I'll be very real with you: persistent acne or chronic acne is HARD.
I say this as someone who has personally dealt with acne, and as a hormone-focused naturopathic doctor who works with lots of people with cystic acne, like my PCOS patients.
"You'll grow out of it", is a common thought around acne when adolescents have skin changes at puberty time.
But, for many of us, the reality is that we have chronic acne or adult acne that persists beyond our teenage years.
And, the truth is: that we have to manage and treat your acne in a way that's different than someone who "grows out of it" or has the occasional breakout.
It's kind of like treating and managing chronic migraines versus someone who gets the occasional headache. You wouldn't tell someone with chronic migraines to "just stop getting headaches," so why are we expected to "just grow out of it?!"
Some of the acne is rooted in genetics (that we cannot change!), some of it has to do with your overall health and what's happening on the inside, some of it has to do with nutrition and lifestyle, some of it has to do with skincare and your environment, some of it has to do with health conditions that may contribute to your acne, some of it has to with stress, and lots more!
Most of the time it's a combination of some (or all!) of the above factors.
I go more in depth on acne and hair loss in this episode of Phase to Phase: The Hormone Health Show.
Honestly, getting professional help is important here for you to minimize the damage and maximize your results. Get a referral to a dermatologist. Seek care from a naturopathic doctor. See a licensed medical aesthetician.
More is not always better!
I know SO many patients who spend thousands and thousands of dollars on skin care and treatments, especially if they're skeptical of conventional treatments. I totally get it! It's scary to use something like antibiotics or the birth control pill for acne.
And, you don't have to use those options. BUT I do want you to know all your options so you can make the best decisions with guidance from your health team.
Acne comes with very real costs: money--yes--but also time, effort, mental bandwidth, self-esteem, and post-acne scarring.
Your hormonal acne likely needs internal and topical solutions based on what's going on. I see this in my PCOS patients all the time!
Topical and skincare could include things like:
Internal and oral solutions could include things like:
As always, talk to a healthcare provider to make sure your plan is catered to YOU--in this moment in time. There's a time and place for these changes, whether you're using them topically or internally. Not everyone needs or responds to all of the things listed here.
When it comes to some of the supplements and herbs, we don't have a lot of good scientific research just yet. Even with probiotics, the science is in its infancy, so we'll have to see where the data takes us!
Remember, you are more than your acne, and more than your skin. You deserve care! If you're looking for hormonal acne help in the Newmarket area or Innisfil area or virtually in Ontario, book an appointment here.
We could even do some facial acupuncture (aka cosmetic acupuncture). Check that out here.
