Acne - Causes / Cures

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Acne

Acne is a skin disease caused by the clogging of pores and an inflammation of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles which are on the face, neck, shoulders, back and chest. These glands produce too much oil, or sebum, become plugged and end up becoming whiteheads, pimples or blackheads. This sebum mixes with dead cells on the surface of the skin clogging the pores and causing blackheads and whiteheads. Bacteria around the hair follicles enter the skin if the whitehead ruptures causing a pimple. Squeezing the pimples can cause pitting and scars on the skin.

While we think acne is just a teenage problem, it is not uncommon for adults. Surprisingly, more adults have acne than teenagers. Acne affects more than 50% of adults between 25 and 49, compared to 25% of teenagers.

One form of acne is caused by a condition known as "skin hypoglycemia" or "skin diabetes." This means that the skin, which is an organ, is intolerant to sugars.

Causes

Diet, stress, heredity and hormone imbalances, and incorrect hygiene, often are causes of acne.

Dietary

*Food allergies, especially in adults over 25, are the cause of some of the worst cases.

*In general, bad digestion, often caused by too little hydrochloric acid in the stomach, leads to the inability to absorb important nutrients and is a major cause of acne.

*As with any wellness program, we suggest drinking six to eight glasses of water daily. This will aid your body systems in functioning properly, especially your skin (your largest organ) for acne sufferers.

*Although many traditional medical practitioners may not agree, the excess of milk, sugar, white flour and other refined, processed food, as well as nuts and high-fat meats, such as pork, may be contributing factors to acne.

*A diet high in high glycemic carbs and refined sugar creates a blood sugar boost that sets off a series of hormonal changes known to cause acne. Reported in the Archives of Dermatology.

*Iodine-rich foods, such as liver, cheese, iodized salt, kelp products, clams, crabs and other shellfish have been associated with acne, and should be avoided. Iodine is also used in commercial breads and in processing milk. Consider switching to alternate products. If you use a lot of iodized salt, switch to balanced sea salt which you can find at gourmet or health food stores.

*Avoid all foods containing trans-fatty acids, such as milk, milk products, cookies, chips, margarine, chocolate, shortening and hydrogenated oils.

*Other causes are deficiencies in zinc, vitamin A, and essential fatty acids such as linoleic.

*Poor digestion should be addressed by a good diet and digestive supplements (not antacids!).

Cleanliness

It goes without saying that keeping the skin clean and bacteria-free is of major importance. Here are some tips.

* Change your bed linens and sleep with the Vasseur Beauty pillow, as dead skin, oil, cosmetics, hair preparations and dirt on the linen will be picked up by your skin while you sleep and help clog pores.

* Wash your skin gently twice daily. Do not use regular soap, as it is alkaline and will promote bacterial growth. Don't scrub too hard, as this will irritate your skin further. Foaming Cleanser is recommended.

* Products containing benzoyl peroxide are also very beneficial topical antibacterial agents. Try Benzo 5 is dry to normal skin, or Benzo 10 if oily. However, if you are using products containing benzoyl peroxide, make extra efforts to screen yourself from the sun.

*A cleanser with aloe vera is good, too, as aloe is a natural wound healer.

*Allergies to cosmetics may be a cause, too, so if your acne started after using new cosmetics, eliminate them for a week to see if the acne clears up.

*Keep your hands away from your face or other affected areas. They contain oils and bacteria that promote acne. Wash your hands frequently.

*Avoid greasy creams and cosmetics, especially ones that contain oils and dyes, and avoid medications that contain bromides or iodides.

Hormones

Natural hormonal changes for both males and females are some of the primary causes of acne. These changes usually start at puberty and end in early adulthood. The increased androgen males experience at the beginning of puberty causes the sebaceous (oil) glands to enlarge and produce increased amounts of sebum (oil and waxes) which pass through the hair follicles to the skin. When the pores clog, acne occurs. Women, however, often get a mild case of acne beginning a week before their menstrual period begins, even in adulthood.

Birth control pills also can cause acne. Try another brand or another method.

Scalp acne

Some people get pimples on the scalp that may take a few weeks to clear up. This type of pimple is known as acne necrotica miliaris, and seems to flourish during times of high stress or when the scalp is oilier than normal. The latter may occur if you haven't shampooed as often as usual or are using hair-care products with a lot of oil. To speed healing, shampoo frequently and apply an acne remedy with benzoyl peroxide. If the acne itches, use an anti-itch product with cortisone or wash your hair several times with a coal-tar shampoo.

Other causes

Other factors are: stress, seasonal changes, drug toxicity (usually from steroids) and sun exposure, as well as caffeinated drinks and certain spices.

Traditional Treatment

Traditional treatment of acne is done with a low level of antibiotics, usually tetracycline. However, using antibiotics has side effects and may have long-term consequences as the body becomes resistant to the antibiotics. In any event, because bacteria is not the primary cause of acne, prolonged use of antibiotics should be avoided.

For the severest cases dermatologists may prescribe oral isotretinoin (Accutane), or a vitamin A derivative called Retin-A, which unblocks pores and prevents pimples. This treatment is highly effective but has many side effects, including birth defects in some babies born to women using it.

Adults with acne shouldn't use anti-acne products made for adolescents. These products may strip too much natural oil from their skin. Products containing salicylic acid, which is milder than the benzoyl peroxide found in most products for teens, is a better choice.

An Alternative Prevention & Treatment Program

An effective prevention and treatment program has five steps:

1. Begin with a cleansing diet to help your system detoxify. Impurities that cannot be eliminated through the kidneys and bowels fast enough may erupt through the skin. This program is not recommended for anyone under 17 years of age.

