The other day, I was looking for a high school picture of myself to show my kids but couldn’t find one since I was quite camera-shy back then. I had acne and typical teenage insecurities, which kept me from wanting my picture taken. I tried all sorts of natural acne remedies, like tea tree oil, food masks, and natural cleansers, but nothing seemed to work. It was partly hormonal, but there was something deeper involved that I couldn’t pinpoint at the time.
Dermatologists recommended treatments like Accutane, antibiotics, birth control pills, and strong facial cleansers. The only thing I tried was a prescription cleanser with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. It dried out my skin but didn’t stop the breakouts, so I ended up with both dry skin and acne. As a teenager, it was heartbreaking. I eventually gave up and thought I’d just have to live with scars and heavy makeup.
When I got pregnant, my acne improved somewhat, which got me thinking there was a hormonal link to my skin issues. So, I dived deep into research, turning to alternative remedies and looking into the gut and skin connection. I discovered that hormones played a role too. Slowly, I began to see improvements and kept track of what worked and what didn’t. Now, I’m acne and scar-free.
One big takeaway from this journey was understanding that acne isn’t just a skin issue to be solved overnight. External treatments are only part of the picture; there are many internal factors to consider. I was surprised to learn about the strong link between digestive issues, like Crohn’s Disease and IBS, and skin problems, as some skin medications also positively impact digestive conditions. There’s evidence that gut bacterial overgrowth can lead to severe skin conditions like acne.
Alongside these findings, I accidentally discovered certain foods and supplements that helped me tan without burning, effectively changing my skin tone. I found that people with leaky gut tend to have cystic acne and other skin issues too. When we followed the GAPS protocol to help my son with his gut and allergies, my skin also started healing.
While everyone’s situation will be different, focusing on gut health is crucial for tackling acne. It’s not a quick fix, but it’s long-lasting. For me, balancing hormones was also important, as they can fluctuate, especially for women. Cutting out sugary drinks and pasteurized dairy helped several friends improve their acne, which aligns with the gut connection, so it’s a good starting point if you still consume those.
By addressing my internal issues, I found that external treatments began to be effective and even accelerated the healing process. I believe they wouldn’t have worked without tackling the internal factors first, but when combined with gut health efforts, they were beneficial.
Science is only just beginning to explore the role of microbes in skin health. I think we’ll see more skin-biome related products soon. Just like the gut, our skin also has a microbiome. Some research suggests that probiotics and other substances supporting the skin microbiome can reduce inflammation and acne, and repair the skin barrier. There are even studies on probiotic and prebiotic cosmetics that can help repair the skin on a micro level.
Interestingly, my homemade makeup powder contains arrowroot, which acts as a prebiotic to enhance probiotics’ lifespan, possibly explaining why some users noticed it helped their acne. For a quick probiotic boost for the skin, I mix a tablespoon of organic yogurt with a probiotic capsule and apply it to my face for about 10 minutes before washing it off.
In the end, getting rid of my acne took a mix of these approaches. It wasn’t quick—it involved focusing on gut and hormone health before external remedies made a difference. This is a crucial aspect often overlooked with acne. The skin microbiome connection is still a developing field, but I’m sure we’ll gain more insights into how bacteria balance impacts skin health.
Have you ever dealt with acne? What treatments or remedies worked for you?
