How I Improved My Skin After Coming Off The Pill: My Journey with Hormonal Imbalance and Healing
- Kelly Mulhall
- Jul 3
- 5 min read
For years, I struggled with skin issues, including acne, eczema, and overall dullness. It wasn’t until I came off the contraceptive pill (after being on it for 16 years!!) that I started to understand the true impact of my hormonal imbalance on my skin. My skin became the worst it had ever been, and it felt like no matter what I did, I couldn’t get a clear complexion.
But this was just the beginning of my journey towards healing, both internally and externally. I’m not going to lie—it was a long and challenging road, but through a mix of better nutrition, understanding the root causes of my health issues, and addressing hormonal imbalances, I was able to improve my skin dramatically. Let me take you through how I did it.
Understanding the Root Causes of My Skin Issues
As a child of the ‘90's, I grew up on quick and processed foods—think Lunchables, Sunny D, and crisps. By the time I hit my 20's, I didn’t know much about cooking, and my idea of a “healthy” meal was grabbing a microwave dinner. The notion of good nutrition never really occurred to me, and it wasn’t until my early 30's that I began noticing how my diet and lifestyle were affecting my health.
It wasn’t just my skin that was suffering; I had been dealing with IBS for over a decade and constant issues with eczema. I was exhausted, sick, and had a permanent runny nose, all while living on coffee, processed food, and biscuits. I was using supplements like Berocca and vitamin C, but nothing was improving.
The turning point came when I realised that conventional medicine wasn’t helping me. I went to the doctor for help with my eczema and hormonal acne and was given steroids and told to go back on the pill for my skin. This approach didn’t sit right with me, especially when I knew I wanted a more natural solution, and realistically did I want to be on the pill forever?
Discovering Nutritional Therapy
It wasn’t until I began speaking with a friend who was a personal trainer that I started learning more about nutrition and how it can address the root causes of my health issues. From there, I discovered nutritional therapy, functional medicine, and naturopathic nutrition, which felt like an epiphany - seriously, like a big 'aha!' moment. These practices focussed on addressing the root causes of symptoms rather than masking them with medication. This felt more aligned with my beliefs and the direction I wanted to go in.
Around the same time, I was struggling with my job and looking for a career change. I came across a Naturopathic Nutritional Therapy diploma, and it felt like fate. I signed up, quit my job, and embarked on a three-year journey to become a nutritional therapist. This decision would not only change my career but also transform my own health.
My Personal Health Transformation
Before I made the huge leap to become a nutritional therapist, I worked with one to help me with my IBS and skin, conducting tests like a comprehensive stool analysis that pinpointed the cause of my IBS—something years of hospital testing had failed to uncover! I learned to balance my hormones naturally through dietary changes and detoxification, and my eczema started to clear up. My energy levels improved, and I started to feel more connected to my body.
The most remarkable change was the impact on my skin. As I adopted a cleaner diet, my hormonal balance slowly restored, and my skin began to heal. I did this by focussing on whole foods (and learning how to cook!)—lean proteins, healthy fats, lots of vegetables, and cutting out processed sugar. It was a gradual process, but over time, the acne, eczema, and skin dullness that had plagued me for years started to fade away.
Hormonal Balance and Skin Health
One of the most significant factors that helped improve my skin was restoring hormonal balance. Coming off the pill had triggered a cascade of hormonal changes in my body, which manifested in skin problems. Through nutrition, I worked to balance my oestrogen and progesterone levels, support liver detoxification, and reduce inflammation in the body. Supplementing with the right nutrients, such as zinc, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids, also helped support my skin’s healing process.
I also worked on reducing stress, which is a major contributor to hormonal imbalances. Incorporating yoga, meditation, and mindfulness into my routine helped calm my mind and balance my body’s stress response. I still did cardio but it was ALL I did, there was more balance to my exercise. As my skin improved, I felt more confident and empowered, and my overall health was transformed.
Seeing these enormous changes happen to my body, after years and years of feeling hopeless, absolutely lit a fire in me and I knew this career change was 100% for me!
The Takeaways: What Helped Me the Most
Nutrition is Key: Clean, whole foods and a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals supported my skin and hormonal health. It wasn’t just about what I cut out (like processed foods and sugar), but what I added in—things like anti-inflammatory fats, antioxidants, and gut-friendly probiotics.
Addressing Hormonal Imbalances: Coming off the pill caused significant shifts in my hormones, which triggered my skin issues. Working with a nutritional therapist helped me balance my hormones naturally, which had a profound impact on my skin.
Mind-Body Connection: Reducing stress and prioritising self-care, including regular exercise, sleep, and mindfulness practices, helped support my body’s healing process. Mental health and skin health are deeply interconnected.
Patience and Consistency: Healing took time. I had to be patient with myself, knowing that true health comes from consistent effort and long-term commitment.
It wasn’t a quick fix, but coming off the pill and addressing my hormonal imbalance through proper nutrition and lifestyle changes has transformed my skin and my overall health. I now see my body as a whole system that requires care and balance rather than a collection of isolated issues. The journey was challenging, but it was worth it. I’ve never felt better, inside and out.
I've been a nutritional therapist now for the better part of a decade and have helped so many women who have the same story as me - acne, IBS, low energy, eczema and a growing sense of apathy. If this sounds like you, I encourage you to explore how a holistic approach to health can help you, too. It could absolutely change your life.
Kelly Mulhall
Registered Nutritional Therapist, Health Coach, Master SIBO Practitioner
Kelly is a Registered Nutritional Therapist who focuses on positive physical and mental wellbeing, achieved through diet, lifestyle, sleep and exercise. Having struggled for years with IBS and hormonal imbalance, and increasingly frustrated with the lack of support and helpful advice from her GP, Kelly began her own journey of healing the body from the inside out. After seeing huge improvements she quit her job to study nutrition and focus on harnessing the healing powers of food to help other people in similar situations.
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