A Foundational Guide to Treating Hormonal Acne (Naturally)
Let’s be honest: wearing your health problems on your face (or face, neck, chest and back!) is hard - and finding the solution to your skin problems can feel even harder.
Unfortunately for many people with acne, the first treatment offered is a hormonal contraceptive. Not only does this just mask - rather than solve - the reason you have acne in the first place, but it comes with a long list of side effects and long-term health consequences.
Thankfully, and contrary to what you may have been told, the Pill is not the only option! The best treatment for you will vary depending on what the cause of your symptoms are - no two people are the same. This is just one reason (from a very long list) why working one-on-one with a practitioner can be so helpful.
The first step in treating acne is to figure out what is causing it.
Elevated androgens (‘male hormones’) are a common culprit - if you’ve experienced a significant improvement in your acne when taking a contraceptive like Ginet, then it’s highly likely that elevated androgens are something you need to address.
Other signs that your acne is driven by elevated androgens include:
A tendency to break out on the lower half of your face, neck, chest and back (these areas are more sensitive to androgens - you only need to consider the pattern of male facial and body hair growth to understand this).
The hair on your head is thinning and/or you are growing thick hair in places you didn’t have it before, like your face or chest.
You’ve struggled to get pregnant or have irregular cycles. When testosterone (an androgen) is too high, it interferes with other hormones (LH and FSH), preventing ovulation and leading to irregular cycles.
Sometimes the problem is not an overproduction of androgens, but poor clearance of androgens by the liver. You can find out whether your androgen levels (particularly testosterone) are too high with a simple blood test. Ascertaining whether poor clearance is an issue for you requires a more careful assessment, and sometimes a trial and error approach.
Here are three things to start doing if you have hormonal acne:
Support stomach acid production
Achieve this by chewing food thoroughly and drinking 1 tsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice in warm water before breakfast. Adequate production of stomach acid is required for the proper breakdown of food and to facilitate the absorption of nutrients. Poor digestion also increases the load on the liver, reducing its ability to properly detoxify sex hormones.Drink two cups of strong spearmint tea every day
Spearmint tea has been shown to possess a significant anti-androgenic effect. A 2010 randomised controlled trial had 42 women with hirsutism (androgen-driven hair growth often associated with acne/PCOS) drink two cups of spearmint tea daily for 30 days and compared the results to a placebo herbal tea. At the end of the trial period, free and total testosterone levels had significantly reduced in the spearmint tea group.
Trial a strict dairy-free diet for four weeks
The consumption of cow’s dairy leads to spiking of the hormone IGF-1, which may worsen acne because it contributes to inflammation and sebum production.
What supplements should I take for hormonal acne?
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. Seeking an assessment from a practitioner with experience in this area is the best place to start, because they can help you to uncover the root cause of your acne. This will save you both money and frustration in the long run, because you’ll receive an ultra-targeted treatment plan including the right supplements for you at the right dose and of the highest quality.
Need support? Book an appointment with our acne naturopath.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gemma is a women’s health naturopath and nutritionist in Auckland, New Zealand. She works with women from all walks of life with a special interest in acne, infertility and PCOS. She is a mother to 3-year-old Laura and an avid (perhaps slightly obsessive) cook. In her spare time, you’ll find her rummaging through her cookbook collection, hitting up local restaurants or pottering in the veggie garden.