Expert: Dr. Kristina Conner - 10/7/2008

Question
Good morning.   My 17 year old son has chronic acne on his face and back. We have tried all of the acne medicines, and now he is trying proactive. We have never gone to the dermatologist for antibiotics or chemicals.  Can you please tell me what he can do naturally herbal and diet to clear this up?  He stresses out in High school about staying on the high honor roll.  He studies alot and I could see this effects him, too. When he is not in school, his face does clear some.  Now its bad on his back and face.  Thanks so much!  Susan

Answer
Hello Susan,
Thanks for writing.  Acne is bane of adolescence, and while not it's not entirely solvable with natural therapies all of the time, it can be significantly improved using a more comprehensive approach than either topicals or medications, although those are important, as is basic hygiene.   
First, diet can play a huge role in the development of acne.  It's a challenge with teenagers, but you want to encourage him as much as possible to stick to:  lots of filtered/ spring water, little or no sodas, juices, coffee, sugar, and fried foods; moderate protein, beans, vegetables, and fruits; and some whole grains with no refined grains.  Dairy is often a sensitivity that shows up on the skin, especially conventional dairy & meats because of the hormone/ pesticide residues.  
Second, stress also plays a large role and so I would look into stress management tools such as exercise, meditation, visualization, counseling, journaling, etc.  An individual homeopathic remedy, if you can see a homeopath, would probably greatly benefit him not only with skin issues but overall.  
There are more specific natural treatments that can be helpful:  liver supportive herbs like dandelion root, yellow dock, and milk thistle, probiotics or enzymes to support digestion, lipotrophics like choline, methionine, beets, artichokes, and high dose vitamin A and zinc; for best results, consult a naturopathic doctor (www.naturopathic.org) who can guide you in these treatments and monitor for side effects.  If there is not one in your area, it would be best to start with a combination of several herbs/ nutrients, and build it up slowly.  
Good luck!
Dr Conner