Acne

Root Cause Approach To Acne

To get to the bottom of any skin problem, acne included, you’ve got to consider an inside out approach because a skin problem is usually never just a skin problem.

While you’re working through that, there are several effective strategies you can try to manage acne externally, and many depend on where the acne appears. Here's how to start identifying and narrowing down potential external triggers.

Outside in approach:

Breakouts in the same place might be caused by:

  • Touching your face, like having your hand on your chin while working

  • Touching your phone to your face

  • Certain makeup and skincare products

  • Picking pimples

chin and jawline acne might be caused by:

  • Hormone imbalances and even normal female hormone fluctuations

  • Stress

  • Teething and drooling in babies

  • Dietary sugar and dairy

cheek Acne might be due to:

  • Touching your phone to your face

  • Resting your cheek/face in your hand

  • Bacteria on your pillowcase

  • Certain makeup and skincare products

  • Stress

For acne on the forehead, you might consider:

  • Hair products, including shampoo and conditioners (ingredients like SLS [sodium lauryl sulfate/sodium laureth sulfate] and coconut oil)

  • Fungal involvement (the same fungus that causes cradle cap, seborrheic dermatitis, and dandruff)

  • Diet

  • Stress

Acne around the mouth might be due to:

  • Toothpaste that contains SLS

  • Teething and drooling in babies

natural, Topical options to try:

  1. Apple cider vinegar (antibacterial and antifungal) - Mix 1 part ACV and 3 parts water (for sensitive skin add more water); wash skin, then use a cotton ball to apply it on affected areas; after 20 seconds, rise and pat dry. You can try this up to a couple of times each day. ACV can burn skin, so make sure to use small amounts and dilute it appropriately for your needs.

  2. Honey and Cinnamon Mask (antioxidants and antibacterial) - Mix 2 tablespoons honey and 1 teaspoon cinnamon into a paste; wash skin, apply the mixture and leave it on for up to 15 minutes; rinse and pat dry.

  3. Tea Tree Oil (antibacterial and antifungal) - Mix 1 part tea tree oil with 9 parts water; apply to affected areas with a cotton ball. You can repeat this up to 2 times daily. Tea tree oil can burn skin, t’s very strong and can burn skin, so make sure to use small amounts and dilute it appropriately for your needs.

  4. Green Tea (antioxidant and antibacterial) - Steep green tea in boiling water for 3–4 minutes; let it cool; apply the tea to clean skin with a cotton ball, or pour it into a spray bottle to spray it on. Let it dry, rinse and pat dry.

  5. Witch Hazel (antibacterial) - Wash skin; apply with a cotton ball. You can repeat this 1–2 times per day, as needed.

  6. Moisturize With Aloe Vera (antiinflammatory, contains salicylic acid and sulfur, both helpful with acne) - Wash skin; apply aloe gel. You can repeat this during the day as needed. Get a product that’s pure aloe, without added ingredients.

  7. You can try jojoba oil for cleansing and moisturizing.

  8. Exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells, which can clog pores (making acne worse). You can make your own scrub by mixing equal parts sugar or salt and coconut oil. Scrub gently, rinse and pat dry. You can try this daily, and less often if your skin is sensitive.

    • Coconut is a potent antibacterial and antifungal, which makes it helpful for some skin problems and not others.

      • Acne, seb derm, and cradle cap - YES

      • Eczema, psoriasis, and other skin rashes that involve “leaky skin” - NO

Baby acne:

Baby acne can show up right after birth, or a few weeks after. It usually clears up on its own. In the meantime, strategies that can help are:

  1. Keep the face clean and moisturized.

  2. Soak a cotton ball in breastmilk and dab it on the affected area.

  3. Dilute apple cider vinegar in water and use a cotton ball to dab it on the affected area. ACV can burn sensitive skin, so make sure to dilute it, and use it cautiously.

  4. Dip a cotton ball in coconut oil and apply to the affected area.

  5. Use a cotton ball to dab alcohol-free, diluted witch hazel to the affected area.

  6. Gently exfoliate.

Inside Out approach:

Gut Health and Acne

The gut-skin connection plays a key role as a root cause of acne. Imbalances in the gut microbiome, like dysbiosis or leaky gut, can trigger systemic inflammation that makes acne worse. Getting a comprehensive digestive stool test done (GI Map) helps to identify the imbalances that need to be resolved, and helps determine what supplements will work best for doing that.

Avoiding foods that can irritate the gut and cause inflammation, like gluten, dairy, excess added sugar, and processed junk foods can help.

Hormonal Imbalances

Acne is often linked to hormone fluctuations, especially androgens (like testosterone) that can increase oil (sebum) production and clog pores. There is hormone testing available to help identify imbalances. Balancing hormones naturally is essential in treating acne, especially for women with menstrual or stress-related breakouts.

Inflammation and Detoxification

Chronic inflammation can worsen acne by over-activating the immune system and leading to clogged pores and infection. Systemic inflammation like this can be lowered by supporting detoxification pathways the right way, and using supplements to help if needed.

Also, foods high in antioxidants, like berries and leafy greens, help fight oxidative stress that can worsen acne.

Great places to start to make sure detox pathways work appropriately are with diet, avoiding constipation, and making sure enough water is getting in (your child should be drinking at least one 8oz glass of water per year of age, and before age 1/once they start eating solids they can have sips of water).

Nutrition and diet

Foods high in sugar, dairy, and refined carbohydrates increase insulin levels and trigger inflammation, which can lead to acne flares. Instead, eat more nutrient-rich, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, healthy fats (such as omega-3s), and lean proteins. This not only helps with acne but also supports the body’s natural healing processes in general.

Stress Management

Stress is a major contributor to hormonal imbalances and inflammation, which can make acne worse. Lowering stress can help regulate cortisol levels, lower inflammation, and help the skin heal.

Supplements

Certain supplements can help support healthy skin and reduce acne. Get guidance to know what will work best for your case. There is no one size fits all approach.

Reference

Rupa Health. (2023). Functional medicine protocol for treatment of acne. Rupa Health. Retrieved from https://www.rupahealth.com/post/functional-medicine-protocol-for-treatment-of-acne. Accessed October 11, 2024.