What Root Causes Do Acne and ADD/ADHD Have In Common?

Hopefully, you have been hearing more and more about how mental health is really the science of the brain and body. Everyday, new studies using advanced imaging techniques, AI, and other scientifically verified data are showing how we can improve the functioning of both the brain and the body simultaneously. I want to share with you a real patient story which illustrates how profoundly, and quickly! this can happen.

Janna (made-up name) is 31 years old and originally came to me in June of this year because she had had four urinary tract infections (UTI) in a short period of time. She was also having what she thought were hormonal changes, with lots of acne, hair texture changes, and fatigue. She wanted to be assessed for ADD/ADHD because of difficulty concentrating. Our detailed history also discovered that she had significant constipation and bloating, rosacea (a sign of SIBO), and a strong family history of heart disease. Our initial laboratory assessment identified that she had SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) as well as an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In addition, specialized lipid testing revealed very high risk of developing heart disease.

We began treatment with some herbal antibiotics and simple dietary changes that markedly decreased her constipation and bloating with just one round of treatment. She really took to heart my recommendation of meditating for 20 minutes three times per week, the dosage that actually shows physical benefits. She was not at a stage that needed treatment with thyroid medication, however, I explained to her that the thyroid antibodies she was making were being spurred by gluten intolerance. We also know that gluten can have profound effects on thinking and mood. I recommended she stay off gluten long term. We had also measured multiple nutritional deficiencies that particularly affect risks for brain and heart conditions: vitamins A, D, B12, folate and zinc. We supplemented these with bio-available forms, as well as encouraging intake from colored fruits and vegetables. We lowered her inflammatory markers with high dose omega 3's and an herb which lowers cholesterol.

I saw her four months later. She has not had another UTI. Her acne and rosacea cleared up. Her concentration issues are essentially gone. Bloating and constipaton are rare. Energy is good.

At first glance, it may not seem that acne and ADD/ADHD would have anything to do with each other. Nonetheless, both are reflections of dysbiosis, changes in the balance of flora in the microbiome. The inflammation created when many of these bacteria congregate inappropriately in the small intestine can cause symptoms as diverse as swollen joints, rashes, fatigue, plaques in the arteries, and brain fog. Sometimes this happens even without typical gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, reflux, diarrhea or constipation. We now have advanced stool, breath and urine testing to help us pinpoint the precise disruptions in any individual patient, as treatments vary for the specific root cause condition.

A good Functional Medicine doctor is able to look at the timeline of your health, and pull together symptoms that may seem unrelated to a lay person or even a non-Functionally trained doctor. Generally, it is possible to have a good idea of the root cause of a complaint after spending about an hour with the patient searching for these links. Specialized laboratory testing then helps us be precise to treat the individual's unique case. When you want to know the WHY as well as the "what" of your concerns, Functional Medicine can provide the answers.