  
If you remember nothing else from this article, please remember this. Skins that exhibit acne are in rebellion because they cannot handle a diet of refined sugar. This is the latest theory as to one of the causes of acne. Common dermatologic belief is that diet has no impact on the skin. About 90% of acne patients can eliminate their acne by adapting their diet, in the remaining 10% of acne patients the levels of specific hormones are too elevated and can cause acne all by themselves.
The Reasons
Lifestyle greatly influences what you body has to purge. Whether stress, lack of sleep, improper diet, city dwelling… your skin is an organ that filters these influences and since the face contains the most glands, this is where the majority of filtering takes place. The neck, back, and shoulders can also be affected.
Reduce intake of sugar (including excessive amounts of fruit juices), sweets, processed flour, baked goods, and trans or hydrogenated fats. Examples include donuts, cookies, pastry, etc.
Reduce intake of nuts and dairy products. Peanuts and peanut butter may provoke acne in some individuals.
Increase intake of foods that may improve acne such as fish (halibut, salmon, tuna, and sardines) and eat a wide variety of vegetables. These are the best foods to eat. They will make a difference in the health of your skin.
Increase your intake of water. Drink a glass or two of cold water first thing in the morning to eliminate the bowels. Drink 4 to 8 glasses of water per day, more in hot weather.
“Elevated blood sugar leads to increases in insulin production, Cordain explained. This affects other hormones that ultimately can cause excess oil in the skin to be produced, pores to be clogged and bacteria that cause acne to thrive, he said. High-glycemic foods include cereals, bagels and other breads, doughnuts and cakes, crackers, chips and candy. Low-glycemic diets, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, might offer a new treatment option for people with acne, Cordain suggested.”
A great diet and acne link: Acne, from a true physician.
Heredity plays large role ~ look to your parents, if neither had acne then chances are your skin will also escape. If one parent had acne then you may have a light case. If both parents had acne then you will too.
Teen acne is due to an influx of changing hormones and most teens will react with occasional outbreaks. This is normal and many will out grow this light acne once the hormone levels balance out. Testosterone, a hormone which is present in both males and females, increases during adolescence (puberty). It stimulates the sebaceous glands of the skin to enlarge, produce oil, and plug the pores. Whiteheads (closed comedones), blackheads (open comedones), and pimples (pustules) are present in teenage acne. Early acne occurs before the first period and is called prepubertal acne.
Close to 100% of people between the ages of twelve and seventeen have at least an occasional whitehead, blackhead or pimple, regardless of race or ethnic background. Many of these young people are able to manage their acne with over-the-counter (nonprescription) treatments. For some, however, acne is more serious. In fact, by their mid-teens, more than 40% of adolescents have acne severe enough to require some treatment by a physician.
In most cases, acne starts between the ages of ten and thirteen and usually lasts for five to ten years. It normally goes away on its own sometime in the early twenties. However, acne can persist into the late twenties or thirties or even beyond. Some people get acne for the first time as adults.
Acne affects young men and young women about equally, but there are differences. Young men are more likely than young women to have more severe, longer lasting forms of acne. Despite this fact, young men are less likely than young women to visit a dermatologist for their acne. In contrast, young women are more likely to have intermittent acne due to hormonal changes associated with their menstrual cycle and acne caused by cosmetics. These kinds of acne may afflict young women well into adulthood. When acne is severe and forms deep "pus-filled" lumps, it is called cystic acne. This may be more common in males.
Adult acne develops later in life and may be related to hormones, childbirth, menopause, or stopping the pill. Adult women may be treated at the period and at ovulation when acne is especially severe, or throughout the entire cycle. Adult acne is not rosacea, a disease in which blackheads and whiteheads do not occur.
Rosacea usually occurs in adults and is on the increase as our immune systems sustain long term damage from pollutants.
Acne vulgaris is the most common form of acne which includes several types of lesions. These spots include blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts.
Acne rosacea can look similar to the aforementioned acne vulgaris, and the two types of acne are sometimes confused for one another.
