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Could your acne be caused by gut problems? And how to get rid of acne caused by digestive problems? Questions you’re wondering, too?

Yes, acne can be caused by gut problems.

Acne Prone

If you’re acne prone and you have gut issues as well, I think this post will be invaluable. The gut-acne connection is not one that can be understated.

I always knew that Perioral Dermatitis had everything to do with the gut.

I healed my Perioral Dermatitis naturally with diet and lifestyle, so I definitely saw that correlation.

The secret to healing your acne with diet, lifestyle, and supplements is to understand what gut problem(s) is/are causing it. 

Here is why I say that.

If you do some Internet research on this topic, many people will tell you,

Repopulate ‘good’ bacteria by eating fermented foods, taking a high-quality probiotic, and getting in as much fiber as possible to flush through your system.

You will likely even stumble upon posts like this, “8 Foods for Good Gut Bacteria.”

Do I believe that your acne can be healed like that? Sure, but only if that’s what your gut needs.

Unfortunately, for most people with severe IBS and/or IBD, those three things are not the immediate answer.

And in fact, I would argue they could make your acne worse (or at the very least less likely to see any healing progress).

Without getting to the root of your digestive system, it will be almost impossible to fix your skin issues. 

How to Get Rid of Acne Caused by Digestive Problems (Gut-Acne Connection)

Click HERE to save this post on how to get rid of acne caused by digestive problems for later.

Here are some cited resources linking acne and the gut:

1. Acne and Inflammation Listen to the THIS episode of The Balanced Bites Podcast (Side note: In it, Liz mentions, “But when you start to discover all of the different active ingredients that are so well known, so well studied, and so safe for things like acne, you just get kind of addicted to learning more about what might be able to help your skin. And one of the reasons Diane was just talking about this line of products that we got to try at the Beautycounter summit. One of the reasons it’s so awesome is because it’s this concoction of highly pure active ingredients that are really, really effective, and known to be effective, in healing the skin.” Wondering what that product is? It’s now available, and I wrote all about it for you HERE.)
2. How Fermented Foods Can Trigger Acne
3. SIBO: A Contributing Factor in Acne and Rosacea
4. Gut bacteria can change in 3 days
5. Hormones, Acne, and the Gut
6. Gut-Skin-Brain Axis
7. Low Stomach Acid Is Low Stomach Acid the Reason Behind Your Acne? (Note: Low stomach acid is a cause of SIBO, and you can click HERE for 33 ways to see if you have low stomach acid.)

Cystic Acne on Back

I’m living proof.

And this is the part you’ve all been waiting for….my own, personal experience.

Do I really want to share these pictures? Not really, but without them, I can’t fully prove my point.

Here was my back on February 25, 2018 (shortly after I knew the SIBO had relapsed).

And then on March 16, 2018. (I’m really trying to tell myself that diet and lifestyle has nothing to do with acne.)

Finally, I took this picture last Thursday, May 31. (When I took this picture, I had only made changes about a week prior, on Wednesday, May 23.)

Literally all that remains is some scarring.

I didn’t start Rifaximin/Neomycin until Friday, June 1, so even though those antibiotics typically always help clear the skin, that was not what I did.

Everything I did during the week that saw massive healing was 100% natural. I tracked it all in a journal so I knew for sure.

Here is exactly what I did.

Treatment Plan for Cystic Back Acne

Here are 6 ways I naturally healed my cystic back acne in 1 week.

Click HERE to save these 6 ways for later.

Good News! Treatment Plan

Here are 6 ways I naturally healed my cystic back acne in 1 week.

Click HERE to save these 6 ways for later.

1. Basics

The very first thing I did was go back to everything from my book, A Gutsy Girl’s Bible as if I was starting on Day 1….including the lifestyle changes which I teach and preach throughout it.

2. Combination of GAPS Diet + Low-FODMAP

And yes, between these first two alone, my diet was highly altered from what I had been doing.

No more grains, so I was mourning the loss of Mr. White Rice. No more sugars or Booch, so I was mourning the loss of many things. And so much more.

I didn’t even have a banana for a few days.

3. HCL Like a Champ

I had gotten lazy with the HCL, but since I know that’s my main (at least one of them) root cause with SIBO relapse, I started consistently taking HCL about 3 times a day.

This helps my gastrointestinal tract break down nutrients into their smallest part, which relieves a lot of stress on the system.

4. Digestive Enzymes

No matter what I was eating, I started getting help with Digestive Enzymes again.

This is another way to relieve some of the stress on the GI tract.

5. L-Glutamine

(Insert me pouring it over my life.)

