Beauty Inside Out – Nutrionist Kylie Dowling Gives Her Advice For Teen Acne

When we think of our teenagers and acne we automatically think about skin care and what we can put on their skin to help clear it up. Yes, topical factors and making sure products contain clean ingredients are very important but as a nutritionist I am also focusing on hormone health, gut health, stress levels and of course diet.

All good health starts in the gut and with so much change going on during these adolescent years knowing that you are nourishing your child from the inside out is particularly important and an important starting point for reducing acne. 

So, if all good health starts in the gut you need to look at diet and making sure your teen is eating a whole food diet with lots of diversity for microbiome richness. Important nutrients to include are Zinc and Omega 3. Zinc can be found in oysters, beef, salmon, pepitas and spinach, just to name a few. Zinc will help with skin healing, reduce sebum production and reduce inflammation. Omega 3 is found in cod liver oil, oily fish, flaxseed oil and avocados, Omega 3 helps to regulate hormones, reduce inflammation and decrease sebum production. 

My Top 5 tips

• Hydration – hydrated skin will look healthy and radiant rather than dehydrated skin which will be red, dry and irritated. Aim for roughly 2 litres of filtered water a day.
• Avoid dairy products – dairy products result in excess sebum production causing clogging in follicles and comedone formation.
• Follow a whole food template – real food comes from the ground, plants, trees, animals and the ocean. Restrict intake of refined sugars, bread, pastries, pasta, lollies, chocolate and soft drinks.
• Keep moving – regular exercise 
• Good quality skin care

There is no magic pill such as the oral contraceptive pill or long term antibiotics such as Accutane. These are a band-aid and will have a negative impact on the gut microbiome. I quite often recommend Herbs of Gold “Clear Skin” supplement to support a healthy diet. If your teen is eating a whole food diet and using good skin care such as Honeybee House Skin Co and you’re not seeing results it might be time to dive a bit deeper with practitioner support.

I would like to thank Kylie for taking the time to write up these simple, easy to follow guidelines to help with teenage acne. If you would like to connect with Kylie as a practitioner you can find her at Https://nutrioninsideout.com.au