Mold toxicity — let’s talk about it and how it connects to acne.

Mold ruined my life…and my skin.

I struggled with “unexplained” symptoms for 2 years leading up to my mold detox. Symptoms included:

• Hormonal acne
• Staph infections
• Vaginal infections
• Ring worm
• Respiratory issues + headaches (especially in the beginning)
• Fatigue
• Anxiety + overwhelm

I was FRUSTRATED – as a practitioner and someone who knows A LOT about acne (and has helped thousands of women clear theirs), I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what was going on. 

It wasn’t until I tested my body for mycotoxins that I learned I had *extremely* high levels of toxic substances that mold spores produce.

Then I put it all together — I had seen black mold in my bathroom wall and realized there might be a bigger issue at play. I decided to test my apartment and $1000 later, I found it — deep in the bathroom vents of my 1970’s apartment building. It turns out my apartment was slowly making me sicker and sicker…

But isn’t mold natural? And everywhere?

Mold is confusing. Because everybody reacts differently and it’s still not really recognized in the conventional medicine space — this is why it’s easy to get dismissed by practitioners even when intuitively you feel like something is wrong.

People “detox” from mold differently depending on their genetics. This is why my husband had completely different symptoms than I did.

Does mold cause acne?

Mold doesn’t cause acne directly — it creates the internal conditions where acne thrives.

The reason why we so often see acne with mold toxicity is because mycotoxins (toxins produced by mold):

• Create chronic inflammation 
• Dysregulate immune function
• Cause endocrine disruption
• Deplete important nutrients 
• Add stress on the body + detox pathways
• Alter the microbiome and slows bile production
• Cause histamine sensitivity and mast cell flares
• Make it harder to clear acne + make you more susceptible to hyperpigmentation

How to Clear Acne from Mold Toxicity

So how did I clear my mold-related acne?

It took me just 4 months to get my mycotoxins cleared. My skin took longer, but that’s why an acne-specific protocol is crucial.

I worked with mold experts and dove deeper into my functional medicine training to understand the complexity of mold and how it connects to acne. From there I created a plan of action:

1. I got on The Acne Protocol ASAP – for those who are new here, this is my signature acne clearing method that’s helped thousands of women clear their acne naturally. I put myself back on the protocol and was diligent with the habits (supplements, diet, skincare, lifestyle + mindset). This was CRUCIAL to prep for my mold detox, support during the detox AND after to regulate my immune system and support my skin (amongst other things). 
2. I personalized my mold detox with researched-backed support – this included lifestyle practices like regular sauna, supplements called “binders” and more. Please do NOT do this on your own blindly – this is why we offer 1:1 support and add-on functional testing for anyone following The Acne Protocol, as personalization will be important here. Overall, I didn’t feel restricted during my mold detox journey, I was honestly just so keen to get it out of my system and felt motivated and inspired to show up every day and get my skin clear again!

Answering Your Questions about Mold and Acne

How do I know if I’ve been exposed to mold?

This is where it gets tricky! Mold can easily hide and mold spores are 100% invisible and need to be tested professionally. But here are a few instances in which you may consider testing your urine for mycotoxins (mold):

• You see black mold in your living area (especially bathroom is very common)
• You live in a very old building 
• You have had a flood or water damage in your home
• You have lived in an old dorm room (especially if the dorm room was musty or ended up getting torn down)
• Your apartment/home smells musty
• You intuitively feel like something is “off”
• You keep getting recurring gut infections and symptoms despite clearing them with practitioners (this is because mycotoxins will continue to hinder your progress until cleared)

Note: mycotoxins are also found in some foods like coffee (ensure the one you drink is tested for mycotoxins!), nuts (conventional peanuts are the most common source), corn products etc.

DO NOT TRY TO CLEAN BLACK MOLD YOURSELF. Do not use bleach, mold paint or hydrogen peroxide. Mold needs to be physically removed professionally or you need to move. It took me months of speaking with mold professionals to understand the complexity and importance of this.

