WHAT CAUSES ACNE?

Acne is a prevalent and often difficult-to-treat skin condition that affects individuals of all ages. While traditionally viewed as a hormonal disorder, emerging theories suggest that acne may actually be linked to a metabolic issue—specifically, a deficiency in vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid). This theory challenges conventional wisdom and offers new insights into the nature of this common skin ailment.

The traditional explanation for acne centers on hormones, particularly androgens, which stimulate sebaceous glands to produce excess oil. This oil clogs pores, creating an environment where Propionibacterium acnes thrives, leading to inflammation and acne. However, this theory struggles to explain why acne affects men and women equally despite significant differences in androgen levels, or why it persists in some adults long after hormonal fluctuations stabilize.

Dr. Lit-Hung Leung first proposed that acne might stem from a deficiency of vitamin B5. This essential nutrient plays a critical role in fat metabolism and the synthesis of steroid hormones, including androgens. During puberty, pregnancy, or stress, when hormone production increases, the body's demand for B5 also rises. A deficiency in B5 could impair the body's ability to metabolize fats, leading to excess oils being excreted through the skin, clogging pores, and causing acne.

The hypothesis gains support from observations of indigenous populations who, despite experiencing puberty, rarely develop acne. Their diets, rich in unprocessed, nutrient-dense foods, contrast sharply with the Western diet, which often includes "empty calories" from highly processed foods lacking essential vitamins like B5. Consuming such foods may deplete the body's B5 stores, exacerbating acne.

Clinical trials using high doses of B5 (up to 10 grams daily) have shown promising results in reducing acne severity, particularly in cases of long-standing or severe acne. This suggests that the body’s B5 reserves may take time to replenish. While conventional treatments focus on managing symptoms, addressing potential B5 deficiency through dietary changes and supplementation could provide a more holistic and effective solution.

This theory reframes acne as a consequence of modern dietary practices rather than an inevitable hormonal imbalance. It also highlights the importance of the B-vitamin complex in maintaining skin health and challenges healthcare practitioners to consider nutritional factors in treating skin conditions.

By shifting the focus from hormones to metabolism and nutrition, the B5 deficiency hypothesis offers a new avenue for understanding and managing acne, emphasizing dietary balance and nutrient sufficiency as key factors in achieving clear, healthy skin.

Reference
Energique Pro. (2025, January 2). Is acne a vitamin deficiency? Retrieved from https://www.energiquepro.com/is-acne-a-vitamin-deficiency/

Homeopathic claims are based on traditional practices and are not supported by established medical evidence. These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA.

The statements provided have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Rosacea is a skin condition affecting the face. The skin of the central forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin are mostly affected. In the beginning, the symptom is marked redness or flushing of the face followed by the appearance of acne/pimples on the face. As the condition advances, the blood vessels over the face get dilated and become visible on the face. If the condition continues, connective tissue grows around blood vessels, and thickening of skin results. Nodules get formed especially on the nose and the nose gets enlarged. In the most complicated cases eyes get involved and there is redness, itching, and watering from the eyes. The exact cause is unknown. But this disease runs in families and certain triggering factors are known to excite the condition that including extremes of temperature (exposure to sun or cold winds); Certain eating habits ( excessive intake of tea, coffee, spices, alcohol); emotional disturbances(stress, fear, etc); excessive use of wrong cosmetic products. 

rosacea treatment or acne rosacea can be challenging because there are no cures or long-term treatments available in conventional medicines. 

Homeopathy Treatment for Rosacea:

Homeopathy considers Rosacea as a local expression of a systemic/internal disturbance. All skin disorders are a reflection of an internal imbalance and need to be treated from within as well.  

The homeopathic medicines for Rosacea are selected after a full individualizing examination and case analysis, which includes the medical and physical history as well as the mental constitution, and genetic predisposition of the client. 

Homeopathic treatment for rosacea helps improve hypersensitive skin response to stimuli by treating the root cause. Thus, it will help to reduce the redness, pustules, and sensitivity of the skin.

Homeopathic claims are based on traditional practices and are not supported by established medical evidence. These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA.

