When severe acne and digestive issues suddenly disrupted a teen’s life, she found clear skin and a happier gut by treating gut dysbiosis and infections.

For 13-year-old Adelyn, sudden and severe acne, plus digestive issues, threatened to sideline the athletic teen.

In a short time, she had developed painful acne and rashes on her arms and behind her knees that worsened with heat or sweating.

At the same time, gas pain caused discomfort and difficulty focusing. And alternating constipation and diarrhea left her unsure what to expect and when.

For Adelyn, it felt surreal.

“I was watching my life as a dream. Like, it wasn’t really real,” she reflects.

When Adelyn and the family dug further, they ultimately found causes that went beyond skin deep — and eventually got her skin and gut back to a healthier state.

Could Teen Acne Be Connected to Gut Health?

Given the prevalence of teen acne, most attribute it to hormone changes. But the timing of Adelyn’s symptoms — appearing simultaneously — led her mom, Robyn, to wonder if it could be related to gut health.

As Adelyn’s skin issues worsened, they began researching options. As a former nurse turned functional nutritionist, Robyn knew that diet could be helpful, but they already ate pretty cleanly with a gluten-free, dairy-free, low-sugar diet.

The family hesitated to see a dermatologist, concerned that Adelyn would end up on medication with unwanted side effects.

In the short term, Adelyn found a small measure of improvement in her skin by using an antifungal shampoo — but as a face wash.

Meanwhile, Robyn moved forward with digestive testing for her daughter, including the GI-MAP stool test and the OAT (Organic Acids Test) urine test.

Through her connections, she found a functional medicine dietitian with a focus on skin, Marley Braun, The DERMAdietitian, to help interpret the results and come up with a plan.

Adelyn’s lab work revealed a complex picture of digestive dysbiosis:

  • Candida overgrowth

  • H. pylori infection

  • High levels of nonbeneficial bacteria, including Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Morganella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus

  • Reduced beneficial bacteria

  • High histamine markers overall

  • Fungal/mold indicators

Mold Exposure and Gut Health

With lab results in hand, Adelyn’s mix of symptoms made more sense and suggested that they were all connected.

“Acne is often a reflection of deeper issues, especially gut imbalances, like pathogens, lack of beneficial bacteria, and compromised gut integrity,” Braun says. “Healing begins by addressing these imbalances so the skin can repair from the inside out.”

Adelyn’s testing also looked at mold exposure. The family had lived in black mold previously, and more recently, Adelyn was exposed to mold in a classroom. The same mold strain showed up in school testing and Adelyn’s lab tests.

Studies have found that mycotoxins can alter the gut microbiota composition and promote dysbiosis, which can contribute to opportunistic fungal overgrowth.

A Functional Medicine Approach to Healing

Braun recommended a layered protocol to address the many root causes gradually:

  • Antimicrobials/antifungals — Targeted Candida, H. pylori, and other overgrowths
  • Digestive support — Digestive enzymes and gut-healing nutrients to improve breakdown and absorption
  • Probiotics — To repopulate beneficial bacteria
  • Immune modulation — Gut-immune supports to calm inflammation
  • Liver support — Aimed at easing detoxification burden
  • Vitamin and mineral support — Added nutrients like B vitamins and antioxidants to help cellular function and healing
  • Histamine support — Lowered the histamine load from bacterial overgrowth
  • Topical skin care — Green tea toner, niacinamide serum, moisturizer, and azelaic acid for scarring and redness

Adelyn would change parts of the protocol about every eight weeks, with the focused effort lasting about nine months.

The teen took supplements five times a day, including at school — staying diligent with it all.

“Addie was really committed to it, which I give her credit for,” Robyn says. “So I do think a lot of credit goes to sticking it out and staying with it.”

Acne, Hormones, and the Gut

Many blame fluctuating hormones for teen acne, but Braun suggests it’s more complex than that.

“Acne isn’t just about hormones,” she says. “The gut microbiome influences how hormones are made, signaled, and cleared. When the gut is out of balance, it can trigger hormone shifts that drive breakouts. Often, hormone tests actually show no systemic imbalance.”

That’s why Adelyn’s focused gut-health and skin protocols helped clear her skin. Within about four weeks, her skin improved, helping her stay the course.

When Adelyn experienced nausea that seemed related to what she was taking, Braun adjusted the liver support and paced the antimicrobial supplements to account for die-off.

For abdominal pain during the day, likely caused by gas, Braun coached Adelyn in changing her bowel schedule to go in the mornings.

Clear Skin and Gratitude

Today, Adelyn’s skin is clear and smooth, even free of acne scars. She no longer contends with digestive pain, gas, or unstable bowels, and can confidently be part of her active life.

“It’s probably easier to focus,” Adelyn says, because she’s no longer distracted by symptoms.

Reflecting back, the teen and her mom say that, while not easy, the path they took was worth it.

“In the end, this was totally the right thing to do, and we’re really glad we did it,” Robyn adds.

The Steps That Helped

  • Targeting infections — A rotation of antimicrobials and antifungals helped reduce Candida, H. pylori, and other overgrowth.
  • Supporting digestion — Enzymes and gut-healing nutrients improved nutrient absorption and reduced discomfort.
  • Restoring balance — Probiotics and immune support supplements rebuilt gut health.
  • Easing detoxification — Liver and histamine support helped her body better tolerate the protocol.
  • Skincare — Topicals like green tea toner and azelaic acid reduced breakouts and scarring.
  • Lifestyle foundations — Staying gluten- and dairy-free, adding fiber, and keeping sugar low promoted healing.

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