Acne: diets, facts and living with acne

Most affected area: Skin of the face

Other affected areas: the skin of the back, neck, chest and arms

How acne is caused?

Lots of small sebaceous glands are present just below the surface of the skin. An oily substance called sebum, secreted by sebaceous glands, keeps the skin smooth and supple. The sebum comes to the skin surface through the small pores. A hormone called testosterone, found naturally in both men and women, triggers the sebaceous glands to produce an excess of sebum.

Things to understand:

- Acne is not contagious. It does not spread by touching

- Acne is not caused by fatty food or chocolate

- Frequent washing does not help,

- However, Bacteria will grow if skin is dirty

- Some families may have more acne affected members but this not a hereditary problem

What aggravates acne problem?

- picking and squeezing the spots may cause further inflammation and scarring

- hormonal changes in women that occur during the menstrual cycle

- production of excessive male hormones

- some contraceptive pills having progestogen hormone as a constituent may aggravate acne problem.

- some steroid creams and ointments used for eczema and medicines taken for epilepsy or side-effect of steroids

- Acne occurs due to increased oil secretions and blockage of oil gland in the skin.
- Factors that lead to acne are age, stress, vitamin A and zinc deficiency.
- To help prevent breakouts, cut down on refines and processed foods and eat a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, nuts and wheat germ.

Essential nutrients include the following:

1. Essential fatty acids found in oily fish
2. Vitamin A is essential for soft skin and it is found in abundance in carrots, orange, papaya, mango, broccoli, and spinach.
3. Vitamin C found, in Citrus fruits, strawberries, black currents, guavas, kiwi, and peppers, helps fight wrinkles and plays a role in the healing process.
4. Vitamin E,found in hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds, prevents sagging facial muscles and provide skin lubrication
5. Vitamin B aids in new skin cells formation and gets rid of the washed out look and can be obtained from whole grains, pulses and lean meat
6. Zinc prevents skin infections. Shellfish, pulses, pumpkin seeds and whole grain cereals are good sources.
7.Flaxseed oil, olive oil and sesame oil act as internal moisturizers for wrinkle free skin

8. Fried foods, butter, cheese, whole milk, ice cream, rich salad dressings, chocolate, fatty meats, cocoa or coffee beans, and processed nut products should be avoided.
9. Foods containing bromides, iodine and caffeine stimulate the endocrine system, which in turn increases the amount of oil produced by the sebaceous gland.

Acne treatment: There are several remedies for treatment of acne. It takesabout 4-6 weeks to cure. Best method for most of skin problems is through the use of homeopathic or constitutional medicines. This treatment may take a little more time than other methods but it is safe method and does not cause any side effects.

Home treatment

- Avoid foods that you think make your acne worse.

- Clean your skin twice a day with a mild cleanser and avoid aggressive washing with strong soaps.

- Put a wet cotton ball with a dab of lemon juice against the blemish and press for five minutes to reduce swelling and redness. Application of an ice pack to the acne will decrease the swelling and redness

- Remedies usually contain antibacterial agents such as benzoyl peroxide

Topical treatments

- azelaic acid is an alternative to benzoyl peroxide

- vitamin A based ointment are rubbed into the skin once or twice a day.

Oral treatments

- oral antibiotics such as tetracycline, daily for around three months, are prescribed for inflammatory acne

- some types of oral contraceptive for females having a combination of the usual pill hormone called ethinylestradiol with cyproterone acetate suppresses male hormone activity

Other treatments

- use of light and laser therapy for inflammatory acne and reducing scarring

- use of alternative medicines

Homeopathic medicines

- Several homeopathic medicines are recommended for treatment of acne. These include Psorinum, Aestarois rubens, streptocoxin, Berbaris eqvifolium, Hepar sulph, sulphur, silicia and carbo veg based on the symptoms.

Constitutional remedies

- Calcarea phos, Kali Mur, Silicia, Calcare sulph and Natrum Mur are prescribed for treatment of different types of acne based on symptoms.

Research Studies:

In expert's opinion, women with acne should learn to live with acne atleast during their pregnancy as anti-acne creams can lead to miscarriage. Use of these creams can lead to abnormal babies even if taken one month prior to conceiving. They believe that crem gets absorbed from the skin, goes into the mother's bloodstream and passes through placenta into the bloodstream of the foetus.Use of Sodium Sulfacetamide, Tretinoin, Adapalene, and Azelaic acid in the anti-acne creams can lead to toxicity in the new born , resulting in Anaemia, jaundice, and several other physical disorders.

Source: The Hindu, June 30, 2008,

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical treatment. Consult a physician or dermatologist before taking any cure indicated above.