Hormonal Acne
Acne is generally thought to affect teenagers, but up to 54% of adult women and 40% of adult men suffer from acne. Common causes for this are age related hormonal changes, stress, birth control use, pregnancy, increased oil production and menopause. [i]
Stress stimulates the production of androgens (male hormones present in both men and women) that regulate the size of oil glands and the rate of oil production. [ii] Hormonal conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome also cause acne. This is due mainly to the increased levels of androgens and other hormones, as well as poor regulation of blood sugar levels[iii] which contribute to the inflammation involved with acne.
Foods that are hard to digest and result in a sluggish digestion increase the amount of toxins that are absorbed into the blood. This puts a higher work load on the liver and may affect its ability to clear excess androgens and other hormones. [iv]
Natural treatment of acne incorporates the use of herbal medicine, specific nutrients, and dietary and lifestyle changes to address three main underlying factors:
- Assist in the management of stress levels.
- Improve digestive function – by supporting the liver and gallbladder to efficiently metabolise hormones and clear toxins.
- Support healthy skin development by ensuring optimal nutrient status. High levels of essential fatty acids (EFAs) lessen the incidence and severity of acne by reducing inflammation and by promoting health skin development.i Zinc is also vital for healthy skin growth as well as the immune system; a deficiency of zinc may cause acne.[v]
Live blood analysis can asses your EFA and antioxidant status, the level of inflammation in the body and provide general information about your digestive and liver function. We can also test your zinc levels for you with a liquid zinc taste test.
[i] Foster, D. (2005, June), Natural Health, vol. 35, issue 6, pp41-47
[ii] Porth, C. (2005), Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States, 7th ed, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, pp 1465-1467
[iii] Dawidowska, K. (2004, February), Prevention, vol. 56, issue 2, p54
[iv] Acne Resource (2006), “Does Diet Play a Role in Acne?”, Available: http://www.acne-resource.org/understanding-acne/dietrole.html (Accessed: 2006, August 26)
[v] Trattler, R. (2001) Better Health Through Natural Healing: How to get well without drugs or surgery, 2nd ed, Hinkler Books, Dingley VIC
