We targeted acne at its root, and helped 30+ people get healthier, clearer skin in < 5 weeks
Everything we've learnt so far about acne and holistically treating it
Here’s what I’ll be covering in this issue:
➡️ Quick recap of Cohort 1 and what we’ve learnt so far
➡️ Why and how we are solving acne inside-out
➡️ Triggers and user insights we’re uncovering about acne
A few weeks back, I wrote here about a little experiment my dermatologist and I were running - a cohort-based program to help people who are struggling with acne find a safer and more effective way of healing their skin. I’ve personally had acne, and no medication, “miracle treatment,” or DIY hack ever cleared my skin. It was only when I addressed the root cause, was I finally able to treat my acne.
Acne care in India (and honestly, even globally) is still broken. Most dermatologists even today prescribe harsh medications without diagnosing why the acne has occurred in the first place. The entire experience is exhausting, and we wanted to fix this - because people with acne deserve better. 25-year-old Radhika deserved better, and so do you!
Along with my dermatologist, Dr. Vandhana Manoharan, we designed a detailed root-cause analysis test and treatment plan to tackle acne from the inside out.
So many of you showed interest that the cohort got over-subscribed almost immediately. We’re about half-way through the first cohort, and already seeing ~85% people see a drastic change in their skin health.
Visual results from Cohort 1: associated root cause(s) and acne severity 👇🏼
What exactly did we do?
Diagnosed the multiple triggers (or root causes) behind each individual’s acne
Sent dermatologically approved products designed for acne-prone skin
Created a personalised treatment plan which involved nudges, hand-holding support and optional dermatologist consultations
Acne is on the outside, so why the inside-out approach?
Skin is a complex system influenced by multiple factors - diet, hormones, lifestyle, genetics, environment - and acne is a sign of that system malfunctioning. It’s a skin health issue, not just a cosmetic one. It cannot be treated in isolation or only with topical creams.
For example:
➡️ Hyperglycemic foods (foods that spike blood sugar) could cause acne in some people.
➡️ Hormonal imbalances could increase oil production on the skin and cause acne.
This makes diagnosing the root cause of your acne — critical. We saw this play out in our trial cohort as well:
✅ 3 out of every 5 people in the cohort did not know what was causing their acne
✅ 4 out of every 5 cohort members presented with a combination of 2-3 triggers
Once we could pin-point the root cause using our test, we could fine-tune the blueprint and product usage protocol to suit the context of the cohort member. We wanted to go to the source and not limit ourselves to the surface while solving acne.
We’re just 4 weeks in and left with 4 more to conclude our first cohort; and the results speak for themselves:
✅ 4 out of every 5 people said their skin looks and feels healthier than ever before
✅ 3 out of every 5 people saw a noticeable reduction in their active acne
✅ (My personal favourite!) 4 people in the cohort were asked, “are you seeing a new dermat?”
We can’t wait to share more updates at the end of this cohort!
📌 If you have acne and are still wondering what actually might be causing it - access our comprehensive root cause analysis test and blueprint to heal acne (inside-out).
We identified some unique insights and patterns from our Cohort 1:
➡️ Gut
56% users had a gut issue, which was one of their acne triggers. We were able to attribute it largely to:
Gut microbiome imbalance due to antibiotics / other medications
Low intake of fibre, probiotics and poor diet
Stress-triggered gut imbalance
➡️ Dandruff
48% users were identified with dandruff as one of the triggers. This typically showed up as acne around the forehead, upper nose, or back.
➡️ Hygiene
Bad hygiene practices were one of the most recurring triggers across users. It showed up in the most unexpected places:
Unclean spectacle frames that accumulated dirt, grime and bacteria
Bike helmets that accumulated sweat and were not being regularly cleaned
Towels, pillow covers, bed-sheets that were not washed frequently and accumulated dead skin, bacteria, dirt and grime
➡️ Skin type
Our cohort busted the myth that acne = oily skin.
Oily skin made up < 50% of our cohort
Over 10% of our cohort had dry skin, and
Over 40% had combination skin
📌 If you have acne and are still wondering what actually might be causing it - access our comprehensive root cause analysis test and blueprint to heal acne (inside-out).