Acne & Naturopathic Care: Looking Beyond the Skin
If you’ve dealt with acne, you’ve probably tried your share of cleansers, serums, spot treatments, supplements, facials, and “miracle” products.
Maybe something worked for a while. Maybe nothing seemed to make much difference. Or maybe your skin improves, only to flare again.
Sometimes, finding the right approach means stepping back and looking at the bigger picture.
At Rooted, Dr. Sarah Kiss takes an evidence-informed approach to acne care. We start with your skin, your health history, and your goals, then consider whether there are other factors that may be relevant.
Not every case of acne has an underlying health issue contributing to it. Sometimes, the skin is simply the skin. It’s about understanding your particular pattern — not assuming there is something happening beneath the skin.
Understanding Your Acne
Acne is a common skin condition that develops through a combination of factors: excess oil production, a buildup of dead skin cells within the hair follicles, the bacterium Cutibacterium acnes, and inflammation that together drive the formation of acne lesions.¹
Acne can vary considerably from person to person, ranging from non-inflammatory lesions, such as blackheads and whiteheads, to red, raised pimples and, in more severe cases, deeper nodules and cysts.
Acne can affect more than the skin itself. It can have a meaningful impact on confidence, quality of life, and psychological wellbeing, regardless of how severe it appears to someone else.²
Some people continue to experience acne into adulthood, while others develop it for the first time later in life.
The type, location, timing, and severity of your acne can all help provide context for your care.
When Might a Broader Assessment Be Helpful?
Acne does not automatically mean that something else is wrong. But there are times when your acne occurs alongside other changes that make a broader assessment worthwhile.
Your periods have changed
Your cycles have become irregular, infrequent, unusually heavy, or otherwise different from what is typical for you.
Your acne follows a pattern
Your breakouts consistently flare around your menstrual cycle or change alongside other hormonal symptoms.
You’re noticing changes in hair growth
New or increased facial or body hair, or unexpected scalp hair thinning. Acne on its own is a relatively weak predictor of biochemical hyperandrogenism.³ However acne when it occurs alongside other signs of androgen excess, can be relevant when assessing hormonal health.
Your skin has changed suddenly or persistently
You’ve developed new or persistent skin changes without an obvious explanation, or your usual acne pattern has changed.
You’ve noticed other changes in your health
Your acne is occurring alongside other changes in your health that you’d like to understand.
You’re not responding well to your current plan
You’re experiencing side effects, inconsistent results, or feeling like nothing is working as it should.
What Does Naturopathic Acne Care Look Like?
Naturopathic acne care starts with understanding your particular pattern of acne, rather than assuming every case has the same cause.
An assessment may include:
- When your acne began and how it has changed
- Where your breakouts occur and what they look like
- Whether your acne follows a particular pattern
- Your current skincare and hair-care routine
- Previous acne treatments and your response to them
- Your menstrual and reproductive history
- Your medical history, medications, and supplements
- Nutrition, sleep, stress, and other lifestyle factors
- Your goals and preferences
Recommendations are then focused on the factors most relevant to you.
Depending on your needs, your plan may include:
Targeted Lab Work
When clinically appropriate, laboratory testing may be considered to further investigate hormonal health, nutrient status, or other concerns identified during your assessment.
Testing is not routinely required for acne; when it may be useful, we’ll explain what we are looking for and why.
Nutrition & Lifestyle
When relevant to your broader health picture, we may discuss nutrition, sleep, movement, stress, and other lifestyle factors.
Recommendations are individualized rather than based on a standard “acne diet” or protocol. Current evidence is not sufficient to recommend a specific diet for treating acne.² The focus is not to follow a restrictive “acne diet,” but to identify practical changes that are appropriate for you.
Supplements & Botanical Medicine
When appropriate, supplements or botanical medicines may be considered as part of a treatment plan. Recommendations are based on your health history, medications, and goals, as well as the available evidence — not on generalized protocols or marketing claims. Supplements such as zinc and omega-3 fatty acids have early clinical evidence in acne care, though findings remain limited and mixed.⁵·⁶ Where a supplement is relevant to your situation, we will explain what the evidence does and doesn’t show.
Skin Health
Your skin still needs direct care. Evidence-based acne care includes appropriate skincare alongside treatments selected according to the type and severity of acne.²
Your plan may include guidance on products and ingredients that support the skin barrier, help prevent clogged pores, and address active acne while minimizing irritation.
Conventional & Prescription Treatments
We do not believe you have to choose between conventional and naturopathic care. Prescription medications can be an important and effective part of acne treatment, depending on the type, severity, and persistence of your acne.²
If you’re already using prescription medication, we can take your existing plan into account rather than asking you to start over.
