5: Understanding & Fixing The Root Cause of Acne | Colleen Clesen

Work 1:1 with Colleen to heal your acne here.

What if your acne isn’t really about your skin at all?

In this episode, I’m joined by Colleen Clesen, an aesthetician with a background in nutrition and dietetics. After struggling with her own breakouts and realizing how limited both dermatology and standard aesthetics training were, she went back to school to fill in the missing piece. Now she helps women connect the dots between acne, hormones, gut health, and daily skincare.

We get into why gut health is usually the first place to look, what stool tests actually reveal, and how inflammation in the body shows up on your face. We also talk about the mistakes most people make with their skincare routines, why supporting the skin barrier matters as much as internal work, and how the liver and bile clearance play a critical role in clearing acne. It’s an honest look at what really drives breakouts and what can actually help.

You’ll Learn:

[00:00] Introduction

[01:00] The real reason Colleen became an aesthetician

[04:00] Why acne isn’t just a skin issue but a red flag of internal imbalance

[05:00] Gut-first: the surprising reason location of breakouts doesn’t matter

[07:00] Stool test markers that reveal hidden inflammation, estrogen problems, and acne triggers

[14:00] Scalp flare-ups as a signal your gut and immune system are exhausted

[17:00] The one simple thing Colleen has clients add to their diet that quickly improves skin and hormones

[21:00] Why most acne products wreck the skin barrier and what to do instead

[32:00] The truth about beef tallow on acne-prone skin

[47:00] How sluggish liver detox and bile flow recirculate hormones and fuel breakouts

[59:00] The first step Colleen recommends if you can only change one thing

Resources Mentioned:

Psyllium Husk Powder | Website

Kossma Squalane Oil | Website

Kossma Cleansing Gel | Website

Red Light Face Mask | Website

Green Envee Firm Collagen Gel Masque | Website

Green Envee Rejuvenate Brightening Enzyme Masque | Website

Clearstem Aloe Based Moisturizer, Hydraglow | Website

CeraVe | Website

NuDerma Professional High Frequency Wand | Website

Cosmo Cleansing Gel | Website

Lymphatic Course for Head & Neck | Website

Hormone Healing podcast episode on Intro to Lymph Flow with Leah | Website

Work 1:1 with Colleen to heal your acne here.

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Find more from Amanda:

Hormone Healing RD | Instagram

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Hormone Healing RD | TikTo