I put it on and in everything.

This amino acid is incredibly effective at restoring the intestinal barrier, which was necessary in my case.

L-glutamine is a supplement I recommend for anyone with leaky gut syndrome, or high intestinal permeability. 

Learn all about how much L-glutamine to take and why it’s so crucial for healing your gut HERE.

6. Collagen / Gelatin

(Also insert me pouring it over my life.)

Without consuming any smoothies, this one was more challenging to do, but I added it in it a weird way.

I’d make an entire bag of green beans, then once they were super hot, I’d pour Liquid Coconut Oil over them, add in any meat, and quickly sprinkle as much collagen as I could without it getting clumpy.

Then, I’d stir until it was mostly added in.

Worked like a charm (the secret is that the food has to be hot and you have to use enough oil, which, by the way, can also be great for gut healing.)

Gelatin helps to coat the intestines and relieve inflammation, which is very soothing to the intestinal wall. 

Probiotics for Acne

Due to the massive gut-skin connection, probiotics for acne can be an option, as previously mentioned.

The health of the gut microbiome is directly tied to the skin, so adding in some healthy bacteria can have beneficial effects. 

This is especially helpful for those that have a growth of bad bacteria or gut dysbiosis. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or SIBO is a HUGE root cause for skin issues, so keep that in mind too. 

If you have never tried this one, you might consider it.

My friends at Just Thrive Health say this,

What’s going on in your microbiome – where trillions of bacteria reside in your gut – is reflected on your skin.

I swear by the Just Thrive probiotic supplement for many reasons which I describe HERE.

If you want to try them, you can use my code AGUTSYGIRL HERE to save 15% off your Just Thrive order.

If you’re interested in learning more about why the Just Thrive probiotic might be best for acne, check Skin Deep Probiotics.

Oral Antibiotics for Adult Acne

Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that oral antibiotics are an option.

Here are some common ones people use:

1. Clindamycin
2. Erythromycin
3. Tetracyclines, which include:
   1. Doxycycline (such as Vibramycin or Monodox)
   2. Minocycline (such as Minocin)
4. Azithromycin
5. Sarecycline

If you decide they are for you, then go for it.

I’m not here to judge.

But here is what I will tell you from personal experience.

If you aren’t addressing the underlying cause for the cystic acne in the first place, the antibiotics will only take you so far.

Read my story with them HERE.

I took: Erythromycin and Bactroban (topical products). I was also on birth control at one point. While I believe they maybe temporarily helped, it always came back.

Sources: HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Diet

Another important aspect to consider is the quality of foods you are eating on a  regular basis.

If you are eating high amounts of artificial sweeteners, gluten, and dairy, some of your acne may be caused by simple gut inflammation.

A poor diet will eventually, without fail, cause poor digestion or skin issues.

Focus your attention on eating unprocessed whole foods that are supportive of overall health and functioning. 

This includes foods such as:

• bone broth and other soothing liquids
• fresh meat and fish
• nuts and legumes
• fresh fruit and vegetables

By eliminating inflammatory foods you may find significant improvement in your skin problems.

This may not be a root cause, but it certainly can help you on your way towards clear skin. 

In addition, try to eliminate or minimize the following inflammatory foods from your diet:

• gluten- highly inflammatory and causes poor gut health
• dairy
• alcohol
• caffeine

It also may be worth getting tested for food sensitivities, as these can cause an inflammatory response that can threaten healthy skin. 

You Have a Choice

But listen, YOU have a choice. We all have choices, and our choices make or break us. 

In no way, shape, or form did I want to do any of the above.

It’s a pain in my a#$, takes time, and costs money.

But ultimately I sort of just snapped.

I was SO sick and tired of knowing my cystic back acne was caused by chronic inflammation and not doing anything about it.

If you have cystic acne, a rotten gut, you’re starving, and gaining weight (or losing too much), depressed, anxious, and/or anything else, you must look within and really assess the situation before putting the blame on someone else or throwing the hands in the air saying,

I’ve done everything, though.

Because, have you really done everything?

I tried telling myself that I had done everything.

Clearly I didn’t because all it took was one week for insane turnaround to happen.

It took addressing my unhealthy gut to see the difference, but it was up to me. I chose good health in the name of some extra time and effort. 

If you’re sitting there reading this today and asking, “Could my acne be caused by gut problems,” know that the answer is YES.

You have the power TODAY to start making changes.

I’m always here to listen.

If you liked this post on how to get rid of acne caused by digestive problems, you might also enjoy:

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• Apple Cider Vinegar

Xox,
SKH