By James and Debra Rouse, ND

I‘m in my late 20s, and lately I‘ve been having acne problems like a teenage girl. What can I do to make this embarrassing problem go away?

Let‘s face it: Acne is no fun at any age. A chronic skin condition distinguished by pimples, whiteheads, and/or blackheads, acne vulgaris can appear on the face, neck, back, chest, and buttocks. Adults well into their 50s can experience outbreaks of acne, although it is more common during the teenage years and early 20s. Another form of acne called cystic acne is characterized by painful, inflamed, fluid-filled cysts and thick, firm, painless lumps that appear in clusters beneath the surface of the skin. Both forms can cause permanent scarring, especially if you succumb to the unfortunate habit of picking or squeezing the lesions.

The cause of acne remains a bit of a mystery. Diet, hormones, medications (steroids, oral contraceptives), stress, cosmetics, and environmental factors (climate changes, pollution) may play a role. Conventional acne treatment can be harsh and cause significant side effects; some treatments even cause birth defects.

Although no one's proven that any one food causes acne, do keep a journal tracking what you eat and when you break out to see if you can find any correlations between your diet and your acne. Avoid greasy, fried foods, baked goods, soda, and spicy foods that tend to increase inflammation in the body overall and could increase the likelihood of clogged pores.

While it is essential to keep the affected areas clean, you want to avoid over-exfoliating the skin or using harsh cleansers. Instead, start by gently washing your face and applying a hypoallergenic facial cream twice a day.
You can also take several nutrients that may help the liver process hormones and lessen the intensity and frequency of acne outbreaks. Chasteberry and dong quai may help with hormone-related acne. You‘ll find sources that suggest using natural progesterone cream as well, but do this only under the care of a physician. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) may be useful for female hormone regulation. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) can help decrease inflammation and also reduce sebum (your skin‘s natural oil) so that it is less apt to clog pores. Zinc combined with the EFAs can further enhance these qualities.

Two natural astringents, chamomile tea and witch hazel, can reduce skin oil. Use a clean cotton ball and apply gently over a clean face or other affected areas on your body. And remember, don‘t pick at your face; you‘ll only make things worse.

Author: James and Debra Rouse

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