Even though acne is on your skin, it's an internal issue. While topical treatments and the proper skincare regime are super helpful, you've got to go within to fix your acne.
Acne is caused by hormone imbalances and inflammation. These two things go hand in hand, and you really need to address both to begin to heal your skin.
Inflammation in your body will most likely come from your gut and your liver, so addressing these areas will help to quench that fire.
You may have heard about the connection between acne and hormones, but it's not just a one-size-fits-all deal. There are a number of hormonal imbalances that can trigger acne, and I've created this post to help you figure out the hormones and factors that might be causing your skin issues. It makes treating your skin much easier, because you know what type you are.
Once you figure out what's driving your acne, it's so much easier to move forward with the correct treatment for you. This will save you time, money and your sanity. Because ladies, I know what it's like to try every single thing in the book (and on the internet) to fix my skin, only to have nothing work. It can be heartbreaking and really affect your self-esteem. I don't want this for you, so please, make it easier on yourself and let me help you.
YOUR ACNE TYPE:
High Androgen Acne
This is often associated with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). PCOS is a condition that is diagnosed from a combination of:
- High androgens on a blood test
- Clinical signs of high androgens (such as acne)
- Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound (they're not really 'cysts', but more than the normal amount of developing follicles, which are immature eggs).
There are many forms of PCOS, and therefore many drivers. I'll talk about that in a blog post soon.
PCOS women will have high androgen symptoms such as:
- Acne on the face, chest and back
- Oily skin
- Increased hair growth on the face and belly
- Irregular or long menstrual cycles (generally over 35 days)
- Amenorrhoea, which is the absence of your period
- Light, infrequent periods or sometimes heavy bleeding
Elevated androgens can often mean you might have PCOS, but the other time I see them is when women come off the pill. This can cause your androgen levels to surge for a while, as your body learns how to make it's own hormones again. Sometimes women can be wrongly diagnosed with PCOS at this time, so if you've just come off the pill and your skin has gone crazy, this can be due to post-pill acne syndrome.
Read more about androgens and acne here.
High Oestrogen Acne
Symptoms include:
- Acne around ovulation and just before/at the start of your period (oestrogen is highest at these times). You might notice a pattern of breaking out every fortnight, or it might just be all the time if oestrogen levels are super banked up.
- Breast tenderness in the two weeks leading up to your period
- Fluid retention before your period
- Heavy periods
- Period pain
- Shorter menstrual cycles of 25 days or less
- PMS
- Endometriosis
- Fibroids
- Menopausal acne (yes, you oestrogen levels can actually go up an down in this time, especially if you're not clearing them properly).
Read more about oestrogens and acne here.
Combination Androgen/Oestrogen Acne
Symptoms include:
- PCOS symptoms (including acne) alongside heavy and/or painful periods
- Anovulatory cycles (meaning a cycle where you don't ovulate).
- High oestrogen symptoms such as PMS, breast tenderness and fluid retention.
Gut Interrupted Acne
This type of acne can be linked to gut inflammation. There are many different causes of gut inflammation, so it's important to rule out the underling triggers and get treatment for them.
Symptoms alongside acne include:
- Flare-ups after a particular food (sometimes nuts, eggs or spicy foods can trigger a breakout). These flare-ups can be breakouts but also eczema, headaches, brain fog, asthma and low energy.
- Gut symptoms such as bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, cramping, excess wind and indigestion
- SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth)
- Candida overgrowth
- Gastrointestinal parasites
- Leaky gut and dysbiosis
Know Your Type
The types of acne will overlap to a certain extent because nothing exists in isolation in the body and hormones and gut health are connected. However, your acne will be dominated by one or two of these types so it’s an important starting point. Can you relate your acne picture to one of the types mentioned?
Once you figure out what your acne type is, it's time to come up with the right treatment plan.
If you're confused and need help you can get a free skin consultation with me via Skype or in my Northcote clinic. It's 20 minutes and you can see if working with a Naturopath is something you'd be interested in.
If you're looking to clear your skin once and for all, I really recommend treating from within- and it can be done! xx
Comments