Acne

Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition experienced by teenagers and some adults.  People with acne may have any of the following:

• Scaly red skin
• Blackheads
• White heads
• Pimples
• Pustules
• Scarring.  

Naturopathic doctors believe that acne is more than just skin deep.  It is a reflection of what’s going on in many different organ systems including the digestive tract, the liver and the hormonal system.  Often times, certain foods in a person’s diet, stress, travel, and other hormonal shifts such as pre-menstrual syndrome or polycystic ovarian syndrome, and other conditions with hormone imbalance can make acnes symptoms worse.

At Boulder Natural Health, we treat acne in a different way than conventional medical care.  We view the skin as an organ of elimination.  For example, when we sweat, we are allowing the body to eliminate toxins and other biochemical waste products.  When our main organs of elimination–the digestive tract (bowels), the kidneys, and the respiratory tract–are congested and not working properly, the skin has to pick up the slack.  When the skin gets overloaded, it can produce acne. Imbalances in the hormonal system, including elevated estrogen and testosterone, can also result in acne.  Treating the liver and helping the liver process the body’s hormones is important in healing acne.

Every patient’s health symptoms are unique therefore we take an individualized approach to treating this condition.  Depending on your specific symptoms, you will receive a specific naturopathic protocol including diet recommendations, lifestyle changes, and herbal, homeopathic, vitamin and/or nutrient supplementation that work together to optimize the function of elimination and heal the skin. Naturopathic medicine can successfully heal open comedones (black heads), closed comedones (white heads), oily skin, papules, pustules, acne cysts, and other skin blemishes.

Contact us today for more information about a natural approach to healing acne.