The development of acne in teenage years or even into adulthood can be distressing. Conventional treatments often only mask the symptoms rather than dealing with the underlying causes and triggers. This article looks at the causitive factors and how natural dietary measures can help heal this common skin condition.

Acne is a skin disorder common to many teenagers living in the Western World and in the last 20 years, an increasing number of adults. An inflammatory disease of the skin, the most common symptoms of acne include pimples, comedones, whiteheads blackheads, pustules, cysts and scars.

The development of acne is multifactorial with a number of causes and exacerbating factors contributing to the onset and persistence of the condition. These include:

* Sex Hormones – Acne that flares up at puberty or monthly with the menstrual cycle is likely the result of high androgen production. Androgens stimulate the production of sebum in the skin’s oil glands. Oil glands that are blocked by dead skin cells build up sebum creating swelling. Sebum production can also be stimulated by sweat and humidity.

* Bacteria – A bacteria species Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is commonly found in the pores of the skin. Under normal circumstances P. acnes is in balance with the skin environment however when stimulated by factors such as excess sebum and pore congestion the environment is ideal for bacterial growth. Overgrowth of P. acnes triggers an inflammatory response, leading to pustules.

* Cosmetics and medications – Mineral oil, liquid make up, petroleum based products and rich moisturisers can cause congestion which may trigger or worsen acne. Cosmetics can also cause skin irritation which may flare-up acne. Certain medication such as steroids can also stimulate acne production.

* Stress – There is some indication that stress can exacerbate acne by disrupting hormone levels and suppressing the immune system.

* Dietary Factors – There are a number of links between diet and acne. Diets high in trans fats, simple carbohydrates and sugars promote inflammation in the body, which aggravates acne. A high glycemic index (GI) diet is also associated with insulin resistance and increased production of androgens.

* Insulin levels – High insulin levels occur when the cells that usually take glucose up from the blood become resistant to its effects. The pancreas responds by producing more insulin creating a cycle that can lead to an increase in acne, as well as weight gain and hormone imbalances.

* Nutritional Deficiencies – Zinc, Essential Fatty Acids and vitamin A are important skin nutrients. Deficiencies in any one of these can lead to skin problems. Skin that is dry and inflamed or congested with whiteheads or blackheads may be deficient in EFAs. Skin deficient in zinc can scar very easily which is often the case in chronic acne. Adequate levels of zinc in the skin will help with skin repair and reduce ongoing scarring. Acne and rough or thick skin are also possible signs of a vitamin A deficiency.

Conventional Treatment

Conventional treatment for acne ranges from medicated washes to medications such as Roaccutane. Ingredients found in over the counter medications are either aimed at reducing P. acnes, degreasing the skin or reducing skin shedding. While they may be effective in some cases, many of these treatments have potential side effects such as skin dryness and are only treating the symptoms rather than the cause of the condition.

Skin Hygiene & Topical Treatments

Skin hygiene is paramount when it comes to managing acne. Frequent touching the site of acne can lead to P. acne being transferred to other sites on the face or body. Picking or squeezing blemishes or blackheads can lead to scarring. Good hygiene practices help to minimise irritation, scarring and bacterial transfer. Suggestions for reducing acne lesions include:

* Wash your face once or twice a day.

Washing at night helps to remove environmental grime, oil secretions, creams and make up. Washing in the morning removes debris and dead skin cells produced during the night.

Ensure that you use a sodium laurel sulphate free cleanser as this will help prevent the skin becoming dehydrated. If your skin feels tight or dry after washing it is an indication that the skin’s protective barrier has been significantly disrupted. This can lead to over production of sebum (oiliness).

* Wash your hands before touching your skin to reduce the chance of infection.

Picking or squeezing can cause damage to the surrounding skin and increase the likelihood of scarring. It may also spread bacteria under the skin and cause further breakouts.

* If you have oily hair or pimples around your hairline, wash your hair daily.

* Avoid make up or face creams that are greasy or oily.

Look for light or gel products that support skin healing. Natural ingredients such as Aloe vera, Calendula, Lavender, Chamomile, Rose geranium & Cedarwood essential oils and Manuka honey can assist with skin healing, reduce sebum production and inflammation.

Facial products that contain sodium lauryl sulphate, socetyl stearate, isopropyl isostearate, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate,sodium chloride and parabens may increase irritation, dryness and contribute to acne.

