Acne Naturopath Brisbane

For those who have “tried everything” – our Brisbane-Based clinic will help you discover your ‘root cause’, as acne is more than surface level.

About Acne

Acne is where there is inflammation in the sebaceous gland, which is located in your hair follicle. This blockage causes a build up of sebum, and the subsequent proliferation of the bacteria c. acnes within the hair follicle. This causes inflammation (a bump), and can lead to immune activation (redness/swelling/white heads) (Podwojniak et al., 2024).

It’s important to understand that acne doesn’t appear overnight (nor does it disappear overnight!). To treat acne naturally, you need to figure out the cause of the blockage (see below!), and address any drivers of inflammation and immune dysfunction.

Many clients who come to my clinic are overwhelmed by the info online. It is important to know that each body has unique drivers and treatment should not be a ‘one size fits all’ scenario. Unfortunately, many mainstream treatments overlook the full picture of skin health, with people often being prescribed the same treatments for months or even years at a time, with minimal benefit and/or side effects.

Causes of Acne

Acne can have multiple contributing factors, which are often overlooked in routine medical assessments. Understanding YOUR individual root cause/s is key to creating a personalised treatment plan that clears skin effectively and supports long-term skin health.

Common causes we see in clinic include:

Cause	What it does	Underlying driver
Issues with sebum composition	This will cause your oil to be ‘too thick’, which can block the hair follicle	Omega-3 deficiency, hormonal imbalance (particularly testosterone and DHT), dietary imbalances (think sugar/inflammatory foods) (Del Rosso & Kircik, 2024).
Issue with desquamation, which is how your body naturally exfoliates	This will cause your skin to hold on to ‘dead’ skin cells, which can block the hair follcile	Dehydration acid mantle defects, UV damage, environmental issues (aircon/humidity), using excessive stripping products, an issue called leaky gut which affects absorption of nutrients that control this process (Webster, 2005).
Acid mantle defect	This is located on the superficial part of your skin, and has three functions: Prevents water loss/keeps the skin hydrated Controls the pH of the skin which is important at controlling pathogens Slows down the absorption of active ingredients	Nutrient deficiencies and dietary imbalances,, using the wrong products on your skin, gut microbiome imbalances (this affects the GUT-SKIN axis, specifically the acid mantle composition and the skin immunity/microbiome).Hormones can also affect this – specifically the nervous system. A stressed body will shut down your acid mantle.(Brooks et al., 2025).
Dirt/Grime and/or excess picking of the skin	This adds pathogenic microbes directly to the skin, and if you have an impaired acid mantle, it can increase the risk of acne	An impaired skin immune system that becomes too reactive to the environment is usually due to issues within the gut microbiome, which affects the skins acid mantle and skin microbiome.
Comedogenic and/or irritating ingredients in cosmetic products (hint: they’re EVERYWHERE!)	These are ingredients that block hair follicle pores, and irritate or affect the acid mantle contributing to defects (Kligman et al., 1970).	Environmental issues
Staphylococcus or Streptococcus infection mimicking acne	Although acne is classically linked to c. acnes bacteria, secondary bacterialplayers can mimic acne (Dren et al., 2017)– pro tip: if you have tried everything for your skin and it isn’t responding or getting worse, check for a secondary infection.	Skin microbiome imbalance and/or acid mantle defect.

Natural Acne Treatment by an Accredited Naturopath

Our naturopathic approach to acne focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes, rather than just managing symptoms. The consultative process is designed to educate, provide clarity, and create personalised guidance, and ongoing support for healthy, balanced skin.

Step 1 – Initial Consultation
Your first session is a thorough review of your skin concerns and overall health. We explore your diet, lifestyle, hormone balance, gut health, family/genetic history, previous testing and treatments, and current skin care routine. This holistic approach allows us to understand the internal and external factors contributing to your acne.

Step 2 – Testing & Investigation
To ensure we’re targeting the right areas, testing is often recommended. These investigations help us uncover underlying imbalances, so your treatment plan is precise and effective. It is important to know that you do NOT need to test if you do not want to, and a treatment plan can be created based off our consultation alone.

Common tests/investigations

Gut health	A functional gut microbiome test, called a complete microbiome mapping will review the connection between the gut-skin axis
Nutrient deficiencies	Pathology testing, hair mineral and heavy metal analysis can identify imbalances
Stress and adrenal issues	Pathology testing, DUTCH testing, and/or saliva hormone test
Hormonal imbalances	Pathology testing, DUTCH and/or saliva hormone testing
Lifestyle and environmental factors	Diet and/or lifestyle diaries, environmental questionnairesWe will also take a comprehensive look into your skin care to identify comedogenic and/or irritating ingredients
Skin swab/PCR	To identify an underlying streptococcus or staphyloccus infection that mimics acne

Step 3 – Individualised Treatment Plan
If testing was organised, we review the results together and create a personalised treatment plan. Depending on your needs, this may include dietary and lifestyle adjustments, corneotherapeutic skin care recommendations, herbal remedies, and nutritional supplements. Every plan is tailored specifically to you and your skin goals.