2. Clean your skin daily as recommended above. This will keep the pores open and your skin free of bacteria. Discourage new blemishes by using a benzoyl peroxide lotion like Benzoclear or tea tree oil like On the Go. Benzoyl peroxide may irritate the skin, so it is best to leave it on for only two hours, then wash off.

3. Check to see if you are allergic to certain foods, cosmetics, or other products applied to your face, such as sunscreens. Did the outbreak of acne begin after you started eating a new diet or using a new product? If so, eliminate the new foods from the diet and begin using hypoallergenic cosmetics, vitamins and other products. Common allergens are chocolate, milk, refined carbohydrates (sweets) and soft drinks. Your doctor may want to test for allergies, and a blood test is more effective than a skin scratch one to help detect these allergies.

4. Make sure you eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet.

5. Start taking supplements that promote healthy skin. By following this regimen, you should see positive results within three months.

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Wellness Program

Dietary Changes

Although topical treatments may produce quick results, they often have side effects, may dry out the skin, and don't address the root causes of acne. So, for a long-term strategy, it is better to treat acne from the inside out through dietary changes. Since diet plays such a large part in acne problems, the first step to alleviate the problem is to make the necessary dietary changes. Without doing this, your chances of improvement are greatly reduced.

*A high-fiber diet of whole grain breads and cereals, bran, legumes (beans, lentils and split peas) and lots of fruits and vegetables is a good way to minimize eating the wrong foods. Often skin problems are rapidly improved when more fiber is added to the diet.

*Reduce your consumption of junk food and limit your total fat intake to no more than 20% of calories. Cut out hydrogenated oils.

*Eliminate sugars. Skin glucose tolerance is significantly impaired in acne patients.

*Eliminate refined carbohydrates.

*Reduce (or eliminate) milk consumption. The hormones contained in milk can aggravate acne. Try Soymilk low fat vanilla, or organic low fat milk.

*Avoid chocolate, tea, and coffee. Try the decaffeinated alternatives and dark chocolate if you must. *Avoid foods containing trans fatty acids, as noted above under "Dietary Causes."

*Avoid fried foods, other than being high fat it also contains a lot of iodine from salt. *Eliminate sodas and artificial sweeteners.

*Eat foods with zinc to get enough to satisfy the remedy listed below. Foods containing zinc include wheat germ, sesame seeds, liver, soybeans, sunflower seeds, egg yolk and lamb.

Supplements

Acidophilus Take acidophilus either in capsule or liquid form 2-3 times a day.

Brewer's yeast tablets taken after every meal has worked for some people. It contains chromium which is an essential mineral involved in the processing of sugar. Take 2 pills of brewer's yeast daily.

Chromium (GTF or glucose tolerance factor) will aid in glucose tolerance. This will be especially beneficial for those with sugars-induced acne. Take 400 mcg of chromium.

ChromMate

*is very bioavailable.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are composed of linoleic and linolenic fatty acids and should be taken to help reduce or eliminate inflammation. Individuals with acne are often deficient in these important nutrients. The omega 6 fatty acids are found in evening primrose oil (take 500 mg two times daily), black currant seed oil, and borage seed oil. A tablespoon of fish oil daily will be helpful. Pure cold-pressed flaxseed oil is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Selenium helps boost the potency of vitamin E when the two are taken together. Take 200-400 mcg. per day. People with severe cases of acne have been found to be deficient in selenium. A multi-vitamin with all the antioxidants should have sufficient selenium.

Vitamin A will help reduce sebum production and is important in maintaining healthy skin. Take 10-15,000 I.U. (not beta carotene) and 400 I.U. of vitamin D daily. For severe cases of acne you may need to increase the intake to 25,000 I.U., but do this only with medical supervision as it may cause side effects.

Vitamin B-complex Take a B-complex supplement daily. Folic acid (a B vitamin) 10 mg daily, especially if your acne erupts at the outset of your menstrual cycle. Take along with B-6.

Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) has been used successfully in China. Dosage is 10 grams daily (divided into 2.5 grams doses) plus a cream containing 20% pantothenic acid by weight, applied four to six times daily. After 2-3 days there was a dramatic decrease in the amount of oil secretion, and the acne was brought under control in a few weeks' time. Severe cases needed 15-20 grams of pantothenic acid daily, and the time needed was up to six months.

Vitamin B6 will help restore normal hormone balance, especially testosterone and estrogen, which contribute to flareups. Take 50 mg three times per day. Women should start a week before menstruation and continue for a week afterward, as a minimum; daily would be preferable.

Vitamin C helps promote healing and cellular repair, enhances the immune system, and is beneficial for skin health in general. Start with 500 mg daily and increase to 1-3,000 mg or to bowel tolerance over a week or two.

Vitamin E boosts the effectiveness of certain enzymes (glutathione peroxidase) needed for good skin health and enhances the absorption of vitamin A. Take 400 IU per day. It is more effective when taken with selenium.

Zinc, an essential mineral, is more effective than antibiotics for wound healing, inflammation control, tissue regeneration and healthy skin in general. To see results you may have to take zinc for one to two months, and it should greatly reduce the recurrence of acne once the body chemistry is in balance. Zinc may be used topically or take 50 mg with each meal. Zinc picolinate is readily absorbed. If you don't see any results after a month or so, increase the level to 100 or even 150 mg with each meal. You should have very positive results within three months. Many teenage diets are high in the junk food category, which is very low in zinc. In addition to zinc, take 1 mg of copper for every 15 mg of zinc. Consult your physician before taking more than 15 mg of zinc per day for an extended period of time, as it may interfere with the absorption of copper. Caution: if you have not seen results with high doses of zinc, reduce the amount to 15-30 mg/day, along with the appropriate amount of copper, and concentrate on other remedies.