Adult Acne

My acne started in my early teens and I went through the typical process of experimenting with Clearasil, Sebamed and tea tree oil washes. I haphazardly tried changing my diet by reducing fat, dairy and chocolate. I then escalated to over-the-counter products containing Salicylic Acid and Benzyl Peroxide. While these helped somewhat, my acne was worsening. My first visit to the doctor produced a prescription for a topical treatment called Dalacin T (clindamycin). Again, some effect, but the problem continued. The next step was prolonged courses of oral antibiotics - tetracycline, minocycline, Minocin SA - I tried them all, not realising the damage they were doing to my gut microbiome. After a couple of years of antibiotics I was prescribed Roaccutane (aka Accutane) in my early 20's. I powered through the horrible side effects and lo and behold my skin cleared... for a while. As the months passed, my acne slowly reappeared as I had not corrected the underlying imbalances which were causing the issue. It was not until I focused on improving my overall health, particularly my gut health, that my acne was fully resolved. 

Acne is much more about what is going on inside our bodies, than what is happening to our skin from the outside. It is less about finding the right wash, or antibacterial cream and more about achieving hormonal balance and optimal liver function. 

It has always been said that '"The skin is a reflection of the gut" and now we have the studies to prove it. Research shows that gut health and diet influence acne vulgaris.