Holistic Acne Treatments
The majority of us have experienced acne – it’s right there for the world to see, and instantly affects our self-confidence, mental health, and wellbeing.
There are several factors that cause acne making it a complex condition to treat:
1. Hormonal imbalances – certain medical conditions, and life stages such as adolescence and perimenopause can create hormonal imbalances. This can cause excess oestrogen or androgen hormones which get converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes the body to produce sebum for acne bacteria to feed on. The more DHT, the more sebum, the more bacteria, the more acne.
2. Genetic susceptibility – some people have gene SNPs that reduce their ability to eliminate toxins and used hormones from the body. This can cause a build-up of excess oestrogen or androgens which can get converted to DHT causing acne.
3. Diet – both sugar and dairy are strongly linked with acne. Sugar causes the body to produce the hormone insulin to shunt glucose into cells so we can produce energy. However, consuming too many sugary foods, drinks, or refined foods can cause excess insulin to be produced. Insulin then upregulates the production of DHT causing acne. Dairy contains inflammatory mediators that can make acne worse.
4. Stress – when you are stressed, your body produces cortisol. Cortisol causes your body to release glucose and produce insulin (so you have energy to deal with physical or emotional stress). However, if you are stressed for prolonged periods of time, excess cortisol is produced, which can cause insulin to be converted into DHT causing acne.
There are other factors such as poor gut health, nutrient deficiencies, sleep problems, and environmental factors that can contribute to acne too.
It is important to take an integrated approach and treat all the contributing factors for acne to go away. This can differ for every person. Therefore, an acne treatment plan, tailored especially for your unique situation, can help you enjoy clear skin again. This may include targeted acne supplements or a herbal tonic, topical treatments, dietary, and lifestyle recommendations.
#acne #acnefree #acnetreatment #hormonalhealth #hormonalsupport #cysticacne #preventacnescarring #naturopath
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.5% Yes
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14.1% No
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
It’s Riddle Time – You Might Need an Extra Cup of Coffee!
Nobody has ever walked this way. Which way is it?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
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