Acne is a common skin condition that can affect anyone regardless of gender or age. While there are many factors that can contribute to the development of acne, hormones tend to play a major role in this process. But hormonal influences are certainly not the only cause, there are a variety of factors, like stress, certain medications, genetics, diet, lifestyle, medical conditions, and comedogenic (pore blocking) ingredients. Acne has also been linked to trans epidermal water loss (TEWL), lack of water in the skin, this lack of water can prevent our skins from preforming the natural desquamation (exfoliating) process our skin undertakes, this is called retention hyperkeratosis, and can further aggravate the condition. so, so many triggers! So, as you can imagine the very first thing your therapist needs to do is identify what your trigger is in relation to acne.
To understand acne, it is first important to understand the life cycle of acne this is so we can effectively treat it. Acne develops when areas of the skin that are rich in lipids, (Oil), sebum and dead skin cells accumulate and clog pores, this builds up results in Cutibacterium Acne or AKA C.Acne, growing in abundance and when left unchecked, this formation triggers a cascade of inflammation, redness, blockages and breakouts. Another increase that happens and more so during adolescence is a hormone called Insuline-like Growth factor AKA (IGF). IGF also causes an increase in both sebum and the number of skin cells that are produced. This provides the perfect environment for congestion, breakouts and increases the number of bacteria on the skin.
And if you think that isn’t enough, your skin can go one more and form a biofilm around the C. Acne bacteria, and this film is designed to protect the c. acne via a thick and sticky film that is needed to be broken down first to effectively treat the c acne bacteria. no wonder acne is not a quick fix hey!
The life cycle of acne include: comedones, papules, pustules, and nodules/cysts. Each stage requires different treatment methods in order to reduce inflammation and prevent scarring. This is why we say please do not try and pick or squeeze your pimples as you can do more harm than good! And is what your skin therapist is for to help guide you to better manage your skin health, reduce lesion time and prevent long-term damage.
Hormonal fluctuations can occur in many different stages of our life from adolescence to pregnancy, menopause and different medical conditions. By understanding the hormonal triggers of acne, we can address it quicker and find ways to better manage it when it does occur.
Hormones are chemical messengers that travel throughout the body and influence various bodily functions. When it comes to acne, certain hormones can trigger an increase in sebum production which leads to clogged pores and breakouts. These hormones include testosterone, progesterone, cortisol and estrogen. Each hormone has its own unique effects on the body which can lead to different types of acne such as cystic or nodular acne.
By understanding how these hormones influence our skin health, and by really delving into your skin and life via our comprehensive consultation, we leave no stone unturned in the investigation to finding out what your acne triggers are.
This is also why I have the help of our beautiful naturopath, Kiarra, as she can really take the necessary steps in further testing via hormonal testing, GIT microbiome mapping, Vit D, Iron Studies, Thyroid function and this ties in the gut health relationship and the formation of acne, as well as many other ailments to really pinpoint all the contributing factors to your skins concerns, and this in turn helps us form the correct steps towards preventing further breakouts from occurring.
Diet and Lifestyle Can also play a major role in the formation of acne lesions, diets rich in dairy, stimulants like energy drinks/coffee, sugar and highly processed foods can all trigger the inflammatory pathway and affect the quality and amount of the lipids (oil) produced within our skins, our skin actually needs lipids (oil). We have lipid bilayer within our skin that is needed to protect our skins barrier, it is rich in cholesterol, fatty acids, ceramides, the thing is we just need a thin good quality lipid, not a thick oil that can clog up our pores and create havoc.
Lifestyles that are highly stressed or high intense like athletes can all trigger higher amounts of cortisol, and stress within our bodies and this too can create a perfect trigger for acne as well as other conditions. Not that I’m saying exercise is a no go for acne not at all, exercise is so important for our health. it just needs to be managed a little differently as in our approach to reducing the cortisol levels.
Acne needs a multifaceted approach when tackling it, and fueling our skin cells with the correct nutrients is a great way to start as it not only beneficial to our cells via lipids, but the overall health of our skin cells will benefit so it is paramount to ensure we are delivering the best fuel to create the healthiest cell version of itself.
Another misconception regarding acne is the belief that we must aggressively peel, scrub, void the skin of oils and hydration in order to reduce the acne lesions or oil flow. This is absolutely not the way to effectively treat the skin, yes it may respond but more often than not you will find its very short lived in the way of a rebound effect, and leaving your skin dehydrated, stripped and open to barrier dysbiosis, dull and just not happy at all. It’s kind of like a band aid effect. When we disrupt our barrier, our microbiome can become unbalanced, and a yeast and fungi can flourish on our skin. This can create an acne that is fungal which requires a different treatment again.
So, in summery we can see when treating acne, we need to first find the trigger then we can start to find the appropriate ways to treat the skin effectively via calming the skin, getting the correct lipid flow and good quality lipids working within the skin. And above all treating it with respect both internally and externally.
So, if you are serious about your skin and sick and tired of getting a short-lived result with your skin, I would love to help you on your journey a holistic one that is in harmony with your skin and nurtures you skin barrier its PH and its lipid and cell health.
It will not be an overnight fix but my promise to you is a journey that will have your skin happy and healthy and sustainable with both internal and external supporting ingrediency and treatments. Because our skin is a two-sided organ and needs to be treated as such.
Just a few products that can help start me on my journey.
Roccoco Botanicals
Clean Clear Confident Teen Line Kit.
A fuss-free botanical solution for managing problematic teenage skin naturally.
Our Clean, Clear, Confident 3-Step anti-blemish system is explicitly designed for the needs of teenage skin.
Combining active botanicals such as Yeast ferment extract to clear away the acne biofilm and Bakuchiol and Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract to help unclog pores.
Magnolia extract inhibits the acne biofilm from reproducing. It also prevents mild acne from progressing to moderate, severe and cystic acne conditions.
Agapanthus africanus extract inhibits enzymes in the skin that cause inflammation in acneic skins, reducing pain & inflammation and increasing calm within the skin.
Our Clean, Clear Confident 3-step anti-blemish teen line calms the skin and aids in the reduction of inflammation for healthier and smoother glowing skin.
Eruption Emulsion
An anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial moisturising cream designed to alleviate inflammation caused by breakouts while supporting ceramide production to maintain skin resilience.
Eruption Emulsion is a blend of antimicrobial and herbal ingredients to assist in the reduction of impurities and aid healing while strengthening the skin’s immunity, leaving the skin feeling calm and hydrated.
Mandelic + Fusion
Our Mandelic + Fusion is a calming serum formulation and a potent anti-inflammatory AHA serum designed to soothe and smooth the skin’s texture. Gently reduce the appearance of impurities and release congestion while controlling the bacterial infection.
Mandelic acid is a gentle alpha hydroxy acid derived from bitter almonds to gently exfoliate the skin while breaking down acne biofilm, eliminating acne bacteria, and restoring skin health.
The natural vitamin A alternative, Bakachiol, improves cell renewal and supports skin function.
Oregon Grape assists in the reduction of bacteria in the skin as it provides soothing comfort to inflamed skin.
Written by Cristy Viney