As a common skin disorder, acne affects over ninety percent of the world's population at some time or other. It is the most widely treated skin disorder by dermatologists and strikes both teenagers and adults.
There are many different factors that contribute to acne including hormones, bacteria, and some genetic factors. It has even been suggested that acne is caused by a poor diet, which may hold some weight.
The acne and diet issue, as with most causes commonly attributed to acne outbreaks, has been studied for several years.
Even though some dermatologists claimed that diet has nothing to do with the formation of acne, many still hold that acne and diet are indeed linked as diet plays a role in the development of acne.
Here's a short explanation that will develop a relationship between acne and diet.
It has been suggested for many years that eating refined carbohydrates and sugar can cause acne outbreaks. It is proven however that eating these foods leads to a surge of insulin as well as an insulin-like growth factor known as IGF-1 in the body.
If this forms, it then can lead to an excess of male hormones, androgens, which are deemed as the most potent cause of the acne formation.
The acne and diet connection maintains that if an excess of male hormones is produced, the pores of the skin will secrete sebum or oil, which is a greasy substance that generally attracts the attention of acne causing bacteria.
In addition, this process triggers the IGF-1 to cause skin cells known as keratinocytes to duplicate and multiply, which in turn is a process related with the acne formation.
According to one acne study, the appearance of acne is triggered by some environmental factors including diet. This study conducted on the acne cases in islanders of Papua New Guinea and hunter-gatherers of Paraguay found out that limiting grains is an integral step toward optimizing your health, which led the researchers to think that no-grain diet is somehow beneficial for acne.
Also, getting sufficient essential fatty acids may be important in clearing acne. It is these fatty acids that help control the production of androgens, the hormones that surge during the teen years, which cause excess sebum oil to clog your hair follicle and contribute to creating acne.
Good sources of omega-3 oil include albacore tuna, avocados, dark leafy green vegetables (spinach, mustard greens, kale), hemp seeds, walnuts, wheat germ oil, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, salmon and sardines.
As the acne and diet link continues as one of the hottest issues in the medical field, many have claim that there is too little research regarding the connection.
It has even been suggested that doctors and dermatologists only say that diet has nothing to do with acne because they can not sell you a healthy diet.
Perhaps diet is not the sole cause of acne but it never hurts to follow a good healthy diet plan as an overall health regimen.
Discover the connection between your diet and acne at acne diet
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Harris
Cliksearch/Acne
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
The Kill the Bacterial and Cure the Acne Myth
All life forms strategize to survive and procreate. Weeds, worms, birds, fungi and bacteria all work to sustain their own lives on this planet. In fact, we humans survive because of the biological games constantly unfolding in our mist.
Propionibacterium acnes, or p acne bacteria, are no different. They want and need to survive. Skin bacteria perform an important function. Bacteria use the secretions of our sweat and sebaceous glands (sebum is the oil that makes our skin look shiny) as nutrients. P acnes that are in balance with your body prevent colonization by more harmful bacteria.
P acne bacteria only encourage acne formations if the production of oil on the face is excessive. This surplus of oil of prompted by hormonal, nutritional, environmental and/or psychological changes in the body. So to prevent acne, you do not what to kill bacteria per se, but keep the amount of bacteria on your skin at an optimal balance. You optimize your oil secretion by understanding and controlling your response to hormonal, nutritional, environmental and/or psychological changes.
If we upset the balance of bacteria in our bodies by taking antibiotics, our resident flora is upset and this enables harmful bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii) to colonize our skin. What's more, antibiotics can destroy the balance of intestinal flora and cause constipation.
