Acne in Teenagers

Most doctors will tell you there is no proven link between acne and diet but recent research has shown there could be a strong link.

A team of Australian researchers at the RMIT University and the Royal Melbourne Hospital Dermatology Department have found that a low GI diet lowers acne breakouts.

They selected 50 young men with mild to severe acne and split them into two groups. One group stayed on the typical teenage diet of highly refined carbohydrates such as white sugar and white bread and the other went onto a low GI diet of whole grains, pasta and legumes. At the end of a 12-week period, the boys on the low GI diet had reduced their acne by over 50%.
A member of the team said there were other benefits: the boys on the healthier diet had a more positive outlook and higher self esteem.

The head of the research team, Dr. Mann, said the healthy diet controlled the insulin levels in the boys' bodies, which helped control the production of oil to the skin. This helped stop a build up in the skin pores leading to acne breakouts.

A diet of highly refined foods raises the insulin and glucose levels, which makes the problem worse.

There is enough evidence to encourage teenagers to try a change of diet. This is a cheap, low-risk way for teenagers to find out for themselves if the food they eat makes their acne worse. If they try it for a few weeks they have nothing to lose except maybe some acne.

Of course, there is always the Yuk! Factor to deal with when changing diets. They can start by cutting back on sugary drinks and by having whole grain bread. They can check out some low GI food, which they might actually like.

This provides an opportunity for teenagers to take control by taking action, which should have a positive effect on their acne and themselves.

Acne is basically an internal condition triggered by several underlying factors. However, there are additional external acne symptoms that may enhance the formation of acne or interfere with the healing process of your existing acne on the external level (e.g. the external acne environment). Without handling these external triggers, it will be very difficult for anyone to overcome their acne challenge, especially when the holistic treatment is performed while the individual still suffers from "live" and "evolving" acne.

Clogged or very large pores, oily or very dry complexion and bad skin hygiene do not cause acne but they interfere with the healing process of the skin and make your external acne environment more prone or "susceptible" to acne.

Taking care of your skin on a daily basis by incorporating simple and easy to follow protocols may not only enhance the healing process of your existing acne it will also balance your skin ph levels, making it smooth, even toned, radiant and healthy looking.

Although there are many types of cleansers available for different purposes (exfoliation, clean, medicate), washing your face twice a day using a gentle antiseptic and anti-bacterial 100% natural soap like tea tree oil soap, or Cetaphil soap can help reduce inflammation, swelling and redness and significantly improve the overall appearance of your skin without the irritation, allergy reactions and over-dryness that over the counters like Benzoyl Peroxide can cause.

Washing your face should always come after a good 5 minutes steaming routine. After the steaming, follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Use lukewarm water to get the soap wet.

2. Apply the soap to your face using your fingertips in a circular motion.

3. Wash your face gently and pat your skin dry using a cotton towel.

If your sebaceous glands are producing too much oil (due to hormonal imbalance that should be fixed internally), then you probable have excessively oily skin and large pores. To tackle that problem externally, do not use alcohol and water astrigent, instead use soap like Neutrogena clear pore oil Controlling astrigent or even better apply an all natural mask made of bentonitre or egg whites.

An extremely dry skin can also be treated internally through balancing oil secretion protocols and dietary changes and supplementation, including the regular intake of 10 glasses of pure water on a daily basis. As for the external care, applying lots of good quality moisturizer such as 99% Aloe Vera gel while avoiding harsh and un-natural external care products; can significantly reduce your dryness.

Warning: Excessive washing of the face can cause mild to moderate irritations and increase redness and inflammation, defeating its own purpose.

If you have sensitive skin, the best practice is to test each product prior to using it, using dollar size amount on your chin, regardless of its quality or the nature of its ingredients.

Mike Walden is a certified nutritionist, independent medical researcher, natural health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Acne No More- Open The Door To An Acne Free Life." Mike has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. For information on Mike's Holistic Clear Skin program, visit: www.mynaturalacnecure.info