Natural Ways To Reduce Acne
It’s not just teenagers who suffer from acne. There are many factors why you might suffer an outbreak – or why you have never shed your ‘teenage skin’. Pay a visit to a high street chemist and you’ll be overwhelmed by the array of products aimed at zapping those zits. The problem is they are mainly packed with harsh chemicals that burn the skin. Also they don’t offer any prevention. They might kill off your spots but they don’t stop them coming back.
So how do you prevent spots appearing in the first place? Your first stop should be your diet.
What Causes Spots?
Hormone Imbalances
One trigger for sebum production is a hormone called Testosterone. If it is produced in excessive quantities, or the sebaceous glands are testosterone hypersensitive, overproduction of sebum occurs. It is very common in puberty.
Also acne occur when women either make too much testosterone, make too little oestrogens . To add to the problem certain nutritional imbalances cause testosterone to be converted into more aggressive form. Women who suffer with PCOS often have abnormally high levels of testosterone. Deficiencies in Zink, excessive smoking and drinking can also cause excessive production of aggressive testosterone in both sex.
Many women also experience premenstrual flare-up of acne. This is the result of changes in the level of the female hormones in the run-up to menstruation.
STRESS
New clinical studies have proven that stress can trigger acne outbreaks. This explains the low-grade , persistent acne common in hard-working professionals, as well as the pre-exam flare-ups experienced by many students.
It is known that, as well as helping you to cope under stress , cortisol causes the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. This is the reason why, in stressful periods, people experience an increase in acne.
FATTY ACID METABOLISM
Scientists and doctors starting to realise that the excess sebum production and altered skin cell turnover in acne are indicators of an inability to properly metabolise fats, caused by a lack of the B vitamin pantothenic acid. This may explain why many people with acne experience an increase in their symptoms if they eat high fat foods, even health once.
HIGH –GL FOODS
GL, or glycaemic load, is a ranking system for foods, based on how much impact they are likely to have on your blood sugar levels.
When you eat starchy/sweet foods or drink alcohol, they are broken down in the body into glucose. Then this type of sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream to provide your cells with energy. As the blood sugar rises, the hormone insulin is released to help direct the sugar into cells and bring blood glucose levels back to normal. When insulin is presented in high quantities, it can cause the body to produce certain growth factors that stimulate sebum production.
DAIRY PRODUCTS
Milk is direct source of aggressive testosterone, as well as a source of about 60othet growth factors designed to help a baby cow grow. As the result of that in humans we can see over stimulated sebaceous glands.
FATS
A diet high in saturated and hydrogenated fats; such as those found in re meat, dairy products and processed foods; can exacerbate acne.
At the same time FISH OIL, which is rich in Omega 3, is able to reduce the production of a messenger that promotes inflammation and sebum production.
TOXINS
Diet high in junk foods and additives , toxic lifestyles ( smoking, drinking and working in the city) and regular stress cause the body to become too acidic. This extra acidity favours the growth of the P.Acnes bacteria and promotes inflammation I the body, both of which can worsen acne.
GUT FLORA IMBALANCE
Some studies shows that over 50% of acne sufferers have imbalances in their levels of friendly bacteria in the gut. This can result in fermentation of food in the digestive system, as well as allowing the overgrowth of less favourable gut bacteria, both of which increases the toxic load of the body.
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES
Deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals are also known to worsen the acne symptoms. These include vitamins A,D,E all group of B and the minerals Zink and Selenium, also probiotics. As well as playing an overall role in skin health, these nutrients are important for reducing free radicals, regulating sebum production, aiding liver function and keeping hormones in balance.
Natural Ways to Reduce Acne
Controlling acne with diet. The best diet for acne is low-GL, dairy-free, abundant in alkalising vegetables and cleansing fluids ( herbal teas, water)
Love lemons. Starting the day with a cup of warm water and freshly squeezed lemon juice is an excellent way to cleanse the body and flush out toxins. Lemons also aid digestion and support liver function, as well as helping to alkalise the body and reduce excess acidity.
Avoid grains. Even the wholegrain versions of grains are quite acid-forming, as well as being one of the groups most likely to cause an insulin peak.
Increase Omega 3. Opt for high quality fish oil supplement. As little as 3000mg pure fish oil can be enough to top your4 levels up.
Add Flax. Adding 1 to 2 table spoons of organic cold milled flax seeds to your diet is an excellent way to help address the hormone imbalances that underlie acne.
Include Phytoestrogens . Inside the body, they act like a mild version of oestrogen. When you have to little estrogens , phytoestrogens can boost estrogenic message . On the other hand , when oestrogen levels are too high, phytoestrogens can reduce estrogenic message. The highest amounts of Phytoestrogens are presented in; soya, lentil, beans, celery, fennel, carrots, garlic, anise, parsley, apples, rhubarb, flax seeds, sesame seeds, brown rice, oat.
Saw palmetto. This herb is able to reduce the conversion of Testosterone into aggressive one, as well as the inflammatory factors. Saw palmetto works well when combined with Nettle root and Pygeum.
Herbal teas.
Burdock- has a cooling action to help clear toxins from the body, to improve skin clarity
Cleavers- a blood cleanser for long-term inflammatory conditions
Dandelion rot- detoxifying for the liver
Marigold- useful to stimulate healing of skin surfaces and reduce inflammation
Milk thistle- a liver strengthener and detoxifier
