Strategies to Prevent Post-Pill Acne

Coming off the oral contraceptive Pill (OCP) is a huge step and one that happens for a multitude of reasons. Either you’re getting ready to start a family, not feeling quite yourself or ready to get to know your body and cycles without the pill! Then sets in the fear, what if my Acne returns? As a general rule whatever you were experiencing prior to going on the pill be it acne, heavy periods or irregular cycles – you can expect things to return to how they were within a 3–6-month time frame. A naturopath can help the transition off the oral contraceptive pill by working preventatively 3 months before stopping the pill to ensure your body has everything it needs on board for healthy hormone production and skin health to make things a bit smoother and the decrease the severity of any symptoms that do return.

Why Does Post-Pill Acne Occur?

Post-Pill acne occurs because natural DHEA and Testosterone production surge once off the pill when the brain re-establishes its connection with the ovaries. Due to this the sebaceous glands of your skin have heightened sensitivity to the increased androgens. Androgens then bind to these sebaceous skin glands and stimulate sebum (oil) production that is thick and pore clogging leading to acne. Further, it is exacerbated by nutritional deficiencies created from OCP use in EFA’s, B’s, Magnesium, Vitamin C and Zinc which further increase the risk of acne occurrence post-pill due to skin cell health(1).

Nutrients to Optimise for Skin Health

Preventatively prior to coming off the pill optimising all the nutritional co-factors for skin health will ensure your body has all of the requirements. This includes ensuring high levels of Essential Fatty acids, B Vitamins, Magnesium, Vitamin C, and Zinc(5). Further the use of specific probiotic strains have been studied showing 40% improvement in acne within an 8 week timeframe as an additional layer to treatment that supports a healthy skin microbiome and decreases an increase in acne occurrence(6), showing the need for a holistic treatment plan covering many bases to ensure acne control.

Dietary Changes

Naturopathically all aspects of diet, lifestyle and correct supplementation are addressed. Dietary changes in relation to acne control post-pill are extremely powerful in the prevention and exacerbation of acne.

Some areas to consider in regards to diet changes include:

• Going Dairy Free: Working preventatively to give acne the least conditions to thrive, removing dairy from your diet will assist in decreasing Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1). High levels of IGF-1 have been correlated with a higher count of acne lesions in women due to the effect it has on increased sebum production(2). Dairy is specifically indicated as just 3 small servings of dairy a day are associated with a 18.6% higher increase in IGF-1(3).
• Blood Sugar Regulation: Eating to optimise blood sugar levels (this doesn’t only apply to diabetics!) by eating balanced meals high in protein, healthy fats and carbohydrates every 3-4 hours will assist in decreasing acne breakouts. By optimising blood sugar regulation it decreases the likelihood of Insulin resistance which has been shown to lead to heightened inflammation and higher free testosterone which leads to more sebum production and thus more breakouts(4).

Working with a Naturopath is key to make your post-pill journey smoother treating the original root cause of your acne for long-lasting results of healthy hormones and healthy glowing skin. By optimising your nutrition, your supplement regime and having a treatment plan tailored to you and your post-pill journey means that you can come off the pill easily, without the breakouts or the stress!

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