Risen Skin Co.

🌿 Acne 🌿

Rather than asking “what can I put on my acne?” lets shift our focus to ask “why is my skin responding with breakouts in the first place?”

An important pathway involved in acne is called mTOR. It helps regulate skin cell growth and oil (sebum) production among other things— like mitochondrial metabolism and protein synthesis. When the mTOR pathway becomes overstimulated, it ramps up sebum production and skin cell proliferation, clogging pores while trapping bacteria and yeast—resulting in acne.

Some factors that can contribute to acne include:

✨Gut microbiome - dysbiosis can contribute to increased inflammation and influence the mTOR pathway
✨Diet - excessive intake of dairy, sugar, refined wheat, and the amino acid l-leucine found in muscle proteins, cow milk protein (casein), whey protein, soy protein, and egg protein can overstimulate the mTOR pathway
✨Stress - elevated cortisol stimulates oil glands to increase secretion of sebum and disrupts the integrity of the skin barrier
✨Hormones - excess androgens and insulin/insulin like growth factor-1, and the relative drop in estrogen prior to menstruation can increase the production of sebum. Supporting gut health also supports healthy hormone metabolism (although hormones can be influenced by multiple factors)
✨Some cosmetics / skin care products
✨Some supplements, medications, and ingredients in person care products including vitamin B12, biotin, birth control, steroids, fluoride, and SLS (these aren’t a trigger for everyone, but some individuals)

Some foods help regulate the mTOR pathway:
✅Green tea
✅Pomegranate
✅Curcumin - found in turmeric
✅Blueberries

Studies:
✔️ - A 2014 study showed that 60% of people with mild acne showed H. Pylori colonization, while 88% of people with severe acne had H Pylori upon testing.
✔️ - A 2017 study showed that a diet high in plants and low in processed foods was linked to improvements in acne.
✔️ - A 2002 study found that people in non-westernized societies don’t have acne. 115 People in Paraguay ages 15 and up were examined over an 843 day time period and not one pimple, pustule, or comedone was found. 1,200 people in Papua New Guinea ages 15 and up were examined over a 7 week time period and again, not one pimple, pustule, or comedone was found.

🌱 At Risen Skin Co., we take a root-cause approach to helping clients with acne. We focus on supporting a healthy gut microbiome, reducing inflammatory triggers, supporting healthy nutrition, reviewing skincare products, supplements, and other factors that could be contributing, and supporting a health skin barrier with gentle topical care.

📊 Links to studies mentioned in this post:

https://scialert.net/abstract/amp.php?doi=jms.2014.92.96

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28513546/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12472346/

Acne vulgaris: a disease of Western civilization - PubMed The astonishing difference in acne incidence rates between nonwesternized and fully modernized societies cannot be solely attributed to genetic differences among populations but likely results from differing environmental factors. Identification of these factors may be useful in the treatment of acn...

🌿 Keratosis Pilaris AKA “chicken skin” 🌿

Keratosis pilaris is a common skin condition characterized by small, rough bump due to a build up of keratin within the hair follicles. Most commonly found on the back of the arms, thighs, and buttocks.

There is still a lot to learn about KP, but
some factors that may contribute are:

•Inadequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A & E, and/or zinc - all of which are essential for healthy skin barrier function

•Gluten and/or dairy sensitivity - contributes to inflammation that can alter skin barrier function and sebum quality in some individuals

•Hormonal fluctuation - changes in hormones impact skin barrier function and hydration

•Gut dysbiosis - contributes to inflammation which can reduce absorption of nutrients needed to support healthy skin barrier function

Paying attention to what flares your KP can help you identify your contributing factors.

🌱 Natural recommendations to consider:

✨ Include foods rich in omega 3, zinc, vitamin A & E in your diet consistently. A high quality multivitamin can help fill these gaps. My favorite is GUD (can be found on my Doctors Supplement Store supplement dispensary)

✨ Consider a trial of removing gluten and dairy for 1-3 months

✨ Add a *high quality* fish oil like Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil or Ayush Herbs High Omega-3 Fish Oil (can potentially be found locally or on my Fullscript supplement dispensary)

✨ Topically- apply organic cold pressed h**p or flax seed oil to the area 1-2x daily / exfoliate 2-3x per week with a gentle exfoliator - I like Buf-Puf gentle facial sponge on Amazon with Vooqo Body Scrub or Freshwater Farm Rosewater + Pink Clay soap bar

✨ If gut dysbiosis is suspected, targeted herbal support may be needed to move the needle. This is individualized due to everyone’s unique situation.

🌿 If you tried all the KP things and haven’t seen improvement, it may be time to look beneath the surface.

How does Risen Skin Co. help people address skin conditions? 🌿

⚖️ Did you know 70-80% of your immune system lives in your gut? No wonder gut health has become such an important topic!

🦠 Your gut microbiome— the 38 trillion microbes living in your gut— works closely with your immune system. When your gut microbiome is balanced and healthy, it helps regulate inflammatory pathways that can impact skin health.

🛠️ These microbes don’t just live in our gut for fun, they perform numerous beneficial tasks including the following:

•Help break down our food for better nutrient absorption
•Produce vitamins such as certain B vitamins and vitamin K
•Crowd out harmful pathogen
•Train and support the immune system
•Produce short chain fatty acids that nourish the gut lining and support healthy inflammatory responses
•Support immune regulation, including promoting T regulatory cells (Tregs), which help maintain immune balance

All seems pretty important right? It is crucial to nourish our beneficial bacteria so they can perform these functions efficiently.⚡️

Research has found associations between gut microbiome imbalance and a variety concerns including:

•Eczema
•Psoriasis
•Acne
•Seborrheic dermatitis / dandruff
•Rosacea
•Alopecia
•Other conditions beyond the skin including asthma and allergies

📊 Functional testing such as a GI Map looks for gut microbiome imbalances that may be contributing to inflammation. We create a plan to bring it back into balance with proper diet, antimicrobial support (when appropriate), prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotic, and other resources as necessary to help restore a healthier gut ecosystem.

📑 Links to a few relevant studies if you like to read:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6048199/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11556587/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7916842/

Here’s my “why.” 💛

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

🌿 Risen Skin Co. is now accepting clients! 🌿

Hi, I’m Tori, a certified natural health practitioner, and I’m excited to help children and adults with skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, acne, keratosis pilaris (also known as “chicken skin”), and seborrheic dermatitis.

📣 Coming soon: rosacea and alopecia support!

If you’re struggling with any of the skin conditions listed above and are interested in exploring and addressing the root cause, we may be a great fit to work together.

Research shows a strong connection between skin concerns and an imbalanced gut microbiome through what is known as the gut-skin axis.

I offer functional testing options, such as the GI-MAP® and Tiny Health stool test, to help identify imbalances within your gut microbiome that may be contributing to your skin concerns.

Additional testing may be recommended based on your individual needs, including:

• Organic Acids Testing (to evaluate markers related to candida, mold exposure, mitochondrial function, nutrient status, and more)
• Mycotoxin Testing
• Food Sensitivity Testing
•Hair elements (toxic metals)

✨ Together, we’ll create a personalized plan to help bring your body back into balance using non-toxic, botanical-based products and lifestyle strategies. I also utilize natural skincare products that support the skin barrier, maintain healthy pH, reduce toxic load, and provide optimal hydration for healthy skin function.

If you’d like to learn more, check out my Practice Better link below or send me an email at [email protected].

I’d love to help you on your journey to healthy skin!

https://my.practicebetter.io/ #/6a00b8dd7671da741d0f1e3c/profile