Adult Acne
Adult acne can feel incredibly unfair. You might have thought spots were something you’d left behind in your teens, yet here you are navigating breakouts, sore cysts, scarring and the knock-on impact on your confidence.
For some women, acne shows up around the jawline and chin, often linked with hormones. For others, it’s more general – whiteheads, blackheads and inflamed spots across the cheeks, forehead, back or chest. On top of this, you might also be juggling bloating, period issues, low energy or mood changes, which can leave you feeling exhausted and fed up.
Is there one cause of acne?
Acne is a symptom, not a character flaw. And it’s rarely caused by just one thing.
Two people can both have “acne”, but the underlying drivers might be quite different. For example:
One person’s skin might flare in the week before their period, suggesting a strong hormonal pattern.
Another may notice their breakouts worsen with certain foods, poor sleep or high stress.
For someone else, long-standing gut issues or nutrient deficiencies might be quietly contributing in the background.
Genetics, hormones, gut health, skincare, stress levels, medication, contraception, blood sugar balance and even how you detoxify and clear hormones can all shape how your acne behaves. That’s why generic advice like “just drink more water” or “cut out sugar and dairy” often isn’t enough.
What can be causing my acne?
Everyone is different, but when I’m working with acne there are some common areas I often consider:
Blood sugar balance – Big peaks and crashes in blood sugar can influence hormones, inflammation and sebum (oil) production, which may aggravate breakouts for some people.
Hormone balance – Androgens, oestrogen and progesterone can all impact the skin. This might be especially relevant if you notice flares around ovulation, before your period, or if you have conditions like PCOS.
Gut health and digestion – Your gut helps process and clear hormones, toxins and waste products. Bloating, constipation or loose stools may be telling us your gut could use some support.
Nutrient status – Nutrients such as zinc, vitamin A, omega-3 fats and antioxidants all play a role in skin repair, inflammation and barrier function.
Stress and sleep – High stress and poor sleep can change how your immune system and hormones behave, sometimes showing up through your skin.
What working with me looks like
When you work with me, my aim is to make our sessions feel calm, collaborative and supportive. There's no perfection, and certainly no stric rules.
In your first consultation we'll take the time to build a picure of your health history. Within that we'll dig deep into when your acne started, and how it's changed over time. But we'll also talk about your digestion, bowel habits, energy levels, mood, period patterns and sleep. And of course your current day to day diet. Depending on your situation, we may also discuss whether additional testing (for example, bloods, stool testing or hair mineral analysis) could provide helpful information – but testing is never mandatory.
After this session is when the real work begins. You'll recieve a personalised nutrition and lifestyle plan, tailored to your goals, preferences and life. We’ll focus on what you can add in, not just what you “shouldn’t” have. Depending on what programme you choose you'll have a number of follow up appointments where we will review your progress and tweak your plan accordingly.
Between sessions you'll be able to check in via your client portal, so you're not left alone trying to figure it all out.
When to speak to your GP
Nutritional therapy can be a powerful part of acne support, but it doesn’t replace medical care.
You should speak to your GP or dermatologist if:
Your acne is suddenly severe, very painful or rapidly getting worse
You notice unexplained weight loss, hair loss or other significant new symptoms
Acne is having a strong impact on your mood, and you’re feeling very low or hopeless
You develop side effects from any medication or treatment
I’m always happy to work alongside your medical team, and can help you make sense of test results or treatment options from a nutrition perspective.
Ready for calmer, more confident skin?
If you’re tired of trying to piece things together on your own, my Acne Rebalance Programme is designed to give you structured, personalised support over several months.
You can start with a free introductory call to see whether it feels like the right fit, or explore the full programme details here. You don’t have to do this alone.