The statements provided have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Hyperpigmentation occurs when an area of the skin becomes much darker in comparison to the rest of the skin tone. This happens due to an excess of a pigment called melanin. Hyperpigmentation is very common and many people have had this condition at some point in their lives. 

Types of Hyperpigmentation:

• Lentigines (Liver Spots, Dark spots), Freckles-these are non-cancerous brown spots that are darker than the surrounding skin as a result of an increased number of pigment cells.  They can appear anywhere but tend to form on the face, neck, shoulders, and forearms (areas usually most exposed to the sun). Lentigines are generally darker than freckles, do not fade, and become more frequent with age.
• Melasma-Frequent exposure to UV rays can trigger melasma. Melasma occurs most commonly in people with light brown skin tones, particularly if they live in areas with high levels of sun exposure. It affects females about 9 times more than it does males. Melasma is more common during pregnancy affecting 15% to 50% of pregnant people. This may be due to pregnancy hormones. Although, Up to 50% of people with melasma report that close relatives also have the condition.

Potential triggers for melasma and hyperpigmentation  can include:

• This can be the result of melanin accumulation in the epidermal or dermal layer of the skin.
• Changes in hormones during pregnancy (chloasma).
• Hormone treatment or taking birth control pills.
• Sun exposure.
• Certain skin care products, if they irritate a person’s skin.
• Some medications that make the skin more sensitive to sun exposure, such as include retinoids, some blood pressure medications, and certain antibiotics.
• Trauma to the skin due to aggressive chemical peels, ablative/aggressive laser treatments, and wrong skincare.

The best approach in treating pigment-related conditions is to complement outside-in treatments (corrective skincare & facials) with inside-out holistic homeopathic therapeutics. 

Corrective/ Gentle Aesthetic Treatment Options for Hyperpigmentation:

• Vitamin A serums: Environ Vitamin A Step-up Range.
• Environ Cool peels.
• Environ Focus Care Radiance+ (Non-hydroquinone lightening serums)

Homeopathy Treatment for Hyperpigmentation: 

Homeopathy considers pigmentation as a local expression of a systemic/internal disturbance. All skin disorders are a reflection of an internal imbalance and need to be treated from within as well.  in Holistic medicine, hyperpigmentation is associated with poor liver health or liver congestion. People with a liver condition or sluggish liver function are more prone to developing these spots (liver spots, age spots) on their skin.

Your liver is an extremely hard-working organ that attempts to detoxify and purify your bloodstream of all the toxins you encounter during the day, along with the waste products of metabolism. If your liver is under-functioning, an excess level of these toxins can accumulate throughout your body. These toxins can create wear and tear in your body, otherwise known as oxidative damage. The skin (the largest organ of the body) is quite fragile and easily harmed by oxidative damage. It is also very easy to see evidence of the damage, through signs such as brown spots (liver spots), skin rashes, and wrinkles, along with sun-induced damage.

The homeopathic medicines for hyperpigmentation are selected after a full individualizing examination and case analysis, which includes the medical and physical history as well as the mental constitution, and genetic predisposition of the client. 

Homeopathic treatment, which gets to the root of the problem will strengthen the immune system, restores hormonal imbalance, and controls the excessive production of melanin. 

Homeopathic claims are based on traditional practices and are not supported by established medical evidence. These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA.

The statements provided have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Eczema is a poorly understood condition of which the exact cause is still unknown. It is thought to be caused due to an exaggerated immune system response by the body to an irritant. It is often seen in individuals with a history of other allergic conditions and/or asthma. Eczema is categorized into 2 categories: contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. Both relate to food allergies, hay fever, asthma, and environmental sensitivity; stress may exacerbate eczema. Eczema can also occur from nutritional deficiencies, such as omega 3 essential fatty acids, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Zinc picolinate.

People who suffer from eczema are often aware of conventional medicine’s inadequacy in dealing with this skin condition. Conventional treatments are symptom-based, rather than curative. The suppression of eczema with cortisone or anti-inflammatory drugs is known to have far-reaching harmful effects on health. These harmful effects may not show up until many years later in the form of chronic, degenerative disease. 

