Naturopathic Medicine Reverses Acne
Dr. Margaret Schenck, ND
Dr. Margaret Schenk

The best acne treatment available is prevention through proper diet and right living. However, if you have acne and would like an acne solution right now that will make you acne free, consider visiting a naturopathic doctor. Yes, there are plenty of acne products available that help make the acne to go away, but most acne products only treat a symptom of greater underlying problems. To have long term acne free skin then means you must adopt a more natural living lifestyle that gets to the root cause, and that's the point behind natural remedies for acne. Here's the transcript of how Dr. Margaret Schenck, ND, goes about treating severe acne:

Acne is an inflammatory process of the skin. It typically takes place on the face, but may also occur on the chest and/or on the back. It can be a very painful inflammatory process where there are red pustules that appear and it can be debilitating to one’s self esteem.

The conventional treatment for acne includes antibiotics and accutane. Antibiotics are designed to rid the body of the bacteria in the pustules in the skin. Accutane is designed to reduce the inflammation of the skin. The problem with antibiotics is that it will also eliminate all of the good flora in the body, thus decreasing ones immune system. The problem with accutane is that it is highly toxic to the liver and it can cause very severe birth defects.

Acne is caused by a number of imbalances in the body. As a naturopathic doctor, I consider acne to be diabetes of the skin. There is blood sugar disregulation issues, liver congestion, hormonal imbalances and imbalances of the microflora as well as potential food sensitivities.

When somebody comes to me with acne, I want to find out about their diet. I also want to understand their menstrual history, history of antibiotic use as well as oral contraceptives, and get a good understanding of their digestive health. I will do a blood test to identify food sensitivities, a stool analysis to understand microbial imbalances, a neurotransmitter assessment via urine, as well as doing a saliva test to identify hormonal imbalances.

Based on their test results, I will create an individualized therapeutic program. The dietary changes may include an anti-inflammatory diet with a focus on reduced carbohydrates as well as an elimination of refined sugars. I will also have them eliminate any food sensitivities identified. I will also prescribe a detox protocol that will help to support the liver and gastrointestinal health. This detox protocol will include herbs, such as milk thistle and dandelion, it will have digestive support, such as probiotics and fiber, and it may include antimicrobial herbs to address the microbial imbalances as well as some colon hydrotherapy to eliminate toxins.

In addition, I will use nutrients that are antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc and selenium. Omega-3 fatty acids are also very beneficial for the anti-inflammatory process. I will also balance hormones by using herbs and nutrients. Topically, I will recommend bentonite clay masks, tea tree oil and calendula soap.

I have a really high success rate. When patients follow my protocol, more than ninety percent of them will be acne free in six to twelve months.

If somebody would like to reverse their acne, I recommend adopting a natural living lifestyle. This includes eating an organic whole foods diet and taking supplements. These supplements include fish oil, flaxseed oil and probiotics. I also recommend seeing a naturopathic doctor.