Why am I Breaking Out Now?
I have yet to meet anyone who looks forward to skin breakouts! If you are one of the millions who suffer from adult acne, you know how embarrassing and painful it can be. Those who have been reading my articles know that I advocate for getting to the root cause of any symptom. Acne is a symptom, not a disease itself.
Three major contributors to acne development include hormonal fluctuations, stress and diet.
Hormones aren’t produced in consistent amounts every day of our lives. It would be nice if they were, but that isn’t the reality. They fluctuate up and down depending on mood, environment, toxins, diet, etc. For women, this ebb and flow allows us to have a menstrual cycle and prepares our bodies for reproduction. For men, a surge of testosterone can also help prepare the body for reproduction, but this is also when acne can occur.
As the environmental burden form toxicants has risen over the years, so have hormone disorders such as infertility, adult acne and mood instability. Toxicants can influence hormones faster than The Flash and may be the source of your acne, especially if you are over the age of 25, when our bodies should be settling into a rhythm. If you are a teenager or under 25, your hormones are still trying to find their rhythm. While we expect some fluctuation of hormones in the pubescent years, cystic acne is often a sign of hormone imbalances coupled with nutrient deficiencies.
The most common nutrient deficiencies that I see with acne include fatty acid deficiencies (Omega 3, 6 and 9), vitamin A, vitamin D and properly formed B-vitamins. Most people in the United States do not consume enough quality Omega 3 fatty acids. Instead, they consume an abundance of low-quality Omega 6 from fried foods and vegetable oils that lead to systemic inflammation. What’s the solution? Consume cold-water, wild-caught fatty fish like salmon 2-3 times per week or take a high-quality supplement. Ideally, you want one that has 3-6-9 in the appropriate balance!
Our diets no longer consist of regular consumption of organ meats as they once did. These organ meats were the most common source of Vitamin A. Instead, many people opt for beta-carotene, thinking that it will convert to the active form of Vitamin A, retinol. Sadly, this isn’t the case for the majority. Only about 49% of people can convert beta-carotene to retinol successfully. This is one reason I see a high number of clients who are deficient in vitamin A. What’s the solution? Consume organ meats a couple of times per week! Don’t fret! You can mix it in with other meats to cut the taste if you struggle.
Over the last few years, there has been much conversation about genetic mutation and how it either enhances or inhibits our detoxification process. Some people are born with methylation mutations that slow the process of hormone detoxification, especially estrogen. If you happen to be one of the many people who have the MTHFR or COMT genetic mutation, your ability to detoxify estrogens is impaired. This impairment increases the likelihood of acne due to elevated testosterone or estrogen. Individuals with either (or both) mutation, need methylated B vitamins, B12 and folate. The catch is that we can’t assume that we have this mutation without testing. Over-methylating is just as bad as under-methylating.
The liver is the most commonly known organ for detoxification. The liver requires the body to methylate to remove toxins, as well as sulfur, cysteine and methionine. These can be found in foods like eggs, turkey, grass-fed beef, tuna (limit this due to mercury), pork chops, tofu, dairy, chicken, lentils, legumes, quinoa and Brazil nuts.
Detoxification is a multi-organ process, and we must have the right nutrients in the correct balance. When we lack any part of these, our bodies cannot function properly, which creates an abundance of toxins, and our skin is left to scream for help! If you are curious to see where your nutrient levels are or if your toxic burden could be the root cause of your acne or other symptoms, please feel free to schedule a free 15-minute phone conversation with me.
Dr. Jennifer Champion holds a Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition and is a Board- Certified Nutrition Specialist. She works with women who are ready to make positive changes in their lives. She has a thriving practice in Tacoma and is currently accepting new clients. For more information, visit NeoGenesisNutrition. com, call 253.507.5775 or email jennifer@ NeoGenesisNutrition.com.
