Conventional approaches and their side affects
Acne
Options I was offered to help clear my hormonal acne included multiple rounds of antibiotics and, ultimately, a medication known as Roaccutane (isotretinoin – which is a retinoid medication related to vitamin A).
Roaccutane is prescribed for severe acne that has not improved with other interventions (e.g. antibiotics). It is recommended for widespread acne (face, chest and back) that is more cystic in nature.
This medication works by reducing the size of the sebaceous (oil) glands and making them less productive. It is supposed to reduce inflammation and redness within the skin and reduce the development of acne-producing bacteria.
However, Roaccutane comes with side effects:
- Drying the skin, lips, inside the nose, eyes, mouth, throat
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Itchy skin, nail problems, hair thinning or loss and increased sensitivity to sunlight
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Muscle and joint pain (quite common)
- Headache
- Changes in blood tests e.g. liver tests, cholesterol
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It is extremely important that women taking this medication do not become pregnant or for 1 month after stopping the medicine. This is because it is teratogenic, which means it is extremely damaging and dangerous to an unborn child
- Mood issues such as depression and anxiety
Eczema
The most prescribed medication for eczema is corticosteroids, which help to reduce inflammation and irritation. However, long-term steroid use can lead to thinning of the skin and a tolerance to the cream and when you stop using the cream, the rash or irritation can ‘rebound’ back even worse.
This does not discount the efficacy and importance of these medications. It just highlights that sometimes the side effects can be quite intense or uncomfortable.
Natural remedies for glowing skin
If you are suffering from upset skin, we understand you want it to clear quickly. If you decide to take a more natural approach to skincare, it can take time to see progress. This can be frustrating but it can also mean less potential damage to your skin and body in the long run.
1. Hygiene
Practising good hygiene habits and ensuring that your bedding remains clean can help you support healthy glowing skin. Regularly washing your pillowcases, towels, and face cloths, and avoiding sleeping with wet hair is an easy thing you can do at home that helps keep your skin healthy.
Throughout the day, your skin comes into contact with various pollutants, oils, and bacteria, which can accumulate on bedding and towels. Failure to wash these can lead to a buildup of contaminants, potentially causing irritation, acne, or other skin issues.
Sleeping with wet hair can create a damp environment in your pillow, ideal for the growth of bacteria and mould, which can exacerbate skin problems.
2. Drink plenty of water
Water is essential for healthy skin. You can make your water more appealing by adding fruit, tonics or have it sparkling.
3. Try an oil cleanser
I know this can seem counterintuitive if you have oily skin, but the oil can help gently remove excess oil, products and sunscreen. It also doesn’t dry out your skin, which can lead to the oil glands producing more oil - which is not what you want. When washing your face, dermatologists recommend that the water you use is lukewarm, not really hot, as this can damage your skin.
4. Support your skin barrier
Saint John’s wort is great for this. Our Golden Skin Oil can help with skin repair, irritation, and discomfort. Saint John’s wort oil is a great natural remedy for glowing skin because it can help prevent scars, heal wounds, and treat burns. It supports healthy skin cell regeneration through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant components, which are beneficial to both acne and eczema-prone skin.
5. Supplements
Some supplements that are great natural remedies for glowing skin are vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids.
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Vitamin C is high in antioxidants and contributes to skin health and integrity. Fibroblasts within the skin depend on your body having available vitamin C to make collagen - one of the building blocks of your skin. Vitamin C also helps protect against environmental damage, such as UV from the sun.
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Vitamin E helps to protect and calm the skin.
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Zinc is anti-inflammatory and can help reduce skin inflammation and redness. It also assists with collagen and elastin synthesis, which is essential for repair.
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Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish or algae oil can also help support skin health due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Both eczema and acne are considered inflammatory conditions, so often, omega-3 fatty acids are recommended. Regular consumption has been found to help with irritated, dry and itchy skin. This is due to its moisturising properties and its ability to support the skin barrier and integrity, reducing damage from occurring.
6. Consider probiotics
Both your skin and your gut have their own microbiome and feedback system—the gut-skin axis. If this is out of balance, it could contribute to skin issues. Advances in probiotics have seen an increase in studies and specific strains that solely focus on supporting acne and eczema. The increase in probiotic use is found in both internal and topical probiotic products that can help contribute to clearer skin without the need to take strong medication.
7. Incorporate bitters
Bitters are one of the powerful natural remedies for glowing that are easy to incorporate into your daily life. Eating more bitter foods or taking our Liver Bitters is a great way to increase the bitter flavours in your diet. Here's how they can help your skin:
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Detoxification - Increasing your bitter plant intake to help support your detoxification pathways. This can lead to clearer skin, as waste accumulation can contribute to inflammation and skin issues like acne and eczema.
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Digestion - Bitter herbs stimulate the production of stomach acid, bile, and enzymes, which improve digestion and nutrient absorption. When digestion is efficient, it reduces digestive issues such as bloating, excessive gas, and constipation, which can manifest as skin problems like dullness and breakouts.
🌿Related: 10 Clever Natural Ways To Improve Digestion
- Hormone balance - Hormonal imbalance is probably the most common cause of skin issues, particularly acne. Bitter plants can help regulate hormone levels by supporting the endocrine (hormone) system. Certain bitter constituents have been found to influence hormone balancing, which could reduce hormonal acne flare-ups and promote clearer skin.
🌿Related: 9 Herbs You Need To Try For Hormone Balance
- Inflammation - Many bitter plants also possess anti-inflammatory properties, which can help calm inflammation within the body and skin. Inflammation is a key factor in various skin conditions, such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis. By reducing inflammation, bitter herbs can alleviate redness, swelling, and irritation, leading to clearer and calmer skin.
🌿Related: 5 Anti-Inflammatory Herbs You Need To Try
- Antimicrobial - Some bitter plants exhibit antimicrobial properties, which can combat bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens that contribute to skin infections and breakouts.
Examples of bitter plants commonly used for skincare include globe artichoke, dandelion, burdock root, calendula, nettle, turmeric and mānuka. These herbs can be consumed internally as teas, tonics, tinctures or supplements, and liquorice, chickweed, nettle, calendula, burdock and mānuka can also be used topically.
