Home | Beauty | Skin

Acne is Not Only Skin Deep

Nearly every suffers with acne at one time or another. This common skin condition causes embarrassment, discomfort and even pain and irritation. Many people are confused about what brings on acne and how it can be prevented. The relationship between diet and acne is one common area of confusion.

Acne is a common complaint of adolescents and teenagers, but many men and women struggle with the condition throughout their adult lives. More than ninety percent of the world's population is affected by acne at some point in their lives. The condition is not limited by age, gender or race. Acne is the most common skin disorder treated by dermatologists, with the majority of patients being teenagers and adults.

Some scientific research has suggested that acne is caused by physiological factors like hormones and genetics. Others believe that environmental factors including bacteria can cause breakouts. For many years, it has also been debated whether, and how diet may contribute to the acne condition. Acne and diet is an issue that has spent many years under the spotlight.

Although some dermatologists claim that diet has nothing to do with the formation of acne, many still hold that acne and diet do indeed have a certain link. It does appear that the food we eat may well play a role in the development of acne.

Certain studies have shown that eating refined carbohydrates and sugars can lead to a surge of insulin, as well as an insulin-like growth factor known as IGF-1. When IGF-1 is released in the body, it can lead to an excess of male hormones called androgens. These hormones are deemed to be the most potent cause of acne formations.

Further, those who believe in the link between diet and acne maintain that when an excess amount of male hormones is produced, the pores of the skin begin to secrete sebum. This oily or greasy substance will generally pull the attention of acne-causing bacteria. This process also triggers the IGF-1 to cause skin cells known as keratinocytes to duplicate and multiply, an activity that also contributes to the formation of acne.

Studies conducted on residents of the island of Papua, New Guinea, and the people of Paraguay have contributed further to the link between acne and diet. The results of this particular study led researchers to believe that a diet rich with grains can contribute to acne. Limited grains can optimize health benefits, and a low-grain diet may be beneficial in preventing acne.

Although the acne-diet issue remains one of the hottest topics in the medical field, lack of funding has hindered the amount of actual research that has been conducted. There have also been claims that certain doctors and dermatologists discount the diet and acne connection, choosing instead to sell more pharmaceutical treatments.

A poor diet will cause many diseases. On the other hand, good nutrition is essential to maintain overall well being. It only stands to reason that eating a proper, balanced diet will keep your skin healthy, too. If you find yourself fighting a constant battle against acne, take on the physiological factors with a proper diet, and use proper cleansers and treatments to combat environmental aggravators.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

Selena Rymore is a freelancer for a variety of popular web sites, on health food and acne skin care product subjects.
Don't reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License, which means you may freely reprint it, in its entiretly, provided you include the author's resource box along with LIVE VISIBLE links (without "nofollow" tags).