Homeopathy considers skin conditions to be part of a much larger pattern of susceptibility and disease tendency. Homeopathic remedies often relieve or eradicate eczema using a holistic approach unique to each individual person. Homeopathy is safe to use with babies through to the elderly. Many different remedies can be used depending on the symptoms of the sufferer. Homeopathic medicine aims to treat the individual, not just the disease in isolation. Homeopathic remedies gently encourage our immune system to address the illness at the root cause. Homeopathy avoids using external applications to treat eczema or any other skin problems. The appropriate remedy is selected to treat the individual – after analysis of their physical, mental and emotional states; in addition to family history, environment, diet, and so on. 

Atopic dermatitis stems from two primary issues: impaired skin barrier function and an overactive TH2-dominant immune response. These factors create a cascade of problems:

1. Impaired Skin Barrier: Excessive water loss leads to chronically dry, flaky skin, creating an environment for microbial overgrowth.
2. Weak Innate Immunity: This exacerbates microbial overgrowth, contributing to persistent inflammation.
3. TH2 Immune Response: Triggers chronic redness, itching, and hypersensitivity to environmental triggers, including molds and fungi, potentially linking eczema to asthma.

The root cause is often excessive moisture loss, compounded by an inadequate immune response to subsequent challenges.

Eczema in children is linked to a natural immune system imbalance at birth, favoring a TH2 response. Over time, the immune system typically shifts towards a TH1-dominant state, allowing many children to "outgrow" eczema. However, incomplete or delayed immune maturation can result in persistent eczema or progression to other atopic conditions like asthma. Addressing underlying immune dysfunction early can prevent long-term health issues.

Traditional treatments often include moisturizers, corticosteroids, and antihistamines to reduce symptoms by suppressing the immune response. In contrast, a natural approach focuses on:

1. Strengthening the Skin Barrier: Addressing genetic factors like filaggrin mutations and supporting ceramide production with nutrients like vitamin B6.
2. Boosting Innate Immunity: Enhancing antimicrobial proteins like cathelicidin with vitamin D (with cod liver oil being a better natural source of vitamin D than supplements).
3. Promoting TH1 Dominance: Using gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) from sources like evening primrose oil, alongside cofactors like B6, zinc, and magnesium, to balance immune responses.

A multifactorial disease like eczema requires a comprehensive, integrative approach rather than isolated interventions. Addressing dietary and lifestyle factors, supplementing with key nutrients, and supporting the immune system holistically may offer better long-term outcomes than symptom-focused treatments.

This broader perspective underscores the importance of finding and correcting root causes early to prevent eczema from evolving into more severe conditions or chronic immune dysfunction.

Reference:

Energique. (2025, January 2). Melatonin and the GI Tract: Benefits Beyond Sleep. Retrieved from https://www.energiquepro.com/melatonin-and-the-gi-tract-benefits-beyond-sleep-2/

Homeopathic claims are based on traditional practices and are not supported by established medical evidence. These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA.

The statements provided have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Psoriasis is considered an autoimmune skin disease where the body attacks its own immune cells. It is caused by an extremely rapid proliferation of cells in the skin. Because of a biochemical abnormality, skin cells multiply about 2 ½ times faster in general and 1,000 times faster than normal cells in affected areas. This causes the build-up of silvery scales, with inflammation and an increase in blood vessels, resulting in an underlying red, raw, and angry-looking patch. About 7% of psoriasis sufferers develop mild to severe forms of arthritis. The cause of psoriasis involves various immune abnormalities. Trauma, psychological stress, or bacterial infection can trigger the onset. 

There are a lot of treatment options available for psoriasis including topical treatments, and phototherapy, in addition to oral or injected medications. However, these treatment options come with a host of side effects and can only be used for brief periods. Allopathic treatment with steroids can suppress the symptoms of the disease but cannot cure psoriasis.  

Homeopathic treatment has the potential to stimulate the body’s natural healing capacity and restore the disturbed immune system. Homeopathy targets the source of the problem without damaging side effects.

Homeopathic claims are based on traditional practices and are not supported by established medical evidence. These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA.

The statements provided have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.