Rosacea affects millions of people, most of whom are over the age of 30. It appears as a red rash which is normally confined to the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. The redness is often accompanied by bumps and pimples. Blood vessels may also become more visible on the skin. Blackheads are not a part of rosacea. It is more prevalent in women, but often more severe when found in men. Left untreated, it can cause swelling of the nose and the growth of excess tissue, a condition called rhinophyma. Treatment is often different for rosacea than for acne, and it is important that you consult a doctor can determine if what you are experiencing is acne vulgaris or rosacea.
Severe Forms of Acne are rare, but they are a great hardship to the people who experience them, and can be disfiguring, and, like all forms of acne, can have psychological effects on the sufferer.
Acne conglobata: This is the most severe form of acne vulgaris and is more common in males. It is characterized by numerous large lesions, which are sometimes interconnected, along with widespread blackheads. It can cause severe, irrevocable damage to the skin, and disfiguring scarring. It is found on the face, chest, back, buttocks, upper arms, and thighs. The age of onset for acne conglobata is usually between 18 and 30 years, and the condition can stay active for many years. As with all forms of acne, the cause of acne conglobata is unknown. Treatment usually includes isotretinoin (Accutane), and although acne conglobata is sometimes resistant to treatment, it can often be controlled through aggressive treatment over time.
Acne fulminans: This is an abrupt onset of acne conglobata which normally afflicts young men. Symptoms of severe nodulocystic, often ulcerating acne are apparent. As with acne conglobata, extreme, disfiguring scarring is common. Acne fulminans is unique in that it also includes a fever and aching of the joints. Acne fulminans does not respond well to antibiotics. Isotretinoin (Accutane) and oral steroids are normally prescribed.
Gram-negative folliculitis: This condition is a bacterial infection characterized by pustules and cysts, possibly occurring as a complication resulting from a long term antibiotic treatment of acne vulgaris. It is a rare condition, and we do not know if it is more common in males or females at this time. Fortunately, isotretinoin (Accutane) is often effective in combating gram-negative folliculitis.
Pyoderma faciale: This type of severe acne affects only females, usually between the ages of 20 to 40 years old, and is characterized by painful large nodules, pustules and sores which may leave scarring. It begins abruptly, and may occur on the skin of a woman who has never had acne before. It is confined to the face, and usually does not last longer than one year, but can wreak havoc in a very short time.
The Solutions
You can take steps to help control the outbreaks:
Acne is not caused by dirt. Contrary to what you may have seen in commercials, pores do not get blocked from the top down. Rather, an entire pore collapses from deep within the skin, starting acne formation. Frequent washing does nothing to prevent this. Over-washing is actually irritating, and excess irritation can worsen acne. A washcloth can aggravate this situation further. Use bare hands to wash and only wash twice a day.
Wear as little cosmetics as possible. Oil-free, water-based moisturizers and make-up should be used. Choose products that are “non-comedogenic” (should not cause whiteheads or blackheads) or “non-acnegenic” (should not cause acne). Remove your cosmetics every night with mild soap or gentle cleanser and water.
Control of acne is an ongoing process. All acne treatments work by preventing new acne breakouts. Existing blemishes must heal on their own, and therefore, improvement takes time. If your acne has not improved within two to three months, your treatment may need to be changed.
Acne surgery may be used by your dermatologist to remove blackheads and whiteheads. Do not pick, scratch, pop, or squeeze pimples yourself. When the pimples are squeezed, more redness, swelling, inflammation, and scarring may result.
Microdermabrasion may be used to remove the upper layers of the skin improving irregularities in the surface, contour, and generating new skin.
Photodynamic therapy using the blue wavelength of light can be helpful in treating acne as well.
No matter what special treatments you and/or your naturopath or physician may use, remember that you must continue proper skin care. Acne is not curable, but it is controllable; proper treatment helps you to feel and look better and may prevent scars.
To date, essential oils are the safest, most potent, and all natural form of acne therapy:
Firming Acnacea Serum
Acnacea Serum
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at info@annabellina.com. For more information on natural acne products please visit www.annabellina.com
Thank you for allowing me to share in your skin therapy!
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