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Do Reishi Mushrooms Help With The Treatment Of Acne?

Hormonal acne is one of the most common skin conditions globally, affecting over 80% of the population at some point in their lives. I dealt with chronic hormonal acne for years and tried dozens of supplements, superfoods (including Reishi mushrooms ), and diets. 

After over two years of experiments, I was able to clear my skin without the use of prescription medication. I took copious notes documenting every remedy I tried and try to share the info in this blog for everyone to read. This way you hopefully will not repeat the same mistakes as me. 

So, do Reishi mushrooms help clear hormonal acne? In this post I will explain the benefits of risk of Reishi mushroom use for skin health as well as my own experience

What is Reishi? 

The reishi mushroom, also known as Ganoderma Lucidum, comes from South East Asia and the Pacific Islands, getting called the mushroom of immortality. Reishi is filled with potent antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting properties. The Reish fungus has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years to cure every malady imaginable. Many cultures believe reishi can help unblock toxic stress and energy that causes chronic diseases, digestive problems, and hormonal acne. 

Reishi contains various compounds that help regulate hormones and cortisol levels, the leading cause of stress in the body. Active Hexose Correlated Compound is a biochemical that plays a significant role in supporting the immune system and even increasing activity among cancer-killing cells. Reishi is great for regulating the stress chemical cortisol, which is a major influence on acne and hormonal skin problems. Other benefits of this versatile fungus include anti-carcinogenic properties, decreasing cholesterol, increasing heart health, and supporting our mental health in preventing depression and anxiety. 

My Experience With Reishi Mushrooms

As I previously stated I tried using Reishi mushroom supplements to heal my hormonal acne. I used Host Defense’s Reishi mushroom extract and it did not have a noticeable impact on my skin. However, the Reishi mushroom extract did slightly lower my blood pressure and anecdotally I felt that I slept better when I took the supplement. However, ultimately I was able to clear my hormonal acne by creating a diet free of processed food and sugar. I explain the protocol I (and over 1,000 other readers have used) to clear their skin in my guide unmasking acne

Fighting Hormonal Acne Naturally

Unfortunately, hormonal acne can be more complicated to get rid of due to its powerful tie to our genetics and lifestyle. While Reishi mushroom can have a positive dietary impact on many people, it is not my top recommendation for treating hormonal acne, although some people have definitely seen success by using it.

Once you clean up your diet, there are several products that I have seen dozens of people have repeated success with outside of prescription medications. The biggest success I have seen is with Clearstem Skincare’s hormonal acne supplement. Clearstream’s hormonal acne supplement contains powerful vitamins and compounds such as vitamin A, vitamin B, glutathione, DIM, and 5-HTTP. These vitamins and nutrients help regulate hormone levels and blood flow throughout the body. 

MINDBODYSKIN – Hormonal Acne Supplement

  • This 100% non-toxic hormonal acne supplement is specially formulated with exactly what your skin needs – 5-HTP, DIM, glutathione, vitamin A, and vitamin B5.
  • Calming, Clearing, Balancing, Uplifting

At this point, we have had around 30 readers and one of our writers use this supplement to improve their hormonal acne. To be clear, this supplement is not a “magic bullet”. If you are regularly eating sugary, processed foods I would not expect to see much improvement from this supplement.  

Because Reishi has so many other health benefits, I believe it could make sense for a lot of women to try taking both Reishi and the hormonal acne supplement for the best results possible. 

What makes Reishi so powerful? 

Reishi has been used in oral and topical form to reduce skin inflammation, digestive problems, decrease stress and even boost our immune system to fight viruses and chronic disease. Besides containing the potent Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) that helps to boost our immune system and neuro properties. 

ACHH 

Active Hexose Correlated Compound is a fermented extract from fungi with strong immune-boosting and anticancer properties. It contains high amounts of amino acids and minerals. In addition, it contains alpha–1 that helps increase consumers’ cognitive functions. 

Beta-glucans

These are a soluble fiber from various plant and fungi cells that helps to decrease cholesterol and prevent cholesterol from being left in the body after meals. These have been studied to have strong immune-boosting effects as well. These are great for fighting acne as they help decrease bacteria in the skin cells and promote the growth of good bacteria in the digestive system.  

Tyrosinase

One great reishi benefit is that it facilitates the enzyme tyrosinase. This is great for producing melanin growth that gives users clear skin and pores. 

Key Takeaways Of Reishi Supplementation

Whether you are a teenager, pregnant, or going through menopause hormonal acne is probably going to impact you at some point in your life. 

The best way to combat hormonal acne is by having the foundation of a healthy diet that keeps the inflammation in your body as low as possible. 

Thousands of products exist for treating different kinds of acne and its symptoms. These may include over-the-counter washes or creams, dermatologist prescribed medication, lifestyle changes such as reducing stress, and alternative remedies. At GoodGlow we recommend trying natural approaches first, and then scaling up to medical procedures and medications as needed.  

Originally Published: February 14, 2022

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I’ve helped over 2,500 people clear their acne naturally. If you cannot easily find an answer to your question on the website, please reach out to me by email ([email protected]) or send me a message on Instagram or Twitter. I will reply within 24 hours.

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sam wood is GoodGlow's Chief Editor
Analyzed by Sam Wood

Hi, I’m Sam Wood, the chief editor, lead acne expert, and health coach at GoodGlow, as well as a best-selling author for one of the top acne books on Amazon. I struggled with acne for over 10 years, and began studying the effects of diet on skin quality while pursuing a degree in Nutrition Sciences at the University of Missouri. After shifting from mainstream skincare trends to in-depth research in medical journals, I experienced significant personal success in managing my acne. This inspired me to start GoodGlow, where I simplify complex scientific findings into easy-to-understand advice. With over 10 years in the field, I’ve helped more than 2,500 people achieve clearer skin through natural, holistic methods, and I’m dedicated to personally assisting those seeking guidance on their acne journey.

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