Acne Resource Centre
Evidence-informed guides to help you understand acne, possible root causes, hormones, gut health, nutrition, treatments and personalised support.Browse by Topic
Use this page as your starting point. Choose the area that best matches what you want to understand first.Learn the Basics
Understand what acne is, what causes it and how to identify different breakout patterns. Explore basics →Root Causes
Explore hormones, gut health, PCOS, stress, inflammation and nutrition-related triggers. Explore root causes →Acne by Location
Learn what breakouts on different areas of the face and body may suggest. Explore locations →Acne Treatments
Understand common skincare ingredients and treatment options used for acne-prone skin. Explore treatments →Nutrition & Supplements
Explore foods, nutrients, vitamins, minerals, probiotics and omega-3 in relation to acne. Explore nutrition →Personalised Support
Learn when professional support may help if you feel stuck, confused or unsure what applies to you. Explore support →Choose Your Starting Point
Not sure where to begin? Choose the guide that best matches what you want to understand first.I want to understand acne from the beginning
Start with the main acne guide and learn why acne develops, what may influence breakouts and how a root-cause approach may help. Explore guide →I think my acne is hormonal
Learn how nutrition may support hormone balance, blood sugar regulation and inflammation. Explore guide →I think my gut is affecting my skin
Explore how digestion, the gut microbiome, inflammation and nutrient absorption may influence acne. Explore guide →I’ve tried everything
Read a real client story showing what a personalised root-cause approach can look like. Explore case study →🌿 Learn the Acne Fundamentals
Start here if you want to understand what acne is, why it develops and how different breakout patterns may give useful clues.How to Get Rid of Acne
Understand why acne develops, what can influence breakouts and how a personalised root-cause approach may support clearer skin. Explore guide →What Causes Acne?
Learn the main factors that may contribute to acne, including hormones, oil production, inflammation, bacteria, gut health and lifestyle. Explore guide →Different Types of Acne
Learn the difference between whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cystic acne. Explore guide →Acne By Location
Explore what different breakout areas may suggest, including the chin, jawline, forehead, cheeks, neck, chest, back and shoulders. Explore guide →Acne Case Study
See how a personalised root-cause approach helped improve persistent jawline and neck acne. Explore case study →🧬 Understand the Root Causes of Acne
Acne is rarely caused by one single factor. These guides help you explore the deeper patterns that may be contributing to breakouts.Hormones, PCOS and Acne Patterns
Hormonal changes can influence oil production, inflammation and breakouts, especially around the jawline, chin, cheeks and neck.Foods for Hormonal Acne
Learn how nutrition may support hormone balance, blood sugar regulation and inflammation in acne-prone skin. Explore guide →Acne and PCOS
Understand why PCOS can affect acne through androgens, insulin resistance, inflammation and hormone changes. Explore guide →Hormonal Acne vs Bacterial Acne vs Fungal Acne
Learn how different acne-like breakouts may present and why understanding the pattern can help guide your next steps. Explore guide →Gut Health and the Gut-Skin Connection
The gut and skin are connected through digestion, inflammation, immune function, nutrient absorption and the gut microbiome.Can Gut Health Cause Acne?
Explore how digestion, the gut microbiome, inflammation and nutrient absorption may influence skin health. Explore guide →The Gut–Skin Axis
Learn why your skin may struggle to heal when digestion, inflammation and gut health are not being properly supported. Explore guide →Food, Diet and Lifestyle Triggers
Food and lifestyle triggers are not the same for everyone. These guides help you explore common patterns without becoming unnecessarily restrictive.Foods That May Trigger Acne
Learn which foods may worsen acne symptoms in some people and why triggers can vary from person to person. Explore guide →Does Dairy Cause Acne?