In short, using antibiotics on bacteria is a battle amongst intelligent parties involving the bacteria, the body, and the human mind. If we fail to appreciate the bacteria as bodily maintenance workers and continue dousing them with antibiotics, the bacteria just become more resistant to our antibiotics. The bacteria are practiced at playing dead as a tactic for survival. Even people who have used the strongest acne drug on the market, Accutane, have witnessed the cunning behavior of bacteria as zits reappear some months after using this course of acne treatment. These people have discovered that bacteria do not die; they silently and strategically multiply. If you do not want your bacteria out of balance, do not provide them an environment conducive to acne
Acne resources
Propionibacterium acnes, or p acne bacteria, are no different. They want and need to survive. Skin bacteria perform an important function. Bacteria use the secretions of our sweat and sebaceous glands (sebum is the oil that makes our skin look shiny) as nutrients. P acnes that are in balance with your body prevent colonization by more harmful bacteria.
P acne bacteria only encourage acne formations if the production of oil on the face is excessive. This surplus of oil of prompted by hormonal, nutritional, environmental and/or psychological changes in the body. So to prevent acne, you do not what to kill bacteria per se, but keep the amount of bacteria on your skin at an optimal balance. You optimize your oil secretion by understanding and controlling your response to hormonal, nutritional, environmental and/or psychological changes.
If we upset the balance of bacteria in our bodies by taking antibiotics, our resident flora is upset and this enables harmful bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii) to colonize our skin. What's more, antibiotics can destroy the balance of intestinal flora and cause constipation.
In short, using antibiotics on bacteria is a battle amongst intelligent parties involving the bacteria, the body, and the human mind. If we fail to appreciate the bacteria as bodily maintenance workers and continue dousing them with antibiotics, the bacteria just become more resistant to our antibiotics. The bacteria are practiced at playing dead as a tactic for survival. Even people who have used the strongest acne drug on the market, Accutane, have witnessed the cunning behavior of bacteria as zits reappear some months after using this course of acne treatment. These people have discovered that bacteria do not die; they silently and strategically multiply. If you do not want your bacteria out of balance, do not provide them an environment conducive to acne
Acne resources
Proven Acne Medications
There are a plethora of acne medications currently on the market. Some of these are prescription medications, such as accutane. Others are over the counter chemical compounds, such as benzoyl peroxide. There are even herbal based acne medications, such as tea tree oil. However, many of them are not as effective as advertised.
Part of the problem with finding the right acne medication is that there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to acne. Different people respond differently to the various medications and treatments. However, there are several acne medications that have been clinically proven to be effective in treating acne, and these are the medications that will stop acne for most people.
Prescription Acne Treatments
Of the prescription medications, Accutane is one of the best. It is a chemical derivative of vitamin A, and is often referred to as the "miracle drug" for acne. Accutane is most effective in the treatment of severe cystic acne, and not to be taken lightly. For some people, the many side effects can be worse than the acne itself. However, this is one treatment that works.
Retin A and Renova are also prescription medications. These are topical derivatives of vitamin A, and are also good at clearing up fine lines, wrinkles, and slight skin discolorations. One of the biggest downsides is sunlight and other topical acne treatments must be avoided while using either of them. However, they are proven to reduce acne.
Birth control pills and antibiotics round out the acne medications most commonly prescribed. Birth control pills are used exclusively by women to help regulate hormones, and therefore lessen the hormonally related acne that many women experience. Antibiotics work by attacking the acne causing p.bateria as it grows deep in skin pores.
Over the Counter Acne Treatments
There are some over the counter acne treatments that work well. The two best are benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid.
Benzoyl peroxide works by penetrating the skin pores, and eliminating the acne causing bacteria that grows deep in the skin. Benzoyl peroxide is the most commonly used acne treatment because it is affordable, easily available, and nearly as effective as most prescription medication.
Salicylic acid works by removing the top layers of dead skin cells. This helps the skin renew itself faster, and decreases the chance for pore blockage and a subsequent acne breakout.
Herbal Acne Treatments
The vast majority of acne treatments fall under the heading of "herbal" acne treatments. The reason is because of the lack or regulation for herbal products. This can be very frustrating to the general consumer, because it is impossible to tell which herbal treatment will work to stop acne, and which ones will do very little at all.
Of every herbal treatment available, there are only 2 that are currently proven to stop acne. Tea tree oil will help get rid of acne, and so will green tea cream.
