Ugh…adult acne. It can make you self-conscious, embarrassed by your appearance and generally fed up with having to deal with a “teenage” problem. Acne medications made for teenagers don’t help—since adults have much drier skin than teenagers. But don’t despair. The good news is that holistic doctors use natural treatments that can address not only the pimples but also the underlying reasons for having them. If you or someone you know has acne, find out what you can do to get rid of the problem—for good. Bernard Noe, ND, a naturopathic doctor in private practice in Montpelier, Vermont, explains the special way he treats adults with acne…
We tend to think of acne as just pimples, but it really is an inflammatory disease of the skin. It occurs when an oily substance produced by the skin’s glands, sebum, clogs pores. This causes a buildup of bacteria—and irritated, inflamed skin.
When treating an adult patient with acne, Dr. Noe’s first step is to check the patient’s diet, since either food allergies or a diet high in sugar and processed foods could be causing the problem.
Identify food allergies/sensitivities. We are all familiar with people who have allergies to foods such as peanuts, chocolate and eggs. They might have a severe reaction that interferes with their breathing. But another kind of allergic response involves a delayed reaction—this could include headache, skin rash, asthma and, yes, acne. Any or all of these symptoms might take a few hours or as long as two days to appear—and it is this delay that throws people off. There’s no obvious connection between the food and the acne.
To identify your acne-causing food allergens, which could include the foods mentioned above plus dairy, yeast, corn or many others, your doctor can order a blood test. Or you can do an elimination diet, in which you eliminate a “suspect” food for about two weeks—and see if the acne begins to disappear. Both type of tests work, although the blood test is the more definitive test. Some patients may choose to do the elimination test if their insurance does not cover the blood test. Once you eliminate an allergen from your diet, your acne may clear up on its own in about two to six weeks!
Reduce sugar. Studies show that eating a lot of sugar, or eating foods with a high glycemic index (GI), a measure of how much a food boosts blood sugar, is associated with acne. Eating foods with a high GI (such as white bread or white potatoes) also changes the level of certain hormones such as androgens that can make acne worse. When patients who have consumed a high-sugar diet begin to eliminate sugar and foods with a high GI load in favor of whole foods (fruit, vegetables, lean proteins), they usually notice an improvement in their acne within three weeks.
Several nutrients can help ease acne. Many patients are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, the healthful fat found in fish oil that has an anti-inflammatory effect. In some patients, acne actually is caused by an omega-3 fatty acid deficiency—and improves when patients take a supplement.
Dr. Noe finds that a change in diet and/or omega-3 supplementation eases acne in most patients. For more difficult cases, he might suggest supplementing with zinc, since this mineral speeds healing and fights bacteria, or pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5), one of the B vitamins that makes skin healthy. He also may prescribe the following natural topical preparations, which are available at compounding pharmacies…
Azelaic acid. This acid is both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Studies have shown that when it is used topically, it can be as effective as antibiotics in clearing up acne.
Nicotinamide. A derivative of vitamin B-3, topical nicotinamide fights infection and inflammation.
Ask your holistic doctor if you should try one or both of these.