Mineral Make Up is ideal to cover up the redness and irritation associated with acne as they don’t sink into and clog the pores.

Dietary Considerations

A recent Australian trial conducted at RMIT University, Melbourne, has shown that a low glycaemic index (GI), high protein diet improved symptoms of acne including the number of facial lesions. It also reduced the causative factors associated with acne such as high androgen levels and insulin resistance. The diet consisted of 25% of energy from protein and 45% of energy from low GI carbohydrates such as fruit and vegetables, grains and pulses.

Interestingly acne is seen as a condition associated with Western diets that are generally higher in saturated and trans-fats, high in simple carbohydrates and sugars and lower in healthy protein sources. Acne vulgaris is seen in up to 79-95% of the adolescent population in Westernised countries. Non-Western diets, which are traditionally high in low glycaemic foods, do not have the same association.

There are a number of simple dietary changes that support skin health, help minimise sebum and balance hormones:

* Consume Fish regularly: Fish is an excellent source of protein and essential fatty acids. Protein is important for skin healing. Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) help to keep skin flexible and hydrated as well as promoting skin healing. Deep Sea fish are the best source of EFAs including tuna, salmon, anchovies and sardines. A fish oil supplement may be a good idea if fish intake is less thank twice a week.

* Eat Lean Animal Protein: Lean red meat and organic chicken are good sources of valuable protein that is essential for skin healing and repair. A palm size serve of animal protein 2-3 times a week will help support skin health.

* Eat plenty of Fresh Vegetables: Vegetables are low GI and full of antioxidants and trace nutrients that help to heal and repair the skin. Betacarotene (a precursor to vitamin A) is found in vegetables including carrots, spinach, sweet potato, kale, green leafy vegetables and red capsicum. Regular fruit consumption is also important.

* Purified Water: Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. Water promotes healthy digestive habits and helps to flush toxins out of your body. Water is also essential to keep your skin well hydrated.

* Go for Whole Grains & Legumes: Whole grains are rich in fibre, low GI and nutrients. This promotes sustained release energy and reduces inflammation. Zinc, important for skin healing, is found in whole grains along with sunflower & pumpkin seeds, beef, egg yolks, ginger and lamb.

Foods to Avoid

* Processed Foods & Sugar: Foods high in sugar increase the body’s production of insulin, promote inflammation and can cause or exacerbate acne. Minimise the following foods in your diet to less than 10%: cakes, lollies, processed flour products, white bread, white rice (with the exception of Basmati), fruit juices, baked goods, and trans or hydrogenated fats.

* Soft drinks & diet soft drinks: Soft drinks are full of sugar and often caffeine. The phosphorus and sodium in soft drinks can lead to skin drying and the carbonate can cause digestive disorders. Drink water, herbal teas, and vegetable juices instead.

* Dairy: There is some research that suggests that a high consumption of milk and dairy products may be linked with acne. The Journal of America Academy of Dermatology published a report showing a positive association between dairy consumption, particularly milk and acne in teenage girls. Suitable milk substitutes may include soymilk, rice milk, almond milk and fresh goat’s milk.

A healthy, low GI diet is important in the management of acne, both in teenagers and adults. In combination with good hygiene practices and natural, healing topical treatments, acne is a condition that can be managed effectively before resorting to medications.

Your organic skin expert – http://www.vitalenatural.com.au

First and foremost, you need to practice smart natural skin care cleaning methods every day. This includes washing skin with a natural beauty product like a gentle, alcohol free cleanser. Choose the best skin care product for you when you find a cleanser at the store. Smart cleaning methods also entail cleaning your skin with your fingertips, and not with a washcloth. Lastly, it is important to note that you should NEVER scrub your skin, this will only make acne worse.
The second thing you need to do is avoid potentially skin care harmful products. The best way to do this is to use only organic beauty product lines. Toners, exfoliators, and astringents can all contain alcohol that further aggravates your skin. Most organic beauty product lines do not contain harmful ingredients. Read organic beauty labels before you buy, and stay away from any organic beauty products containing sensitive ingredients.

Next, you need to make sure that you do not pick or pop pimples as part of your skin care regimen. This is not recommended for several reasons. Popping pimples actually serves to delay healing time; and it also increases the likelihood of scarring.

