How I Healed My Gut Health & Cleared My Acne (No more bloating, reflux, digestion, or hormonal issues)

Melissa Birch Nutrition
Aug 15, 2025
3 min read

Are you waking up to new breakouts every single morning?

You’ve changed your skincare, removed dairy, blamed stress… yet the acne still keeps coming?

I get it. I was there too.

What finally worked for me wasn’t another cream, pill, or restrictive diet. It was healing my gut.

In my latest YouTube video, I share exactly how I went from constant bloating, reflux, digestion issues, and hormonal acne… to clear skin, a happy gut, and eating my favourite foods without fear.

Inside, you’ll learn:

What the gut–skin axis is and why it’s key for acne recovery
Whether stool testing for acne is worth it (and who actually needs it)
My 6-step gut healing process to reduce skin inflammation and restore balance

How to start clearing acne naturally without relying on harsh prescriptions or extreme diets

GET CLEAR SKIN

How I Healed My Gut Health & Cleared My Acne Naturally (6 Proven Steps)

If you’ve been battling stubborn hormonal acne, constant bloating, reflux, or unpredictable digestion, your skin struggles might be rooted in your gut health.

After over a decade of trying everything… prescription creams, Roaccutane (twice), cutting out dairy, endless facials but nothing worked long-term. It wasn’t until I addressed my gut health that my skin finally cleared.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how I healed my gut, balanced my gut microbiome, and naturally cleared my acne by using the same acne clearing steps I now teach my clients inside my Clear Skin Complete programme.

The Gut–Skin Axis: Why Gut Health Affects Acne

The gut–skin axis describes how your digestive system and skin communicate through the immune system, hormones, and compounds produced by gut microbes.

When your gut microbiome is balanced, it supports a strong skin barrier and reduces inflammation. But when there’s gut dysbiosis (too many bad bacteria and not enough good ones) or leaky gut, toxins can enter your bloodstream, triggering skin inflammation and worsening acne.

Do You Need Stool Testing for Acne?

Not everyone needs stool testing to heal their skin. It can be helpful for people with severe gut symptoms, but many can improve skin and digestion without it.

My own journey to clear skin started without any stool testing by focusing instead on nutrition, lifestyle, mindset, and targeted supplementation. I used functional stool testing later on, and continue to re-test every 18 months.

GET CLEAR SKIN

My 6 Steps to Improve Your Gut Health & Clear Your Skin Naturally

1. Rebalance

Remove low-nutrient foods
Manage stress and support the nervous system
Sleep before 11 pm and aim for 8+ hours
Focus on a positive mindset

2. Optimise Digestion

Eat nutrient-dense whole foods and 35g of fibre daily
Support stomach acid and digestive enzymes if needed
Practice mindful eating

3. Remove Infections

Address parasites, yeast, and harmful bacteria
Prepare the body with drainage, detox, and binders

4. Balance the Gut Microbiome

Eat 20–30 plant foods weekly
Include prebiotic and probiotic rich foods
Enjoy fermented foods if tolerated

5. Repair the Gut Lining

Bone broth, omega-3s, and anti-inflammatory foods
Target nutrient support for gut repair

6. Support Motility

Space meals 4 hours apart
Drink ginger tea before bed
Stay hydrated away from meals

Clear Skin is Possible

If you’re ready to address your acne at its root, improving gut health can be a game-changer. Whether you’re dealing with hormonal acne, gut dysbiosis, leaky gut acne, or poor digestion, these steps can help you heal your gut and achieve clear skin naturally.