If you need a BC mold removal service (Vancouver + surrounding areas) – I highly recommend BC Mould Inspections – we had to go through a few inspectors and John & Bee ended up being the most efficient and thorough at helping us identify the source.

This was the main source of mold in our apartment (coming from the bathroom vent that was non-functioning) – see before/after it was partially remediated (lol ew I know…)

Other random tips I learned along the way if you suspect or have confirmed mold in your living environment:

• Do not sleep with your hair wet (this can create mold in pillows)
• Wash towels regularly and hang them to dry in a well-ventilated area
• Use a dehumidifier – mold grows above ~55% so aim to keep humidity below this. Maybe high humidity places like Vancouver, Canada, Hawaii, SE Asia, certain parts of Portugal and Australia, etc. are high humidity and will be much more susceptible to mold. Get a good dehumidifier and keep it running in the area.
• Keep bathroom fans on as much as possible
• Open windows for fresh air ventilation when possible.
• Use an air filter – Dyson and Jasper seem to be the highest quality on the market these days. We use a more affordable version from Winix.
• If you enter a hotel room or Air BnB and smell or detect mold via symptoms (headache, respiratory issues, skin flares), ask for a refund/to swap rooms! I do this often and will usually email the accommodation telling them I have a mold allergy beforehand so they take it seriously. Mold often lives in air conditioners in humid places so I’ll ask them to check the vents before as well. It sounds paranoid, but sadly once you have been exposed to mold, it is easy to experience a flare again!

How can you tell if your acne is from mold toxicity?

Unfortunately, you can’t tell just by looking at your skin – this is because mold toxicity is not a direct root cause of acne, it is simply a trigger for a host of other imbalances (listed above) that contribute to issues like acne. So acne is just one symptom that some people can experience (especially if you’re acne prone) but man, it can be stubborn.

Can I just test for mold, detox from it and then my acne will clear?

No – a mold detox alone will likely not clear your acne. While we have addressed the root cause (SUPER important!!), we need to then “repair” your body from the damage that mold has done – this is why it’s crucial to get support before, during and after your mold detox, which is where The Acne Protocol comes in.

What are other symptoms of mold toxicity?

• Chronic fatigue or “wired but tired” energy
• Brain fog, anxiety, or mood changes (anxiety + overwhelm was a huge one for me)
• Bloating, food sensitivities, or histamine reactions
• Hormonal symptoms (PMS, cycle irregularity, jawline acne) despite normal bloodwork 
• Chronic sinus congestion or post-nasal drip
• High reactivity to supplements, foods, or chemicals (I became SO sensitive to all smells)

What are some signs that you are successfully clearing mold?

I personally felt the following symptoms:

• Skin majorly calmed down (constant chronic breakouts stopped)
• No more anxiety
• More energized 

But I also felt worse temporarily — detoxing from mold is no joke and can often feel quite draining for highly sensitive individuals or if you have super high levels. I personally experienced bouts of nausea, headaches & fatigue during my heaviest “detox” days – this is common if levels are high but also avoidable and easy to manage with proper support. This is why I do not recommend doing this without support of a practitioner (we can help with that!).

Can histamine sensitivity come during/after mold detox?

Sadly, yes. I personally have struggled with histamine sensitivity since detoxing from mold. There is a LOT you can do to regulate your mast cell activity and calm the response, but for some people it can take longer or a bit more “digging”.  This is why repair after mold detox is crucial — we don’t want you feeling worse after mold detox either!

How to Test for Mold and Clear Your Acne:

1. Purchase The Acne Protocol and get started ASAP. I recommend following for at least 4-6 months during and after your mold detox to manage skin, gut, hormone health + more.
2. Once purchased, you will have the option to book in with my team and run a MycoTOX test (this tests your urine for mycotoxins from mold). The test cost is ~$300 USD and we can ship worldwide.
3. Once the results are in, you can add-on 1:1 personalized support from my team. Calls are 100% virtual and we can support women all around the world. Initial calls are $140 USD and follow ups $100 USD. We will help guide you along the way and personalize your journey as needed.

Any questions? Email me at hello@theacnenutritionist.com

xx Sisley