Explore the research around dairy and acne, including why some people may be more sensitive than others. Explore guide →Stress and Acne
Understand how stress may influence hormones, inflammation, sleep, digestion and skin healing. Explore guide →📍 Acne by Location
Acne location does not diagnose the cause, but it can sometimes offer useful clues. Explore location-specific guides below.Chin Acne
Explore common causes of chin acne, including hormones, stress, skincare, digestion and lifestyle patterns. Explore guide →Jawline Acne
Learn why jawline acne is often linked with hormones, stress, blood sugar balance, PCOS and inflammation. Explore guide →Forehead Acne
Understand possible causes of forehead acne, including sweat, hair products, skincare, stress and digestion. Explore guide →Cheek Acne
Explore possible cheek acne triggers, including skincare, pillowcases, phones, gut health, hormones and inflammation. Explore guide →Neck Acne
Learn about common neck acne causes, including hormones, friction, sweat, hair products and skin irritation. Explore guide →Chest Acne
Understand why chest acne may develop and how sweat, friction, hormones, skincare and lifestyle may contribute. Explore guide →Back Acne
Explore common causes of back acne, including sweat, friction, clothing, hormones, inflammation and skincare products. Explore guide →Shoulder Acne
Learn why shoulder acne may appear and how clothing, backpacks, sweat, exercise, hormones and inflammation may play a role. Explore guide →💊 Acne Treatments & Skincare
Skincare and topical treatments can play an important role in managing acne symptoms, but they work best when you understand what each product or ingredient is actually doing.Start with Your Skincare Routine
If you feel overwhelmed by cleansers, acids, spot treatments and active ingredients, begin with the full Acne Treatments & Skincare guide before comparing individual ingredients.Acne Treatments & Skincare
Understand common acne treatments, skincare routines, active ingredients and how to approach acne-prone skin without over-stripping or irritating the skin barrier. Explore guide →Salicylic Acid vs Benzoyl Peroxide
Learn how two common acne ingredients work, their benefits, possible side effects and when each may be appropriate. Explore guide →🥗 Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements
Nutrition plays an important role in overall skin health, but no single food or supplement causes or cures acne. These guides explore the evidence behind nutrients, vitamins, minerals and supplements that may influence inflammation, immune function, hormone balance and skin healing.Start with the Foundation Guide
If you’re wondering whether vitamin or mineral deficiencies could be affecting your skin, begin with our cornerstone guide below before exploring the individual nutrient articles.Can Vitamin Deficiencies Cause Acne?
Learn how nutrient status may influence acne, skin healing, inflammation and immune function, and explore the research behind the most commonly discussed vitamins and minerals. Explore guide →Explore Individual Nutrients
Once you understand the bigger picture, explore the research behind specific vitamins, minerals and supplements commonly discussed in relation to acne.Vitamin A and Acne
Learn how vitamin A supports normal skin cell turnover, immune function and healthy skin. Explore guide →Vitamin D and Acne
Explore the relationship between vitamin D, inflammation, immunity and acne-prone skin. Explore guide →Is Zinc Good for Acne?
Learn why zinc is one of the most widely researched minerals for acne and skin healing. Explore guide →Iron and Acne
Discover whether iron status may influence skin health, wound healing and overall wellbeing. Explore guide →Magnesium and Acne
Learn how magnesium may support stress response, sleep quality, blood sugar regulation and inflammation. Explore guide →Omega-3 and Acne
Explore how omega-3 fatty acids may help support inflammation, skin health and overall wellbeing. Explore guide →Probiotics and Acne
Learn how probiotics and the gut microbiome may influence skin health through the gut–skin axis. Explore guide →🌿 Your Acne Journey
Understanding acne is only the beginning. Many people spend months or even years trying different skincare products, supplements and diets before realising that clearer skin often starts with understanding why their acne developed in the first place.
Every Acne Journey Is Different
Acne rarely has one single cause. For one person, hormones may be the biggest influence. For another, gut health, nutrition, stress, genetics or skincare products may play a larger role. Many people discover that several factors are working together. The purpose of this Resource Centre is not to tell you that everyone’s acne has the same cause. Instead, it’s designed to help you understand the different possibilities so you can make informed decisions about your own skin.Learn
Build your understanding of acne through evidence-informed guides covering causes, treatments, nutrition, gut health and hormones.Identify
Explore which contributing factors may be most relevant to your own symptoms rather than relying on guesswork or social media trends.Support
Put that knowledge into practice through personalised nutrition, lifestyle changes, appropriate skincare and, where suitable, professional support.📚 Free Acne Education vs 👩⚕️ Personalised Support
Our guides are designed to help you better understand acne. Personalised support helps you understand your acne.Learning Through Our Free Guides
Our evidence-informed guides are designed to help you build confidence, understand the science behind acne and explore the many factors that may influence your skin.- ✔ Understand what acne is and why it develops
- ✔ Learn about hormones, gut health and inflammation
- ✔ Explore nutrition and lifestyle factors
- ✔ Compare acne treatments and skincare ingredients
- ✔ Discover what current research says
- ✔ Decide which areas may be relevant to you
Working With Beth
If you’ve tried multiple products, diets or supplements without lasting success, personalised nutritional therapy can help identify the factors that are most relevant to your symptoms.- ✔ Review your complete health history
- ✔ Explore possible root causes together
- ✔ Create a personalised nutrition plan
- ✔ Support gut, hormone and skin health together
- ✔ Recommend functional testing where appropriate
- ✔ Provide ongoing support and accountability
How Do You Know Which Path Is Right for You?
Many people find that learning about acne gives them the confidence to make positive changes on their own. Others discover that their symptoms are more complex and would benefit from personalised guidance. Neither approach is better — they simply suit different people at different stages of their journey. If you’ve been struggling with persistent acne despite trying different skincare products, diets or supplements, personalised support may help you identify the factors that are most relevant to your skin.👩⚕️ Professional Support for Acne
Education is powerful, but acne is personal. If you understand the common causes but still feel unsure what applies to you, personalised support can help you move from information to action.Skin Therapy Programme
A personalised 3-month programme designed for people struggling with acne, rosacea, eczema or ongoing skin concerns. The focus is on identifying potential root causes and creating a tailored nutrition and lifestyle plan. Explore programme →Functional Testing
Functional testing may help provide additional insight into gut health, hormones, nutrient status, inflammation or other factors that may be influencing your symptoms. Learn about testing →Ready to Get to the Root Cause of Your Acne?
