Naturopathic Skincare

A key consideration for our skin is to remember that it is our largest organ, and generally if symptoms are being expressed on the skin this links to symptoms internally. Michaela is able to help join the dots between your symptoms and where they may stem from internally. Generally she finds she needs to address the microbiome (read: high fibre foods, pre and probiotics), rebalance hormones, manage lifestyle and environmental stress (this includes considering inflammatory, or toxic food, medication or body and home products to introducing stress management techniques such as exercise and meditation) support the body’s natural detoxification pathways (cue: bitter herbs and dry body brushing!)

The most important thing to remember with naturopathy is that it’s not one size fits all, it’s about understanding your unique combination of symptoms and how this is affected by your unique biochemistry, medical history and lifestyle. You can’t just 'google doctor' naturopathic advice, which is why we’ve brought the naturopath to you!

Acne is a complicated condition, particularly as an adult. It’s often thought that our teenage years are for acne and then you’re in the clear… Unfortunately for many, acne can come and go throughout our lives. Naturopathy considers the following aspects when treating acne.

We must always support our detoxification pathways. Our liver and lymphatics play a key role in skin healing & if they are not functioning optimally this can be a big barrier in resolving chronic skin conditions. Bitter herbs such as burdock, dandelion & St Mary’s thistle are your friend here.

Hormonal fluctuations aren’t just for teenagers.. our hormones continue fluctuating for a good portion of our adult life. Particularly for women, who experience hormonal fluctuations monthly, or due to endocrine conditions such as PCOS or endometriosis, throughout pregnancy, breastfeeding and the postpartum period, then perimenopause and menopause. Synergy in our sex hormones is a crucial consideration when considering acne. With access to the DUTCH hormone profile testing, Michaela is able to uncover your unique hormone profile which can reveal imbalances that may be triggering skin conditions such as acne.

Spikes in our glucose levels are a common cause of acne. Considerations for managing this include analysing how much sugar is in your diet, if you are getting enough protein and fibre. Stress levels must be examined, as stress has a biochemical effect on our body (see below).

Chronically elevated cortisol (stress-hormones) spikes our blood sugars and leads to disruption of the pregnenolone pathway which can lead to increased testosterone. Our skin-cells are hyper-sensitive to the male hormone testosterone and it is often the impaired metabolism of this hormone that causes the issues with sebum regulation and skin-cell replication that create the perfect storm for acne.

Food intolerances and inflammatory foods should be identified and eliminated where possible; a common culprit Michaela finds contributing to adult acne is dairy based foods (milk, yoghurt, cheese) and she has found it can be an absolute game-changer in getting rid of inflammation and relentless deep pimple breakouts. It’s important to note that eliminating foods should be done under guidance of a professional, so that suitable alternatives can be introduced to maintain optimal nutrition.