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Your skin is telling you
something deeper is wrong.

Acne, eczema, rosacea, pigmentation, premature ageing — these aren't skin problems. They're the skin's way of broadcasting what's happening internally. I treat both.

Book a consultation
Inside
Naturopathic medicine — root cause investigation, herbal medicine, functional testing, supplementation
Outside
Ocinium cosmeceutical skincare — clinician-formulated, prescribed as part of your treatment plan
Together
A complete skin health plan no GP, aesthetician or standard naturopath can offer — under one practitioner
If this sounds like you

You've tried everything.
Nothing has held.

You've been through the antibiotics, the topical retinoids, the elimination diets. Your skin improves — then reverts. Or it never really improved at all, and you've been managing rather than healing. Conventional dermatology treats the surface. Naturopathic medicine asks a different question: what is driving this from within?

The answer is almost never simple. Skin concerns are downstream effects — of gut dysbiosis, hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiencies, genetic variations in detoxification pathways, inflammatory load, or combinations of all of these. Until those upstream drivers are identified and addressed, the skin cannot fully recover.

Conditions I work with

Common presentations
and their hidden drivers

Acne

Often driven by androgen excess, insulin resistance, gut dysbiosis, or impaired liver detoxification — not simply a hygiene or topical issue. Investigations may include hormone panels, microbiome testing, and genetic variants affecting androgen metabolism.

Hormonal acne Cystic acne Adult acne Post-pill acne
Eczema & Dermatitis

A hypersensitivity condition with deep roots in immune dysregulation, leaky gut, and deficient skin barrier function. I investigate IgE and IgG food reactions, zinc and essential fatty acid status, and gut microbiome composition.

Atopic eczema Contact dermatitis Perioral dermatitis
Rosacea

Frequently linked to SIBO, Demodex overgrowth, impaired digestive function and systemic inflammation. An often-mismanaged condition that responds well to a gut-first approach supported by targeted topical therapy.

Erythematotelangiectatic Papulopustular Flushing & reactivity
Hyperpigmentation

Melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation are heavily influenced by oestrogen dominance, sun exposure, and impaired antioxidant capacity. I address both the internal hormonal drivers and prescribe Ocinium actives — vitamin C, niacinamide, azelaic acid — to treat topically.

Melasma PIH Hormonal pigmentation
Premature Skin Ageing

Accelerated by oxidative stress, glycation, chronic inflammation, UV damage, poor sleep and nutritional insufficiencies. I assess epigenetic age markers, collagen co-factors (vitamin C, silica, zinc, copper) and prescribe targeted anti-ageing actives internally and topically.

Fine lines Loss of elasticity Dullness & dehydration
Psoriasis & Reactive Skin

An autoimmune-driven inflammatory condition with strong gut, stress and genetic components. Management includes microbiome support, anti-inflammatory nutrition protocols, and stress-pathway interventions alongside topical care.

Plaque psoriasis Scalp psoriasis Reactive / sensitised skin
The Ocinium difference

I'm the only practitioner who can
treat your skin from both sides.

After years of clinical practice, I couldn't find skincare I trusted enough to prescribe to my clients. Too many sensitising ingredients, too much marketing dressed as science. So I built Ocinium — a cosmeceutical skincare range formulated on the same evidence-based principles I apply in the clinic.

When you work with me, your skin protocol has two parts: an inner programme targeting the root cause, and an Ocinium topical routine chosen specifically for your skin's needs. Both are prescribed — not guessed at. Both are designed to complement each other.

Explore Ocinium →
Inner protocol
Naturopathic medicine
  • Gut microbiome testing & repair
  • Hormone & androgen mapping
  • Liver detoxification support
  • Targeted herbal anti-inflammatories
  • Collagen co-factor nutrition
  • Genetic variant assessment (CYP1A2, COMT, etc.)
Outer protocol
Ocinium skincare
  • Pharmaceutical-grade actives
  • No sensitising fillers or fragrances
  • Prescribed to your skin type & condition
  • Formulated for compromised & clinical skin
  • Australian made, evidence-based
The process

What a skin health
consultation looks like

01
Deep intake

A thorough history of your skin, digestive function, hormonal pattern, stress, sleep, diet, and any medications or supplements. I also review any pathology you've already had done.

02
Targeted testing

Where the picture needs more clarity — microbiome analysis, comprehensive hormone panels, food reactivity testing, zinc/copper/essential fatty acid status, or genetic skin variants.

03
Your complete protocol

A written treatment plan covering nutrition, herbal medicine, supplements, and your prescribed Ocinium topical routine — all tailored to your results, reviewed and refined as you progress.

Ready to get started

Your skin deserves a plan
built for its actual cause.

In-clinic in Canberra and online across Australia and New Zealand. No referral needed.

Book a consultation Shop Ocinium
Common questions

Skin health
frequently asked questions

What causes adult acne?
Adult acne — particularly hormonal acne affecting the jaw, chin and lower face — is most commonly driven by androgen excess, insulin resistance, gut dysbiosis or impaired liver detoxification. These internal factors stimulate excess sebum production and skin cell turnover, creating the conditions for breakouts. Treating adult acne effectively requires identifying and addressing the specific internal driver, not just applying topical treatments.
Can a naturopath treat acne?
Yes. Naturopathic treatment for acne focuses on identifying the internal drivers — including hormonal imbalance, gut dysbiosis, nutritional deficiencies and genetic variants affecting androgen metabolism — and addressing them through targeted nutrition, herbal medicine and practitioner-grade supplements. Cassandra Hilton also prescribes Ocinium cosmeceutical skincare as the topical component of an inside-out acne protocol.
What is the gut-skin axis?
The gut-skin axis describes the bidirectional relationship between gut microbiome health and skin condition. Dysbiosis, intestinal permeability and SIBO are all associated with skin conditions including acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis. Addressing gut health is often the most powerful intervention for chronic skin conditions that have not responded to topical treatment alone.
What causes rosacea?
Rosacea is frequently associated with SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), Demodex mite overgrowth, impaired digestive function and systemic inflammation. The gut-skin connection in rosacea is well-documented — many clients experience significant improvement when gut dysbiosis and SIBO are effectively treated naturopathically.
What causes eczema?
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a hypersensitivity condition driven by immune dysregulation, impaired skin barrier function, gut dysbiosis and nutritional deficiencies — particularly zinc and essential fatty acids. IgG food reactions and leaky gut are commonly implicated. Naturopathic treatment addresses these internal drivers alongside barrier-supportive topical care.
What causes hyperpigmentation and melasma?
Hyperpigmentation is caused by dysregulated melanin production triggered by UV exposure, inflammation and hormonal signals. Melasma is strongly driven by oestrogen, which is why it worsens with oral contraceptives, pregnancy and HRT. Treatment addresses oestrogen metabolism and liver detoxification internally, alongside topical brightening actives.
What is Ocinium skincare?
Ocinium is a cosmeceutical skincare brand founded by Cassandra Hilton, a clinical naturopath. Every product is formulated without synthetic fragrances, sulphates, parabens or sensitising fillers, using skin-identical ingredients and evidence-based actives at therapeutic concentrations. Products are prescribed as the topical component of a complete inside-out protocol. Available at ocinium.com.
What is the difference between treating skin internally versus externally?
External skincare treats the surface — managing symptoms, protecting the barrier, delivering actives. Internal treatment addresses the physiological causes — gut health, hormonal balance, nutritional status, liver detoxification and genetics. Both are necessary for lasting results, which is why Cassandra prescribes both naturopathic internal protocols and Ocinium skincare together.