Understanding Acne: Clearing Your Skin Naturally

Clearing Your Skin Naturally

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions, affecting nearly 85% of people at some point in their lives¹. While conventional treatments often focus on topical solutions or antibiotics, naturopathic medicine takes a more holistic approach—seeking to understand and address the root causes of acne to promote long-term skin health and internal balance

What Is Acne?

Acne is a chronic inflammatory condition that primarily affects the face, back, chest, and shoulders. It arises when hair follicles become clogged with oil (sebum), dead skin cells, and bacteria, leading to whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, or cysts.

But why does this happen? From a naturopathic standpoint, acne isn’t just a skin-deep issue—it often reflects deeper imbalances within the body. Let’s take a look at some of the root causes of acne.

Root Causes of Acne: A Naturopathic View

1.) Hormonal Imbalances

It is well known that high androgen levels, like testosterone, are strongly linked with increased sebum production and acne severity². When hormones are imbalanced—as seen in puberty, menstruation, PCOS, or stress—sebaceous glands go into overdrive, creating acne lesions. Imbalanced estrogen-progesterone ratios, cortisol dysregulation and blood sugar imbalances can be the culprits leading to or exacerbating higher testosterone levels.

2.) Gut Dysbiosis and Digestive Health

The gut-skin axis is a vital communication pathway. An imbalanced microbiome and poor digestion can lead to increased intestinal permeability and inflammation that manifests on the skin. Not only can leaky gut syndrome increase systemic inflammation and burden the skin’s detox pathways, but it can also lead to food intolerances and a dysregulated immune system, both potentially causing acne and other skin concerns. Studies have also shown that acne sufferers often have higher levels of intestinal permeability and gut imbalances³.

3.) Diet and Blood Sugar Imbalance

Food is medicine. A diet high in sugar and processed foods increases insulin and IGF-1, which stimulate sebum production and keratinocyte proliferation. High glycemic, sugary foods, dairy, and processed products can trigger insulin spikes and inflammation, exacerbating acne. It has been shown that low-glycemic diets significantly reduce acne severity⁴, by reducing inflammation and blood sugar changes.

4.) Liver Detoxification Overload

The liver plays a key role in metabolizing hormones and toxins. When the liver is overwhelmed, these substances may be excreted through the skin, leading to breakouts. Supporting phase I and phase II liver detoxification helps the body process excess hormones and environmental toxins, therefore reducing outbreaks and clearing the skin.

5.) Chronic Inflammation and Immune Dysregulation

Acne is fundamentally an inflammatory condition. Chronic low-grade inflammation from food intolerances, environmental toxins, or stress can contribute to acne development. In fact, C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, is elevated in many people with acne⁵. In order to combat excess inflammation, it is important to adopt a more anti-inflammatory lifestyle, including an anti-inflammatory diet, regular exercise, detox practices such as sauna, choose to use clean products and get enough healthy sleep.

Naturopathic Treatment Strategies for Acne

Before any naturopathic medical treatment, it may be vitally important to assess for root cause imbalances using comprehensive lab testing. This helps to streamline the treatment approach by figuring out exactly where the imbalances lie, and where to implement changes. We can utilize comprehensive hormone testing, stool testing, food intolerance or allergy testing, inflammatory and blood sugar markers, and more. Your personal skin presentation and history will help to guide which labs and protocol will be most valuable.

3. Optimize Nutrition

• Follow a low-glycemic, anti-inflammatory diet rich in whole foods.
• Increase omega-3 intake through fish or flax oil to reduce inflammation and support the skin barrier,
• Ensure adequate zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin D levels—all essential for skin health⁶.

4. Support Liver Detoxification

• Include cruciferous vegetables (e.g., broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts) to aid estrogen metabolism.
• Use liver-supportive herbs like milk thistle and dandelion root, which will help to increase the metabolism of hormones and toxins through the liver, thereby reducing skin breakouts.

6. Topical Natural Remedies

• Choose products that have clean ingredients to reduce overall toxic load and skin reactions.
• Tea tree oil: Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory.
• Green tea extract: Reduces sebum and bacterial colonization.
• Manuka honey: Wound healing and antibacterial.

Final Thoughts

From a naturopathic perspective, acne is a signal—not just a symptom. It’s the body’s way of communicating deeper imbalances that need to be addressed. When we listen to these messages and support the body holistically, true healing can occur.

If you’re struggling with chronic acne, consider working with Dr. Alioto, a naturopathic doctor who will create an individualized plan that addresses your specific root causes—inside and out.

The above information is not intended to diagnose or treat a disease and is not a substitute for appropriate medical care.

References

1. Bhate, K., & Williams, H. C. (2013). Epidemiology of acne vulgaris. British Journal of Dermatology, 168(3), 474–485. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.12149 ↩
2. Thiboutot, D. (2004). Hormones and acne: pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, and therapies. Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 23(3), 166–172. ↩
3. Bowe, W. P., & Logan, A. C. (2011). Acne vulgaris, probiotics and the gut-brain-skin axis – back to the future? Gut Pathogens, 3, 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-4749-3-1 ↩
4. Smith, R. N., et al. (2007). A low-glycemic-load diet improves symptoms in acne vulgaris patients: a randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 86(1), 107–115. ↩
5. Cerman, A. A., et al. (2010). Increased serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1, IGF-binding protein-3 and interleukin-6 in patients with acne vulgaris. Dermato-Endocrinology, 2(1), 20–25. ↩
6. Dreno, B., et al. (2015). Nutritional factors in the pathogenesis and treatment of acne. Dermato-Endocrinology, 7(1), e1123620. ↩