A Cuppa With Portia Haase

Hi Portia, please tell us a little bit about yourself and your background in naturopathy.

I grew up in country Victoria with my ultra tight-knit and loving family - my Mum, Dad, two sisters and brother. I’m the eldest of my siblings and think I really embody that typical “eldest daughter” stereotype - extremely driven, feel a sense of responsibility for others and the world and a true caretaker at my core.

It was my Mum that planted the seed for my love of herbal medicine. Whenever ill, a text would come through to meet Mum at the school gate where I was met with a cup of homemade bone broth, pre-poured liquid herbs and some fresh produce. 

I started studying Naturopathy at Endeavour College in Melbourne straight out of high-school. I still can’t comprehend being so young and knowing what I wanted to study - perhaps it was from my need to always understand “why”, the pride I feel in looking after myself, or that my internal compass just knew.

Why did you decide to specialise in skin health?

My independent years in my early 20s saw me subscribe to the hustle culture - working and studying full time with a big social life. I became so burnt out my mind and body were practically ground to a fine dust. And then, my skin broke out with cystic acne.

My experience with acne felt long and bumpy, frustrating and expensive. I searched the internet high and low trying to find the thing that was going to heal my skin with no success. It wasn’t until I had the guidance of a Naturopath specialising in skin health that I finally saw a clear, purposeful path to healing my acne. We had real conversations about how the food we consume, pace of life we choose and the thoughts we allow to take up precious space in our minds in large part, influence the state of our skin. 

The corrections made not only healed my skin, but improved the state of my entire health dramatically. Now residing in Byron Bay, I’m a Naturopath that specialises in acne as I wish for everyone, in some form or another, the same opportunity.

What are some of the most common skin concerns you see in your clinic?

Whilst acne is what I exclusively treat in clinic, I do also think it is the most common skin concern because of the way it touches people of all walks of life. I see it everywhere!

Does the health of our gut impact the condition of our skin? Are there any specific symptoms that link the two?

The impact our gut has on our skin is really significant. When the gut microbiome is out of balance, it can lead to bacterial overgrowth, infections and a leaky gut lining causing systemic inflammation. Inflammation is a key driver of acne, as it can trigger the immune system to work in overdrive, leading to breakouts.

A compromised gut can also impair our detoxification pathways, which is important to optimise when healing acne. Nutrient deficiencies are likely to arise with a compromised gut, too. 

Some clues that indicate the gut driving acne includes breakouts on the cheeks, around mouth and/or forehead, experiencing symptoms such as bloating, constipation and fluctuating stools as well as food intolerances.

What role do hormones play in skin health, and how can imbalances manifest on our skin?

The two most important hormones to keep regulated for preventing acne are cortisol and insulin. Cortisol gets overproduced when our body feels unsafe and insulin is a hormone that gets released when we consume sugar. 

Contrary to what we’re told, hormonal imbalances aren’t a root cause of acne. Yes, the shifting of hormones during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, post-pill or in menopause can disrupt the balance of estrogen and progesterone which our skin will respond to. However, hormonal imbalances are always a symptom of something deeper.

Bringing it back to the gut (of course), whenever a client presents to me with “hormonal acne” my first action is to investigate the gut. Establishing good gut health is the first step to healing hormonal dysregulation. 

Hormonal imbalances are hinted if a client is experiencing irregular or no periods, if their acne has improved when taking the Oral Contraceptive Pill and also if the acne is located on the chin, neck, back, chest and jawline. Conducting a hormone panel test provides fantastic answers for hormonal imbalances.

Are there any particular foods or dietary patterns that you recommend for improving skin health and maintaining a clear, glowing complexion?

Eating a protein-forward breakfast is something that I’ll bang on about until the cows come home! So often when I start working with someone they won’t be eating breakfast, simply settling with a coffee and off they go for the day. This sets off so many alerts in our body that we are unsafe - impacting digestion, inflammation, immunity and hormone production, all of which impact our skin. 

Getting breakfast right is where I always begin. An acne-healing breakfast will include 30g of protein, fibre and healthy fats. Think two or three soft scrambled eggs cooked with spices, a mix of roast vegetables, avocado and bacon. 

Oily fish, cruciferous vegetables, bone broth, eggs, leafy greens and organic meat are always a part of my clear skin food repertoire.

What are your thoughts on the connection between stress and skin health? 

Put simply, we cannot heal in a body that’s stressed. I have no doubt in my mind that the way I lived my early 20s - driven by always being “on” and the state of my dysregulated nervous system was the cause of my acne. 

When stress is consistently present in our lives, our stress hormone cortisol will be high which affects our skin in a number of ways. It increases oil production on the skin (leading to clogged pores and breakouts), increases inflammation (causing swelling of our sebaceous glands) and impairs wound healing. Not to mention, the effect stress has on our ability to think logically to make decisions for our health. 

Lean into the power of herbal medicine in times of stress, see a therapist, make time to do nothing, feel the sun on your face instead of the blue glare of the monitor.

Do you have a go-to daily skincare routine or tips that align with a naturopathic approach to skin health?

My skincare routine is ultra simple these days - a cleanser, moisturiser and SPF is all I use. Gone are the days when I used to think that our skin is reliant on a 10-step skincare routine. 

A few years ago I had a skincare consultation with a Corneotherapist who prescribed targeted skincare for my own unique skin. It was pretty life changing as I too feel confused by the plethora of skincare options out there. 

Acknowledging that skincare is not my area of expertise, I collaborate with Corneotherpists both locally and on the GC that analyse my clients skin and prescribe targeted skincare for their unique skin, too! We see such amazing results addressing the skin both internally and externally.

What Mayde Tea product have you been loving lately?

I’m a chai fanatic, so it has to be the Mayde Tea Organic Chai. Having a cup of this in the morning is a ritual I simply couldn’t live without. I gently heat some coconut milk and chai on the stovetop and strain into a cute ceramic. It’s heaven.

What are you currently...

Listening to: Olivia Dean

Reading: Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton 

Watching: I really don't do TV shows, however I'm obsessed with those cooking shows on free to air daytime TV - does that count? 

Eating: Mangos and cherries! Nothing more refreshing than pulling these out of the fridge to snack on after these hot Summer days.

If you can find more about Portia at here or on Instagram.