When Should You Seek Medical or Dermatologic Care?
Naturopathic care is not a replacement for medical or dermatologic treatment when that level of care is needed.
Prompt assessment is particularly important when there is:
- Deep, painful nodules or cysts
- Acne that is scarring or rapidly worsening
- Acne that isn’t responding to appropriate treatment
- Persistent redness, discolouration, or other skin changes following breakouts
- Acne causing significant emotional distress
Depending on the type and severity of acne, evidence-based treatment options may include topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, hormonal therapies such as birth control pills, oral antibiotics, and isotretinoin.2,4
When Nothing Seems to Work
When acne keeps coming back, it can take up far more mental space than most people realize.
You think about what you’re eating.
You wonder whether your skincare is making things worse.
You notice every new breakout.
Maybe you’ve seen your doctor or dermatologist.
Maybe you’ve invested in professional treatments, only to find yourself dealing with another flare-up months later.
It can start to feel like you’re running out of options.
But persistent acne doesn’t necessarily mean you need to try more things. It may mean it’s time to reassess what’s already been tried and look more closely at the pattern of your acne.
Sometimes, the next step isn’t adding something new. It’s figuring out what may not be relevant, what is worth keeping, and what makes sense to try next.
Ready to Look Beyond the Surface?
If you’re tired of trying to figure out your acne on your own, a comprehensive assessment can help you make sense of your breakouts and clarify what next steps may be appropriate for you.
Book a complimentary Meet-the-Doctor session with Dr. Sarah Kiss to see if we’re the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. Your current routine is part of the information we consider when assessing your skin.
We can review what you’re using and determine whether any changes would be useful.
Hormones can contribute to acne, but acne isn’t always hormonal. Breakouts that follow a predictable menstrual pattern or occur alongside other signs of androgen excess may warrant a closer look at hormonal health.³
Yes. Acne can occur without an identifiable hormonal disorder. Hormonal factors may be relevant for some people — particularly when acne occurs alongside other signs of androgen excess — but they are not the only contributing factor, and we assess each person’s situation individually.³
Acne is a condition that can often be well managed, but there is no single treatment that permanently resolves it for every person. Treatment depends on the type, severity, and contributing factors involved.
Naturopathic care can be part of an individualized acne treatment plan and can complement conventional medical or dermatologic care when appropriate.
Yes. Naturopathic care can be used alongside conventional medical and dermatologic care when appropriate.
Fertility goals are an important consideration when developing an acne care plan. Some acne medications are not appropriate during pregnancy or when trying to conceive, so your current or planned treatment should be reviewed with an appropriate healthcare professional.
Looking for broader fertility or preconception care? Learn more about Fertility & Infertility Care.
References
- Cruz S, Vecerek N, Elbuluk N. Targeting Inflammation in Acne: Current Treatments and Future Prospects. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2023 Sep;24(5):681-694. doi: 10.1007/s40257-023-00789-1. Epub 2023 Jun 16. PMID: 37328614; PMCID: PMC10460329.
- Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, Cook-Bolden F, Desai SR, Druby KM, Freeman EE, Keri JE, Stein Gold LF, Tan JKL, Tollefson MM, Weiss JS, Wu PA, Zaenglein AL, Han JM, Barbieri JS. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024 May;90(5):1006.e1-1006.e30. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017. Epub 2024 Jan 30. Erratum in: J Am Acad Dermatol. 2026 Jul;95(1):347. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2026.04.009. PMID: 38300170.
- Teede HJ, Tay CT, Laven JJE, Dokras A, Moran LJ, Piltonen TT, Costello MF, Boivin J, Redman LM, Boyle JA, Norman RJ, Mousa A, Joham AE. Recommendations From the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Sep 18;108(10):2447-2469. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgad463. PMID: 37580314; PMCID: PMC10505534.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Acne vulgaris: management (NG198). Published June 25, 2021; updated 03 August 2026. NICE. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng198
- Yee BE, Richards P, Sui JY, Marsch AF. Serum zinc levels and efficacy of zinc treatment in acne vulgaris: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dermatol Ther. 2020 Nov;33(6):e14252. doi: 10.1111/dth.14252. Epub 2020 Sep 15. PMID: 32860489.
- Jung JY, Kwon HH, Hong JS, Yoon JY, Park MS, Jang MY, Suh DH. Effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid and gamma-linolenic acid on acne vulgaris: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial. Acta Derm Venereol. 2014 Sep;94(5):521-5. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1802. PMID: 24553997.