Women and men both have unique acne skin care concerns. Women who use makeup and sunscreen need to choose organic skin care product lines that are labeled noncomedogenic. This is crucial, as these organic skin care product lines contain ingredients that will not clog pores. This, in turn, makes it easier to maintain healthy skin. This can also be a form of anti aging skin care, as most of these anti aging skin care products will help you avoid the lines that others will cause.

On the flip side, men have to be mindful when shaving. Choose razors and shaving creams that are made for sensitive skin, and always take your time! Fast or aggressive shaving can lead to further outbreaks.

Following these acne skin care tips should help decrease the occurrence of acne in your life. If you still fail to see results, consult a dermatologist who may be able to offer you the best skin care product for your face./pbr
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Acne is one of the oldest skin problems, and troubles young and old alike. Caused by hormonal disorders, overactive glands or bacterial infections, acne causes skin inflammation, pimples, scars and discoloration. This problem is most obvious in fair-complexioned people.
Using chemical-based creams to treat acne not only has side effects like red or dried skin, but can also harm the skin permanently. To get rid of this problem, experts recommend natural therapies. Natural skin-care treatments for acne are considered extremely reliable, effective and safe.
Herbs like basil and turmeric are extremely effective in treating acne. These can counter any sort of bacteria effectively and help one regain a healthy, radiant skin. Also, there are innumerable creams, lotions and pills available that are made from natural ingredients and are highly effective in treating acne.
Natural skin care products for acne treatments also contain vitamins like A, B6 and C, along with minerals like zinc, which not treat acne but also nourish the skin. Along with using natural skin care products for acne treatment, it is also advised to keep the infected area clean, and maintain a nutritious diet rich in vegetables and fruits.
The markets are deluged with acne cures that claim to be 100% natural and promise to cure acne quickly. Therefore, it is always advisable that a dermatologist be consulted before using any of the treatments. Before you can effectively treat a case of acne, you must first determine what caused it.
A regular, continual application of natural skin care products, under expert advice, can go a long way toward keeping acne at bay.
Natural Skin Care provides detailed information on Natural Skin Care, Natural Skin Care Products, Natural Acne Skin Care, Natural Organic Skin Care and more. Natural Skin Care is affiliated with Dry Skin Treatment.

Many years ago when I was a teenager I was known as the Acne Boy. Those days where horrible as you can imagine. My face was like a mine field with lots of black and white heads ready to blow up. I remember it was a very difficult time to get to know other people, especially the cool girls. I always hoped that one day a solution for my problem would surface that would help me get rid of my acne for good.

All the traditional myths about acne did not help me at all. My mother and father and other family members really believed that my acne was a result of eating junk food on a daily basis. I must admit that I do have a weak spot when it comes to eating fast food but I definitely don’t eat it everyday.

Therefore I wasn’t so sure that eating this food was the main cause of my acne problem. Many of my friends snacked away the same food I did. Some ate even more frequently but they hardly had any acne. Something had to be wrong with this old and popular belief right?

I had seen the myth being shattered right in front of my eyes. Yet another myth I hear a lot of people talk about is the chocolate myth. Since I’m a big fan chocolate, I really thought about giving it up, even at the risk of remaining the acne boy. But having read up and followed news and medical reports on the subject, I discovered to my huge relief that eating chocolate had nothing to do with acne.

Those of you who are not familiar with the latest information on Acne now have at least a basic understanding. But there’s more to come.

My friends were not much of a help either when I needed them the most. My friends hinted often with stupid sarcasm. They once told me that my acne face was the result of my computer addiction. It didn’t need much thought to conclude this was also a myth.

Another myth that I did believe, and which sounded truly genuine and even scientific at that point in time was the assumption that acne was a result of dirt accumulation on the pores of ones face. I never stopped to consider that if that was the case, why wasn’t the skin on my arms and legs, which were more in contact with dirt and grime than any other part of my body, covered with acne?

I remember clearly that I spent several months assiduously washing my face with all kinds of soaps and anti acne creams in a quest to get rid of my acne. I did all of this with no effect of course. At one point in my life I changed my attitude and concluded that the more I focused myself on my acne the longer they would remain.

Exactly at that point I made the decision to stop bothering myself about my acne filled face. And guess what happened? A couple of years later when I grew out of my adolescence, the acne disappeared on it’s own like magic. Today my face is very clear and radiant and I love it!

That’s how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any condition can change over time; sometimes all you need to do is give it a little more time.