Conquering Hormonal Acne Holistically
Hormonal Acne requires a holistic approach. Anti-aging, hyperpigmentation, dryness, thinning skin, fine lines, and wrinkles are the most common skin concerns women in their thirties presume to worry about the most, but certainly, acne is not one. Ironically, suffering from adult acne can have the greatest emotional and mental impact on everyday life. For any skin practitioner to successfully treat and improve the condition, it is important to understand what is actually happening to the skin from within and how to help it from the outside in. The journey of conquering adult hormonal acne is one that requires a holistic approach, and it most certainly is life-transforming.
Understanding Physiology of Hormonal Acne
Acne has many causes, but the leading cause of hormone-related acne is an imbalance of androgen male hormones in the body. The hyperactivity of androgens triggers a slew of symptoms. Excess sebum, oil, production from the sebaceous glands that pools on the surface of the skin and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.
Colonization of Propionibacterium (P. acnes), the stagnant acne-causing bacteria, is opportunistic in its nature. P. acnes just stays put and awaits, and when conditions permit, it makes its way through the pores to attack, i.e., cause breakouts. Accumulation of dead skin cells. Final and extremely unpleasant symptom, and often even painful is the susceptibility to inflammation in the skin. The most common areas with the greatest severity where hormonal acne is found is along the jawline and sides of the face.
Other internal-driven triggers of acne flare ups for women in their thirties include menstruation, ovulation, pregnancy, post pregnancy, and stress. Stress is one factor that also negatively impacts overall well-being. When women experience stress, this raises cortisol hormone levels in the body, as a result, the immune system is activated. This is expressed on this skin in the form of inflammation, which at times can be very painful. On-going stress that is left unmanaged ultimately weakens the immune system, it can also lead to acne treatment resistance.
Contribution by Victoria Tabak
Victoria Tabak is the CEO of NATURE PURE Clinical Skin Care. She is a two-time international award-winning licensed esthetician, a published skin and wellness expert, and a nationally recognized skincare educator. She has more than 20 years of experience in the beauty industry along with a Master’s Degree in Business, minor in chemistry. She has worked with other estheticians, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and cosmetologists to formulate and revolutionize an approach to beauty that people love, alongside her father, a distinguished scientist.
Addressing the Cause
There are two options for shifting hormonal balance to promote homeostasis, essential for achieving successful treatment results with hormone-related acne. One option is the medical approach, getting on a medication prescribed by a dermatologist. Certainly, this option has pharmaceutically tested potential to improve the skin, but it accompanies a slew of possible side effects including skin dryness and irritation to mention the mildest. The other option is a holistic approach, and it is entirely within the scope of practice of a licensed esthetician. It incorporates both a traditional and modern process to help correct the skin with proper protocol and total client compliance.
Genistein is the natural skin care ingredient necessary to holistically correct hormonal acne. The technologically advanced ingredient is derived from soy isoflavones that undergoes an advanced patented hydrolysis and purification process, US Patent 7718813B2. Genistein molecular size can penetrate deep into the epidermis. It works to manipulate androgen hormone receptors naturally without ever introducing real hormones into the body.
As mentioned earlier, with hormonal acne, androgens are over-active. What genistein does, is blocks androgen receptors, which in turn, suppresses their hyperactivity and effectively addresses and counters the cause of the acne. This is a natural treatment course that gradually improves hormonal acne, and even when skin does break out, it helps skin recover and clears up faster, eventually getting hormone-related acne under control.
Treating the Symptoms
There are many ingredients that are beneficial in alleviating and improving the symptoms of acne. Drying excess sebum, soothing redness and inflammation, neutralizing cell damaging free radicals, brightening post-breakout blemishes, and the critical anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal action necessary to complete the acne-symptoms treatment arsenal.
Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) are two more clinically centered ingredients. Salicylic acid is an oil-soluble ingredient that can break through even the most compacted congestion in the pores made up of sebum and dead skin cells, which helps break up the buildup. It also has anti-inflammatory qualities as it does belong to the aspirin family. BPO is best known for fighting acne causing bacteria, it helps dry excess oil and scab pustule or papule blemished skin, allowing for new skin to regenerate beneath.
Some of the most notable natural acne fighting ingredients include tea tree oil, colloidal sulfur, camphor, and of course super antioxidant powerhouses like vitamin C and vitamin A. For soothing irritated acne skin, chamomile, calendula, sage, azulene, and echinacea are among the traditional botanical remedies utilized for centuries for their calming and therapeutic properties.
Nature Pure Acne Solutions
Nature Pure offers a wide assortment of hormonal acne solutions. Gently, through a holistic approach, you can achieve acne-free skin to boost your confidence & feel your most beautiful self.
Foods to Limit or Avoid
Acne needs to be treated from every aspect to optimize treatment results, what goes on and what goes in is important. Primary foods that can exacerbate acne are dairy, gluten, spicy, foods high in refined sugars, and alcohol. It is best to limit or if possible, avoid them entirely during the course of treatment. To help the client better understand what are the more dominant food triggers, a great strategy is to recommend the client to take out one of the food types above at a time for a week and keep track of the skin’s response. This will provide helpful insight into exactly what is the biggest offender, and can also save the client from having to eliminate everything.
Final Thought
Acne is a powerful skin condition that can chip away at a women’s self-confidence and self-perception at any age. Adult acne often is hormone imbalance driven. Being able to transform the skin of someone suffering from hormonal acne is not easy, but it can be a life-altering gift. It gives a whole new meaning and purpose to any esthetics practitioner who is ready to take on the challenge.