Naturopathic treatment aims for acne can include:

Reduce sebaceous gland hyperactivity via addressing hormonal imbalances & provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support to prevent comedone formation.
Modulate inflammation and immune reactivity via diet, herbal and nutritional interventions, and modification of the gut microbiome, to enhance immune balance of the skin to reduce overactivation against C acnes
Support microbiome balance – gut and skin – via improve gut microbial diversity and improving the integrity of the intestinal barrier to reduce systemic inflammation and endotoxin burden.
Improve gut microbial diversity and integrity of the intestinal barrier to reduce systemic inflammation and endotoxin burden.
Enhance skin barrier function and wound healing via upregulating skin cell turnover via nutrients and herbs and dietary interventions.
Address the nervous system and stress response to reduce stress-induced hormonal change, and promote the parasympathetic nervous system to encourge wound healing and repair.
Educate and prevent recurrence via providing guidance on diet, skincare, and lifestyle practices that minimise inflammation and microbial imbalance.

Step 4 – Ongoing Support & Monitoring
Follow-up consultations, typically every 4–8 weeks, allow us to track your progress, adjust treatments as needed, and provide continued guidance. Regular support ensures your skin health improves sustainably and helps prevent future flare-ups. The goal is to have a significant improvement within 3-5 months.

Your Acne Questions Answered

Do you need to see me in person?

No, my clinic is in Brisbane and if you are unable to travel or prefer an online consultation, I provide this service Australia-Wide.

Can I seek naturopathic help if I am using roaccutane or doxycycline?

Yes, in fact I recommend it. There are things that Roaccutane and Doxycycline don’t do, so natural medicine can work in conjunction with these medications to address issues like hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, and gut microbiome imbalances to help you gain long lasting clear skin.

Can I seek naturopathic help if I am using hormonal contraception to manage my acne?

Yes, in fact I recommend it. The pill is shutting down your own hormone pathways which is why it can be so beneficial in those who have hormonal acne. It doesn’t correct though – so natural medicine can help to correct the underlying drivers of your hormonal imbalance so you can come off the pill and have long lasting clear skin.

I have tried everything already, what will natural medicine do differently?

There’s other things that you might not know about. I find many of my clients are under the assumption that they have ‘tested everything’ or ‘tried everything’, but when reviewing their tests or treatments, things have been missed. Natural medicine also has functional testing that is not available to you under modern medicine, such as gut microbiome testing, saliva hormone testing, or fungal and bacterial skin swabs, and are key to understanding your ‘root cause’ of acne.

How long does it take to see a difference in my skin?

Physiologically, your superficial layer of skin takes 4 weeks to turn over when you’re in your teens and early 20’s. As you age, this slows down. Skin turnover rate can also be affected by inflammation and oxidative stress, UV damage, nutrient deficiencies, stress, chronic illness, dietary imbalances, and hormonal imbalances . On average, it takes about 12 weeks.

I’ve been told my acne is genetic due to my family/mum/dad/sibling having it too. Does that mean there is nothing I can do?

Genetics aren’t your ‘root cause’ of acne. We know that there are triggers for genetics, and natural medicine is about finding your trigger to reduce your genetic expression. Common triggers for genetics include: dietary issues, stress, environmental toxins, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, a change in your gut microbiome and inflammation and oxidative stress.

Why Naturopathy and Why Choose Us?

Accredited & Experienced Practitioner

You’re in safe hands. As a fully accredited naturopath, I follow professional standards and stay up-to-date with the latest research and best practices in natural medicine. Your care is guided by expertise and integrity.

Personalised Treatments From A Practitioner That Truly Cares

We understand that health journeys are personal and sometimes challenging. We take the time to listen, understand your unique situation, and provide compassionate, holistic support tailored specifically to you.

Evidence-Based, Results-Oriented Treatments

Our recommendations are grounded in scientific evidence and clinical experience. We combine the wisdom of natural medicine with modern research to create treatments that are safe, effective, and targeted to your individual needs.

Clear skin is possible. Discover your ‘root cause’ with an experienced naturopath in Brisbane, and achieve long lasting results and life long education.

REFERENCES:

Brooks, S. G., Mahmoud, R. H., Lin, R. R., Fluhr, J. W., & Yosipovitch, G. (2024). The skin acid mantle: An update on skin pH. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2024.07.009

Del Rosso, J. Q., & Kircik, L. (2023). The primary role of sebum in the pathophysiology of acne vulgaris and its therapeutic relevance in acne management. Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 35(1), Article 2296855. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546634.2023.2296855

Dreno, B., Martin, R., Moyal, D., Henley, J. B., Khammari, A., & Seité, S. (2017). Skin microbiome and acne vulgaris: Staphylococcus, a new actor in acne. Experimental Dermatology, 26(9), 798-803. https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.13296

Kligman, A. M., Wheatley, V. R., & Mills, O. H. (1970). Comedogenicity of human sebum. Archives of Dermatology, 102(3), 267-275. https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.1970.04000090029005

Podwojniak, A., Tan, I. J., Sauer, J., Neubauer, Z., Rothenberg, H., Ghani, H., Parikh, A. K., & Cohen, B. (2025). Acne and the cutaneous microbiome: A systematic review of mechanisms and implications for treatments. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 39(4), 793-805. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.20332

Webster, G. F. (2005). The pathophysiology of acne. Cutis, 76(2 Suppl), 4–7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16164150/