Post by Rian on Nov 13, 2008 17:42:53 GMT -5
Tips On Acne Prevention Without Drugs
Whether in men or in women, the most common trigger of acne is a slight hormonal imbalance in favor of the male hormone, testosterone. This imbalance makes the glands in hair follicles on your face, back or neck produce too much oil, which then clogs the pores. Bacteria grow in the trapped oil and break it down to produce fatty substances that irritate your skin.
Types of Acne
Whiteheads. These are round, white blemishes that form when hair follicles become blocked by a plug of sebum and dead skin cells.
Blackheads. These are round, dark blemishes that form when the sebum and skin cell plug reaches the skin's surface and the air.
Pimples. These are red, swollen bumps that form when the plugged follicle walls break near the skin's surface.
Deep cysts. When pimples become pus-filled, and the follicle walls break deep within the skin, they form deep cysts.
What Can Make Your Skin Break Out?
The main dietary offender in the modern diet is its high saturated fat content. A diet high in animal protein, cheese, and milk causes abnormal development of the sebaceous glands, leading to acne. The modern teenage diet is a prescription for acne, with cheeseburgers, hot dogs, French fried potatoes, corn chips, fried eggs, sugar, candy, cola and chocolate.
Although meat (especially pork fat) and hydrogenated fats are detrimental, milk fat is often the main offender. We are the only species that feeds our young milk after weaning. The situation would probably be less serious if we gave our children mother's milk, but we give them cow's milk, with its excessive fat.
Both naturopathic physicians and the lay public have long recognized the link between diet and acne. Every teenager knows that chocolate may aggravate acne. Other detrimental substances in the diet are coffee, tea, alcohol, and sugar. Sugar in particular facilitates the action of saturated fatty acids, making it the number two offender.
Certain dietary deficiencies have been associated with acne. Of these, vitamin B6, zinc, and essential fatty acids are the most common. Vitamin B6 deficiency is common in acne related to the menstrual cycle, where acne is worse prior to or during menstruation and premenstrual symptoms of irritability and water retention are severe. Zinc is a common deficiency especially during puberty with rapid growth, which requires an excess of this mineral. Zinc is deficient in most soils and therefore most foods.
What Makes it Better?
Leaving it alone: removing blackheads is not recommended. You should also try not to pick or squeeze pimples- it can make the inflammation worse and cause scarring.
Gentle regular cleaning: avoid excessive scrubbing.
Using water-based cosmetics and mild facial cleansers and make-up removers.
Whether in men or in women, the most common trigger of acne is a slight hormonal imbalance in favor of the male hormone, testosterone. This imbalance makes the glands in hair follicles on your face, back or neck produce too much oil, which then clogs the pores. Bacteria grow in the trapped oil and break it down to produce fatty substances that irritate your skin.
Types of Acne
Whiteheads. These are round, white blemishes that form when hair follicles become blocked by a plug of sebum and dead skin cells.
Blackheads. These are round, dark blemishes that form when the sebum and skin cell plug reaches the skin's surface and the air.
Pimples. These are red, swollen bumps that form when the plugged follicle walls break near the skin's surface.
Deep cysts. When pimples become pus-filled, and the follicle walls break deep within the skin, they form deep cysts.
What Can Make Your Skin Break Out?
The main dietary offender in the modern diet is its high saturated fat content. A diet high in animal protein, cheese, and milk causes abnormal development of the sebaceous glands, leading to acne. The modern teenage diet is a prescription for acne, with cheeseburgers, hot dogs, French fried potatoes, corn chips, fried eggs, sugar, candy, cola and chocolate.
Although meat (especially pork fat) and hydrogenated fats are detrimental, milk fat is often the main offender. We are the only species that feeds our young milk after weaning. The situation would probably be less serious if we gave our children mother's milk, but we give them cow's milk, with its excessive fat.
Both naturopathic physicians and the lay public have long recognized the link between diet and acne. Every teenager knows that chocolate may aggravate acne. Other detrimental substances in the diet are coffee, tea, alcohol, and sugar. Sugar in particular facilitates the action of saturated fatty acids, making it the number two offender.
Certain dietary deficiencies have been associated with acne. Of these, vitamin B6, zinc, and essential fatty acids are the most common. Vitamin B6 deficiency is common in acne related to the menstrual cycle, where acne is worse prior to or during menstruation and premenstrual symptoms of irritability and water retention are severe. Zinc is a common deficiency especially during puberty with rapid growth, which requires an excess of this mineral. Zinc is deficient in most soils and therefore most foods.
What Makes it Better?
Leaving it alone: removing blackheads is not recommended. You should also try not to pick or squeeze pimples- it can make the inflammation worse and cause scarring.
Gentle regular cleaning: avoid excessive scrubbing.
Using water-based cosmetics and mild facial cleansers and make-up removers.
