The Skin You're In

When adolescence hit (in all its glory!), for me, acne was one of the most troubling symptoms. In fact, I was so bothered by my acne, that not only did I basically bath in Clearasil, I was medicated for it! Yep, I was put on the oral contraceptive pill as a young teen and stayed on it until I knew better and was in my early-20s. Although the pill cleared up my acne, it masked some bigger problems and in the long-run, did more harm than good, especially regarding fertility and ovarian function (but that rant is for another day!).

What causes Acne?

Acne is considered a ‘western’ condition, and although it is estimated to affect 79-95% of people aged 16-18 years, I see people of all ages presenting with acne.Acne is predominantly thought of as being a result of increased androgens (male hormones), which stimulate sebaceous gland activity, which result in sebum (oil) production triggering something called hyperkeratosis, which blocks the follicles and results in characteristic cysts. Acne can however also be brought on by certain foods (hello dairy and sugar!), hormonal imbalances, the use of certain drugs, oily creams and heat/humidity.

The skin microbiome

Acne has also been linked to a bacterial imbalance of the skin. In fact, many skin conditions likely affect the skin microbiome and some (including acne) have been described as being ‘dysbiosis’ of the skin.Given the close relationship between skin conditions and our skin microbiome, I wanted to share some strategies to help restore the integrity of your skin microbiome...

• Don’t be afraid to get dirty – expose yourself to the nature and soil-based organisms often.
• Avoid chemicals in moisturisers, harsh soaps, harsh cleaning agents, harsh laundry detergents and shampoos/conditioners, as well as antibacterial agents. These ALL promote dysbiosis of the skin by increasing pH and promoting alkalinity of the skin. When the skin is slightly acidic, the resident healthy bacteria attach well, BUT, when the skin is alkaline, it promotes dispersal of good bugs from the skin. Use castile soaps, tallow soaps, goat’s milk soaps and other biome friendly soaps instead.
• Sweat - at least a few days a week, ideally every day.
• Avoid over-showering and long hot showers (as tempting as they are!)
• Choose lakes, dams and the ocean over chlorinated pools when you have the option. By doing this, your skin is getting bathed in beautiful natural microbes, rather than antibacterial agents.

These are just a few practical ways to support your skin's microbial life and restore the integrity of your skin. If you want to learn more tips for skin health, check out my latest tutorial which goes for 30 mins and dives into common skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis; and discusses what you can do to improve the skin you’re in!