Tea tree oil is an oil derived from one tea tree plant that is unique to Australia. For several hundred years it was touted as a cure all, until penicillin was introduced to fight bacteria. However, tea tree oil has seen a recent revival due in part to study conducted in 1990 that proved it is as effective in treating acne as 5% benzoyl peroxide. Furthermore, it had none of the side effects that benzoyl peroxide does.
Green tea cream has been validated more recently, at the 2003 American Academy of Dermatology conference. It was proven that green tea is as effective in treating acne as a 4% benzoyl peroxide solution. Though the study has not been corroborated yet, it demonstrated that there is another herbal treatment besides tea tree oil.
These are some of the acne medications proven to work. For those who are experiencing acne, any of the aforementioned treatments would be well worth trying.
Acne resources
Part of the problem with finding the right acne medication is that there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to acne. Different people respond differently to the various medications and treatments. However, there are several acne medications that have been clinically proven to be effective in treating acne, and these are the medications that will stop acne for most people.
Prescription Acne Treatments
Of the prescription medications, Accutane is one of the best. It is a chemical derivative of vitamin A, and is often referred to as the "miracle drug" for acne. Accutane is most effective in the treatment of severe cystic acne, and not to be taken lightly. For some people, the many side effects can be worse than the acne itself. However, this is one treatment that works.
Retin A and Renova are also prescription medications. These are topical derivatives of vitamin A, and are also good at clearing up fine lines, wrinkles, and slight skin discolorations. One of the biggest downsides is sunlight and other topical acne treatments must be avoided while using either of them. However, they are proven to reduce acne.
Birth control pills and antibiotics round out the acne medications most commonly prescribed. Birth control pills are used exclusively by women to help regulate hormones, and therefore lessen the hormonally related acne that many women experience. Antibiotics work by attacking the acne causing p.bateria as it grows deep in skin pores.
Over the Counter Acne Treatments
There are some over the counter acne treatments that work well. The two best are benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid.
Benzoyl peroxide works by penetrating the skin pores, and eliminating the acne causing bacteria that grows deep in the skin. Benzoyl peroxide is the most commonly used acne treatment because it is affordable, easily available, and nearly as effective as most prescription medication.
Salicylic acid works by removing the top layers of dead skin cells. This helps the skin renew itself faster, and decreases the chance for pore blockage and a subsequent acne breakout.
Herbal Acne Treatments
The vast majority of acne treatments fall under the heading of "herbal" acne treatments. The reason is because of the lack or regulation for herbal products. This can be very frustrating to the general consumer, because it is impossible to tell which herbal treatment will work to stop acne, and which ones will do very little at all.
Of every herbal treatment available, there are only 2 that are currently proven to stop acne. Tea tree oil will help get rid of acne, and so will green tea cream.
Tea tree oil is an oil derived from one tea tree plant that is unique to Australia. For several hundred years it was touted as a cure all, until penicillin was introduced to fight bacteria. However, tea tree oil has seen a recent revival due in part to study conducted in 1990 that proved it is as effective in treating acne as 5% benzoyl peroxide. Furthermore, it had none of the side effects that benzoyl peroxide does.
Green tea cream has been validated more recently, at the 2003 American Academy of Dermatology conference. It was proven that green tea is as effective in treating acne as a 4% benzoyl peroxide solution. Though the study has not been corroborated yet, it demonstrated that there is another herbal treatment besides tea tree oil.
These are some of the acne medications proven to work. For those who are experiencing acne, any of the aforementioned treatments would be well worth trying.
Acne resources
Acne Solution
Millions of people suffer from acne breakouts young and old. If your doctor has you on topical or oral treatment and it is not working try other ways to cure the breakouts.
For example: Topical retinoids (Retin-A, Differin and Tazorac, for example)are helpful for mild to severe acne especially when they are used early on combining with hormonal antibiotics,or benzoyl peroxide treatments. When you discontinue the antibiotics you can maintain clear skin with retinoids. Another way to treat your acne is with laser light. The doctor applies a chemical called aminole-v-vulinic acid and then exposed to a sunlump called Clearlight. You need two to four treatments to kill bacteria and keep skin clear for 5 months or up to 2 years.
