Acne is a condition that involves the oil glands (sebaceous glands) and hair follicles of the skin. The glands become blocked causing oil to accumulate and a pimple to grow at the base of the hair follicle. Leading to blackheads, whiteheads, cysts and pustules. The skin becomes inflamed and infected, which in some cases can be painful.
Acne can occur anywhere on the body. The most common spots are the face, neck, upper back and arms.
Yes, acne can occur at any age, even young children can suffer with acne. However, it commonly occurs during our teenage years. This is because during this time, there are a lot of changes occurring. There are many hormonal changes that can disrupt our eliminatory systems such as our skin. Making it difficult for us to eliminate toxins. Other reasons for acne include nutrition, stress, genetics, skin sensitivity and poor personal hygiene.
What are the common types of acne?
• Pustules: appear as red bumps with pus formed on the top. These are the most commonly seen type of acne.
• Blackheads: is an oil filled mass at the base of the hair follicle. The colour is caused by the oil being oxidised.
• Whiteheads: is a blocked pore that is covered by a layer of skin that is often caused by a mix of oil and cells that harden together.
• Cysts: is a lump formed under the skin that is filled with oil and pus. These are generally red and painful and can often cause scarring to the skin surface .
Acne can be triggered by diet, lifestyle (such as high stress) and physiological changes such as puberty, ovarian disease and pregnancy. Hormones such as androgens stimulate our sebaceous (oil) glands to enlarge potentially becoming blocked with oil and bacteria under the skin.
Does my diet affect my skin?
Yes. Whilst, its not directly related to “junk” food. The sugary content of foods such as chocolate can cause acne. Diets high in refined sugars do contribute to acne. High sugar diets disrupt blood sugar levels, increase sebum (oil) production and pore size making them more vulnerable to being blocked and more visible. Sugar is also highly inflammatory which will contribute to the already inflamed skin.
The skin is the largest organ in the body (contributing to 15% of our total body weight and covers 1-2 m2 of surface area), so its big and a poor diet can have a large impact on how we look and feel.
Does squeezing pimples make my acne worse?
Yes! Squeezing any pimple can push the build-up of oil, bacteria and dead skin cells deeper into the pore. Causing more inflammation and bacteria to build and eventually this can pop under the skin causing more inflammation and bacteria to spread. Not only can you push the oil further into the skin, you can also cause scarring to the external skin surface. In rare cases this can lead to a significant infection requiring antibiotic treatment.
A dozen tips on how can you improve your skin?
1. Drink plenty of water. This helps hydrate the skin and helps eliminate toxins. Add freshly squeezed lemon to the water to help the body detox and also for a nice citrus taste.
2. Washing your face twice a day with natural organic products can help nourish, tone and replenish your skin.
3. Wash your skin after exercise to remove excess sweat and dirt.
4. Avoid squeezing and touching your skin as this only contributes to the spread of acne and cause scarring.
5. Avoid chemical based products and make‐up as they can be harsh to the skin and contribute to the blocking of the hair follicles leading to oil accumulation.
6. Change your pillow case every two to three days. This helps keep bacteria build up to a minimum .
7. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit. These are packed with antioxidants that help reduce bacteria as well as feed and nourish the skin.
8. Exercise! This helps circulate nutrients around the body to replenish the skin and help eliminate waste through the skin, but also other eliminatory channels such as the kidneys and intestines.
9. Avoid synthetic clothing, tight head bands and baseball caps as these reduce the skins ability to breath and could contribute to bacterial build up.
10. Think about what you put on your skin? Is it blocking the pores, sebaceous glands or contributing to bacterial build-up? You may notice that after using a particular skin product that your skin breaks out in the next day or two. If you are not sure which product, use the products one at a time and repeat the experiment to see if you get the same result.
11. Avoid dusty environments for the same reasons above.
12. Get your hormone levels checked especially if you suffer with other health issues.
Can vitamin & mineral supplementation help?
Yes. Even though we need to start with changes to our diets, supplements can help if there is a deficiency. Vitamins such as vitamin A and minerals such as zinc can beneficial. Essential Fatty Acids are good fats that our body needs to maintain optimal health. They are called essential because we need to eat these through our diet as our body is unable to make them. Essential fats are found in every cell membrane which makes them important factors for skin health.
They help repair damaged skin and help with keeping follicles clean. Essential fatty acids can be found in fish such as salmon, avocado, walnuts and flaxseeds or flaxseed oil. However, you should consult your health care professional before taking any supplementations (especially Vitamin A) as high doses can have adverse effects and in some cases be harmful if used in high doses long term.
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