Skin care professionals and dermatologists alike
are continually reporting on acne and how to overcome this stressful
condition. Pharmacy shelves are lined with natural acne treatments that
claim to help while doctors regularly prescribe medicines that can have
mild to severe side effects. The skin disorder affects a large amount
of people and is characterized by pimples or spots on the face back or
neck. Many treatments and remedies have been tested but perhaps the
true solution lies within changes to the modern lifestyle and keeping
an eye out for those all important breakout triggers.
The main triggers of acne prone skin are:
Hormonal changes - not just during your teens and
as a result acne breakouts can flare up at other times during your life.
It's common for teenage acne to be triggered by
increased levels of a hormone called testosterone that occurs during
puberty. It is thought that the increased levels of testosterone causes
the glands to produce much more sebum (oil) than the skin actually
needs leading to breakouts and pimples.
But in adult life, acne can be triggered by any
number of factors and more than 80% of adult acne cases occur in women.
Pregnant women often find that due to hormonal changes in their body
early on in their pregnancy, they experience acne breakouts.
Many women will experience several other hormonal
changes throughout their lives so here are a few other possible reasons
for adult acne to appear:
- Periods: some women experience a flare-up of acne just before their
period is due as a result of to hormonal levels rising at this time.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome: this poorly understood, but common
condition can cause acne, weight gain and the formation of small cysts
inside the ovary. This is caused by excess levels of androgens (male
sex hormones) which stimulate the production of seburn.
- Side effects of medication: in some people, certain types of
medication can cause acne, e.g. steroid medication and lithium (which
is often used to treat depression and bipolar disorder).
- Diet: many people may not realise that what we put into our bodies
may also be affecting our skin. In fact many of the lifestyle choices
we make everyday could be counting towards or causing acne prone skin.
Refined carbohydrates and sugar or comfort foods
result in a quick sugar rush rather than sustained energy levels.
Eating refined carbohydrates (white varieties of bread, pasta, rice or
flour) and sugar leads to a surge in insulin and an insulin-like growth
factor called IGF-1. This can also influence sebum production in the
skin and result in skin cells dying quicker. Oil and dead skin cells
block pores, which can lead to acne breakouts in acne-prone individuals.
Too much caffeine will dehydrate the body and lead
to dry skin. Caffeine also increases the release of the body's stress
hormones which can have a negative effect on the skin and exacerbate
existing skin problems, such as acne.
Although lean red meat is an excellent source of
protein, iron and other important nutrients, processed red meat is also
high in saturated fat so these products should be avoided. The latter
can be inflammatory and enhance skin problems such as psoriasis and
acne due to the meat being more acidifying and having a negative effect
on pH balance.
Toxins of cigarettes and alcohol
Cigarettes and alcohol both contain high levels of toxins, which your
liver has to work hard to get rid of. This may also encourage oil
production on the skin as it tries to help the body release these extra
toxins, resulting in spots which can then lead to acne breakouts if
your skin is prone.
Natural Acne Treatment
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Miranda_Wilson
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