How THIS SUPPLEMENT Could be TRIGGERING ACNE
A lot of people take supplements on their own without the supervision of a medical provider. Time and time again, I see that when people take supplements on their own, they are either:
Taking too low of a dose to see any change
Taking too high of a dose that it’s negatively affecting health
Taking a supplement that could worsen a pre-existing condition
Taking a supplement that could interact with medications they are taking
So, always work with medical provider who is trained in supplements, and understands the science behind the nuances of different vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbs found in supplements. That’s because supplements are medicine too.
As a licensed naturopathic doctor, I am trained in holistic and integrative medicine. So, this means I want to holistically understand what your symptoms are and what are the unique underlying factors and root causes of your symptoms. And, I aim to treat these symptoms and underlying factors with integrative options, which means that I am trained in both natural and conventional options.
When I think of acne, I like to think of what is happening on the skin level and what is happening from within. In this blog post, we’ll speak about what causes acne and how a common supplement could be causing or worsening acne.
Disclaimer: This post does not constitute as medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any conditions or disease; and is meant for educational purposes only. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new.
Are you taking this acne-causing supplement?
Science shows that whey protein can trigger skin changes! A small study completed in 2012 showed that whey protein supplementation promoted acne formation in human subjects, and that all subjects taking whey protein “had poor response to acne treatment regimens of oral antibiotics, topical retinoids, and benzoyl peroxide,”
Another small study completed in 2017 showed that whey proteins supplementation in healthy teenagers led to “acne located only to the trunk after the consumption of whey protein supplements for faster bodybuilding.”
So, what’s going on? Well, it’s first important to understand why acne happens.
WHY DOES ACNE HAPPEN?
As a licensed naturopathic doctor, that means I am an expert in both holistic and integrative medicine. As an expert in holistic medicine, I want to understand what symptoms someone is experiencing AND what factors are causing and triggering those symptoms.
When we look at acne, we can see it at the skin level. Acne can be non-inflamed or inflamed and vary in different sizes from small to large. And, as acne gets inflamed and large, they can be really painful!
Read on through to learn what is happening on the skin level
When looking at the skin level, this is what is happening
Science tells us that acne occurs on the skin because of 4 things,
and these 4 things don’t happen in any specific order:
1) Excess oil production
Oil made by skin cells can play a role in clogged pores, contributing to the formation of a white head or a black head
2) Hyperkeratinization
Hyperkeratinization is when there is overproduction of cellular debris, which contributes to the formation of a white head of a black head
3) Bacteria
Bacteria can be found in the pore. This bacteria called Proprionibacterium can release enzymes that break down the oil found in the pore.
4) Bacteria-caused inflammation
Bacterial enzymes that break down oil can trigger an immune response that leads to inflammation of the pore. This inflammation can cause the pore to be raised, red, and painful.
when we look deeper, hormones play a big role
Hormones play an important role in acne. When looking at the science, it seems that it plays a primary role in triggering excess oil protein and hyperkeratinization, leading to clogged pores.
According to science, acne-causing hormones are called androgens. Some examples of androgen hormones are testosterone and DHEA. And, there are many reasons why someone could be experiencing imbalances in these hormones, leading to the development of acne.
While there are hormone conditions that play a role in higher levels of acne-causing hormones, such a polycystic ovarian syndrome and classical/non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia; there are external elements that triggers the body to overproduce these acne-causing hormones.
Going back to whey protein, science shows that whey protein triggers the body to produce insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which tells the body to make more testosterone. And this surge in testosterone could be how whey protein could be triggering acne. Beyond protein powders, whey protein is naturally found in dairy. And, science has shown that dairy is another trigger for acne in some individuals.
When looking at other proteins sources, such as plant proteins and animal proteins, there is no literature indicating that these trigger hormone changes that lead to acne. So, possibly swapping proteins may be worth while for some people!
WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU WANT TO TREAT ACNE NATURALLY?
The answer is simple: Work with a licensed naturopathic provider. As mentioned earlier, licensed naturopathic providers are experts in holistic and integrative medicine.
As integrative medicine experts, we are trained in both natural and conventional options. So, you will be able to capture a vast array of treatment options to help you achieve your skin goals when you work with a licensed naturoapthic doctor.
If you want to see me, I see patients in-person and virtually. The only caveat is that since I am only licensed in the state of California, I can only see patients who are physically in the state of California (especially for telehealth patients).
If you are outside the state a California, a great resource to find a licensed naturoapthic doctor in your state is the Institute for Natural Medicine’s directory: https://naturemed.org/find-an-nd/.
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