Acne is a
skin problem involving inflammation. It affects 80% of all
Americans, normally between ages11 and 25. However, women may suffer
premenstrual flare-ups of acne. Oral contraceptives high
in progesterone may also cause acne to occur. Interestingly, one
thing not commonly known is that it is important for your colon to
be clean of toxins as this may also relate to acne problems. The
skin is the largest organ of your body, and one of the functions of
the skin is to rid the body of toxins. If the body contains more
toxins then the kidney, liver, and colon can handle then the skin
takes over. For this reason a good
colon
cleansing and restoration program may very help. Other factors
involved with acne are:
stress,
allergies, eating too
much junk food, poor diet, pollutants, over-washing your skin, and nutritional
deficiencies in the diet.
Acne is a more common problem in males because
the male sex hormones called
androgens like testosterone will stimulate the
production of both keratin and sebum, that helps cause clogged pores.
In puberty, androgens increase in both males and females, making girls
in this age group more vulnerable also. However, hormones do
not magically go
away after adolescence, and alot of women suffer pre-menstrual
acne flare-ups which maybe caused by the release of the
hormone progesterone after ovulation. Oral contraceptives
which are high in
progesterone can cause break-outs as well.. The sebaceous glands,
located in each hair follicle or tiny pit of skin, produce oil
that lubricates the skin. Sebaceous glands are found in large
amounts on the back, chest, face, and shoulders. If the oil becomes trapped, bacteria
grow and multiply in the follicle and
the skin becomes inflamed. Several of these spots can come and
go over a period of months or even years. Acne contrary to
popular belief is not caused by
"dirty" pores, but more often by overactive
oil glands; the excess oil makes the pores sticky, thus allowing
bacteria to become trapped inside. Blackheads form when sebum
combines with skin pigments and plugs the skin pores. Whiteheads
occur if scales
below the surface of the skin become filled with sebum. In
some severe cases, whiteheads may build up,
spread under the skin, and rupture, which spreads
the inflammation. The exact causes of acne are unknown, but
contributing factors include: androgens, heredity, and oily
skin. Other important factors are: allergies; stress; certain drugs
(like steroids, lithium, oral
contraceptives, and anti-epileptic drugs),
over-consumption of junk food, saturated fats, hydrogenated
fats, and animal products; nutritional deficiencies; exposure
to industrial pollutants (like machine oils, coal tar derivatives,
chlorinated hydrocarbons), the use of cosmetics, monthly
menstrual cycles, and overwashing or repeated rubbing of the
skin. The skin is the largest organ of the body. One of its
functions is to eliminate a portion of the body's toxic waste
products through sweating. If the body contains more toxins
than the kidneys and liver can effectively discharge, the skin
takes over. Some doctors even call the skin the "third
kidney." As toxins escape through the skin, they
disrupt the skin's healthy integrity. This is a key factor
behind many skin disorders, including acne. The skin also
"breathes." If the pores become clogged, the
microbes that are involved in causing acne flourish because
they are protected against the bacteriostatic action of
sunshine. Dirt, dust, grime , and oils from pollution may also
clog the
skin pores. Also a body pH level that is too alkaline can also cause acne bacteria to breed and multiply.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
Essentially
fatty acids |
10 |
Provides GLA "gamma linolenic
acid" which is very important for skin health. Needed for
repair of damaged skin cell. Helps keep the skin soft and
smooth. Used also to help dissolve fatty deposits that block
pores. Essential fatty acids are found in omega fatty acids from fish
oil, flax seed oil, and borage seed oil. |
Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
contains vitamin E ,
vitamin A , vitamin B , potassium
, and zinc which all are helpful in
both the treatment and prevention of skin acne. Should also
contain acidophilus, selenium, vitamin D, and vitamin C.
Often, nutritional deficiencies are related to an acne
problem. A daily supplement provides nutrients required for general good health and well being. |
vitamin A |
9 |
strengthens the skin "epithelial" tissue and may
assist in healing |
vitamin B |
8 |
B vitamins promote healthy skin tone, improves blood flow to
the surface of the skin, boosts skin cellular reproduction,
helps with stress. |
vitamin E |
9 |
powerful antioxidant properties
and it is also good for general healing in the body
|
vitamin
B6 |
8 |
helps with stress which can
aggravate acne |
vitamin
B5 |
8 |
works with vitamin B6
|
Garlic |
9 |
destroys bacteria and helps the
immune system |
Zinc |
9 |
aids in the healing of tissue and helps to prevent scarring
both beneficial to people with acne. It also is needed in the
oil producing glands of the skin. |
Calendula |
9 |
promotes wound healing and aids in
preventing viral skin infections |
Chaste
tree |
9 |
very helpful for women with
premenstrual and related hormonal problems see
Female
Balance |
Lecithin |
8 |
aids in the absorption of
essential fatty acids |
Potassium |
8 |
not getting enough potassium in your diet appears to be
related to being vulnerable to acne. |
Selenium |
7 |
powerful antioxidant and helps
skin elasticity |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|