Acne Causes and Treatments

According to the American Dermatologist Association, 20 percent of adults have active acne and a total of 60 million Americans have active acne. There are two main types of acne, acne vulgaris and acne conglobata. Acne vulgaris is common during adolescence and usually stop after puberty. Acne conglobata is more severe and can last beyond adolescence.

Causes:

Acne is caused by a combination of many things. The four main ones are: androgenic hormones, sebum, keratin, and the bacteria called propionibacterium (acne bacteria). During puberty, the body produces more androgenic hormones. This causes an increase in the production of sebum (oily substance) and keratin (protein substance). These two substance, along with dead skin and cells, can plug pores. Plugged pores allow bacteria to grow easier, therefore increase the chance of getting acne. Having too many toxins in the bloodstream can also increase acne activity. When the liver can’t get rid of toxins fast enough, some of them are release through the skin. This can increase the chance of plugged pores. Another thing that can increase acne activity is unhealthy fat. Eating too much unhealthy fat has been shown to increase sebum production. On the other hand, eating healthy fat such as essential fatty acids, has been shown to decrease acne activity.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of acne are red cyst-like lumps, pimples, and white and blackheads. Acne can cause painful symptoms around the affected area. In some cases, pimples develop as cysts which are harder to heal. The pus in pimples is sebum that has been broken down by bacteria’s enzymes.

Natural acne treatments:

• Turmeric: An edible herb that has been used to treat skin conditions by the Chinese and Indian for millenniums. Turmeric is popular for treating skin conditions because of its antitumoral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Visit this page to learn how to use turmeric to treat acne.
• Vitamin A: Is great for treating acne because it reduces sebum production, and promotes smooth and clear skin. Health experts suggest taking 50,000 IU of vitamin A for 2 to 3 weeks. High doses of vitamin A should not be taken more than 3 weeks without medical supervision. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin which is harder for the body to excrete. If too much fat-soluble vitamins are consume in a short amount of time, they can become toxic to the body.
• B-vitamins: Are great for preventing acne because they help the body breakdown excess hormones. B-vitamins are water-soluble and are easily excreted by the body. Although they are easily excreted, you should consult with your doctor if you are planning to take B-vitamins for longer period of time.
• Vitamin D and E: Are essential for skin health because they help the skin heal better.
• Omega-3 fatty acid: Helps the body fight acne by regulating sebum levels. Health experts suggest taking 1 teaspoon of flaxseed oil daily. Flaxseed oil is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acid. Flaxseed oil is also very concentrated, please use with caution.
• Organic raw plant-based food: Changing your diet to raw plant-based food is one of the best way to reduce acne activity. Plant-based food is full of healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals. Many of these nutrients are essential for fighting acne. Avoid cooking plant-based food because it will destroy many of its nutrients. Only cook it when it is necessary.

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• The Danger of Cosmetics

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