The Natural Medicine Approach to Acne Vulgaris:
The common form of teenage acne is Acne Vulgaris, and of course this can begin or continue into young adulthood or even middle age. It is thought to result from multiple factors including excess oil production, skin bacteria, piling up of dead skin cells clogging up the pores, and excess amounts or sensitivity of the skin to the hormonal derivative of testosterone, DHT. Inflamed pustules or cysts can lead to permanent scarring, and the psychological impact of acne is huge in all age groups. Standard treatment involves antibiotics, both topical and internal, topical benzoyl peroxide, and sometimes Retin-A. Accutane is used for the most severe cases, but is a potentially dangerous drug. For women, oral contraceptives are often prescribed, and although frequently effective, they constitute a significant health risk previously described in our newsletters and only cover up the underlying hormone imbalance.

There is photographic evidence dating back 50 years that the Eskimos had no acne until they started eating refined foods, especially sugar, and that then acne started showing up almost immediately. So did diabetes, heart and coronary disease, and gall bladder problems a bit later. So diet IS obviously important, despite what most dermatologists will tell you. Occasionally food allergy comes into play with acne, so I always search for other signs of it when taking histories, and do blood testing and recommend elimination diets as indicated.  Usually the addition of zinc in doses of 30mg three times daily is helpful. Oral essential oils are important, so I usually recommend cod liver oil or fish oil capsules, and so is an acidophilus product for gastrointestinal support. Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) in very large doses (3 to 6 grams per day) can safely eliminate the problem of excess skin oil production and has been extremely helpful, especially for the more severe cases. Topical therapies which I have found useful are colloidal silver spray which reduces bacterial colonies on the skin, 20% azaleic acid which is a fatty acid which is a normal component of skin, and 4% niacinamide cream which all work as well or better than antibiotic creams without the potential side effects.

 It is not unusual to find acne to be hormonally dependent. In some women breakouts occur around the time of the menstrual period and may relate to estrogen/progesterone balance. Acne is a regular sign of polycystic ovary syndrome, which is also associated with glucose and testosterone abnormalities. Adrenal stress can also produce acne via excess cortisol levels. Excess testosterone levels, or DHT levels (testosterone’s evil twin), or abnormal skin sensitivity to DHT can also produce acne. Thus, I often order hormone levels in these patients, and may prescribe nutrients or medications that help balance hormones or block the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Temporary or episodic skin outbreaks can result from liver problems or can occur during the body’s efforts to detoxify or eliminate chemicals or heavy metals.

As is usually the case, natural medicine has safer, more effective treatment options for acne and always comes closer than orthodox medicine to getting to the root of the problem.

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