeasurable, and we think it must be close to the best form of self-care there is. Walking reduces stress hormones, strengthens the immune system, boosts serotonin levels to …

Isotretinoin, aka Accutane and Roaccutane, is a vitamin A medication and a favoured acne treatment of dermatologists. But it is a strong hormonal acne medication with many possible side effects and its acne-clearing effects are often not permanent. Because of this we have found that many hormonal acne sufferers now want something less toxic, with fewer side effects (headaches, depression, …

The birth control pill is the go-to acne treatment favoured by doctors, especially GPs, primary care physicians, and dermatologists. And without a doubt, it is effective at eliminating all types of pimples from whiteheads to inflamed cystic acne. But there is a catch. Once you stop, your acne usually returns, often worse than it was before. But it’s probably because …

Hormonal imbalances can impact you physically in many different ways. These include acne, PMS, period problems, peri-menopause symptoms, fatigue, anxiety, and weight gain. Mentally, hormone imbalances can affect mood and overall well-being. Imbalances in cortisol levels (stress hormone) can lead to anxiety, depression, and difficulty coping with stress management. Hormonal imbalances relating to estrogen and progesterone can cause mood changes …

While we know that hormones play a big part in the development of acne for some, for others, even working on their hormonal imbalances has no impact on their skin. From a naturopathic perspective, it’s important to look at our bodies, lifestyle and diet as a whole. Treating things holistically means taking everything into account rather than treating each symptom …