Over the counter products aren't strong enough to treat severe acne. Try using a product with 10% benzoyl peroxide plus another product with 2% percent salicylic acid. Keep a daily routine faithfully and if your skin doesn't improve see your dermatologist.
For example: Topical retinoids (Retin-A, Differin and Tazorac, for example)are helpful for mild to severe acne especially when they are used early on combining with hormonal antibiotics,or benzoyl peroxide treatments. When you discontinue the antibiotics you can maintain clear skin with retinoids. Another way to treat your acne is with laser light. The doctor applies a chemical called aminole-v-vulinic acid and then exposed to a sunlump called Clearlight. You need two to four treatments to kill bacteria and keep skin clear for 5 months or up to 2 years.
Over the counter products aren't strong enough to treat severe acne. Try using a product with 10% benzoyl peroxide plus another product with 2% percent salicylic acid. Keep a daily routine faithfully and if your skin doesn't improve see your dermatologist.
Whats The Real Cause Of Acne?
Most acne medications only mask the symptoms of acne and does nothing to stop the real cause of acne. This is why people buy acne products month after month (year after year). And every time they stop using the product acne would come back again and again.
What you need to do is find out what the real cause of acne is and stop it.
So what's the real cause of acne?
Acne occurs when your body contains more toxics than your kidneys and bowels can remove. (Your kidneys and bowels are the two primary channels of elimination that your body expel toxics and waste products through.)
These toxics can be the accumulation of fat stored chemicals the liver can not wash out or there may be a problem with fat digestion, fat accumulation, food allergy, or even the accumulation of hormones that your body produces.
Once these toxics build up, your kidneys and bowels can get overloaded and clogged up, causing it to not function properly. When that happens some of the load will be dumped onto your liver. One of your liver's main roles is to metabolize pile up fat into usable energy for your body.
This means, your liver will be doing some of your kidney's work. So now, your liver gets overloaded and it too will not work at full capacity.
What happens when your bowels, kidneys, and liver gets overloaded?
When that happen your body will expel toxins through your lungs and skin (your secondary channels of elimination). And this is when acne occurs. This is when your skin starts to breakout.
But whatever the toxic source is that's causing this problem, acne is a sign that your bowels and kidneys are overloaded with toxins, waste products, or hormones.
It is a sign that your liver is growing weaker in its detoxification abilities (and it will continue to grow weaker if you do not do what it takes to get rid of the toxics in your body).
So if you think that acne is your only problem, think again, your liver, kidneys, and bowels are getting weaker every time you breakout.
cliksearch.com/acne
What you need to do is find out what the real cause of acne is and stop it.
So what's the real cause of acne?
Acne occurs when your body contains more toxics than your kidneys and bowels can remove. (Your kidneys and bowels are the two primary channels of elimination that your body expel toxics and waste products through.)
These toxics can be the accumulation of fat stored chemicals the liver can not wash out or there may be a problem with fat digestion, fat accumulation, food allergy, or even the accumulation of hormones that your body produces.
Once these toxics build up, your kidneys and bowels can get overloaded and clogged up, causing it to not function properly. When that happens some of the load will be dumped onto your liver. One of your liver's main roles is to metabolize pile up fat into usable energy for your body.
This means, your liver will be doing some of your kidney's work. So now, your liver gets overloaded and it too will not work at full capacity.
What happens when your bowels, kidneys, and liver gets overloaded?
When that happen your body will expel toxins through your lungs and skin (your secondary channels of elimination). And this is when acne occurs. This is when your skin starts to breakout.
But whatever the toxic source is that's causing this problem, acne is a sign that your bowels and kidneys are overloaded with toxins, waste products, or hormones.
It is a sign that your liver is growing weaker in its detoxification abilities (and it will continue to grow weaker if you do not do what it takes to get rid of the toxics in your body).
So if you think that acne is your only problem, think again, your liver, kidneys, and bowels are getting weaker every time you breakout.
cliksearch.com/acne
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