If you are struggling with acne, digestive symptoms, hormone concerns, food sensitivities, fatigue or recurring skin flare-ups, you do not have to navigate it alone. As a registered nutritional therapist specialising in gut health, skin health and hormone balance, Beth uses a personalised approach to help uncover the factors that may be contributing to your symptoms and create a tailored nutrition and lifestyle plan designed around your individual needs. Book a free discovery call today and take the first step towards understanding what your body may be trying to tell you.Why Trust VitaminBeth?
Every guide in this Resource Centre is designed to provide balanced, evidence-informed education that helps you better understand the possible factors influencing your skin.Qualified Nutritional Therapist
Beth Mulvey is a Registered Nutritional Therapist, trained to assess the relationships between nutrition, lifestyle, gut health, hormones and skin health using an evidence-informed approach.Evidence-Informed Information
Every guide is based on current scientific research, professional clinical guidance and practical nutritional therapy principles, with references provided throughout our educational content.Personalised, Not One-Size-Fits-All
We recognise that acne is complex. Rather than promoting a single solution, our content explores the many factors that may contribute to acne and explains why every person’s skin journey is different.Our Promise
Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about your skin by providing clear, balanced and evidence-informed education. While no website can diagnose the cause of acne, understanding the science behind your symptoms is often the first step towards making meaningful, long-term improvements.Explore More Resource Centres
Acne is one part of the bigger picture. VitaminBeth is building a growing library of evidence-informed resource centres covering gut health, hormones, digestion, nutrition and other common skin concerns.Gut Health Resource Centre
Learn how gut health can influence digestion, energy, skin, immunity and overall wellbeing.IBS Resource Centre
Explore IBS symptoms, triggers, food choices, stress, SIBO and the gut-brain connection.Rosacea Resource Centre
Understand rosacea, flushing, food triggers, gut health and personalised nutrition support.Eczema Resource Centre
Learn about eczema, skin barrier health, inflammation, nutrition and possible root causes.Hormone Health Resource Centre
Explore hormone balance, PMS, PCOS, acne, energy, mood and nutrition support.Nutrition Resource Centre
Understand how food, nutrients, lifestyle and personalised nutrition can support long-term health.⭐ Frequently Asked Questions About Acne ⭐
Quick answers to some of the most common acne questions, with links to more detailed evidence-informed guides.What causes acne?
Acne develops when several factors come together, including excess oil production, blocked pores, inflammation, bacteria and hormones. Genetics, gut health, stress, nutrition and skincare may also influence acne in some people.
Read our guide: What Causes Acne? →
Can gut health cause acne?
Research suggests there may be a connection between the gut and skin through immune function, inflammation, nutrient absorption and the gut microbiome. While gut health is unlikely to explain every case of acne, it may be an important factor for some people.
Read our Gut Health & Acne guide →
Can hormones cause acne?
Yes. Hormonal fluctuations can increase oil production and inflammation, making acne more likely, particularly around the jawline, chin and lower face.
Read our Hormonal Acne guide →
Can vitamin deficiencies cause acne?
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are unlikely to be the sole cause of acne, but they may influence skin health, wound healing, immune function and inflammation in some individuals.
Read our Vitamin Deficiencies & Acne guide →
Does dairy cause acne?
Dairy may contribute to acne in some people, although not everyone is affected. Current research suggests certain dairy products may influence hormones involved in acne development.
Read our Dairy & Acne guide →
Which foods may trigger acne?
There is no universal acne diet, but some people notice improvements when reducing highly processed foods, high glycaemic load foods or certain dairy products. Triggers vary considerably between individuals.
Read our Foods That May Trigger Acne guide →
Can stress make acne worse?
Stress can influence hormone balance, inflammation, sleep quality and skin healing, all of which may contribute to acne flare-ups.
Read our Stress & Acne guide →
Does acne location tell you the cause?
Acne location can sometimes provide useful clues, but it cannot diagnose the underlying cause on its own. Breakouts are often influenced by several factors working together.
Read our Acne by Location guide →
Why won’t my acne go away?
Persistent acne often has multiple contributing factors. If skincare alone has not helped, it may be worth exploring hormones, gut health, nutrition, stress, lifestyle and overall health.
Read our How to Get Rid of Acne guide →
Can nutritional therapy help acne?
Nutritional therapy does not directly treat acne, but it may help identify dietary, digestive, hormonal and lifestyle factors that could be contributing to your symptoms. Support is personalised to your individual health history and goals.
Explore the Skin Therapy Programme →