Acne and pimples are a nightmare for young women and men. If left untreated, they leave permanent scars on your face. In fact, they are not a serious health threat. Yet, the emotional distress it causes is enormous. Understanding what’s going on with your skin helps you treat acne and pimples in a different way. Keeping your face clean and applying a few remedies are, of course, part of any acne-cure plan. But there are other things, which address the root cause of these pesky outbreaks. Let’s delve deeper.
How Does Acne Develop
The clogged skin pores lead to the formation of acne. But how do these pores get blocked? Sebaceous glands, which is your skin’s oil gland, produce sebum, which is an oily substance and it keeps our skin moisturized. Through the opening of the hair follicle, sebum reaches the skin surface. Sometimes, dead cells create a plug in the pore, preventing sebum from reaching the surface of the skin. This leaves a hospitable environment for bacteria Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) that normally live on the skin to grow in the plugged follicles. The action of the bacteria will ultimately lead to inflammation. The exact cause of acne is still unknown. But experts believe that hormonal imbalance is an important factor. An increase in hormones called androgens during puberty causes the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. So here are a few things to take care of to avoid such breakouts.
Take Nutritional Supplements
Nutritional deficiency may lead to defective sebum production. If your food habits do not provide you enough nutrients, you can rely on a few supplements. However, intake of supplements varies depending on your body’s requirements. Hence, it is best to seek advice from your doctor regarding the need for it and its dosage.
Vitamin D: If you’re affected by acne, you are much more likely to be vitamin D deficient than those without acne. It is found that vitamin D supplementation could reduce the inflammatory pimples. It may reduce skin irritation and sebum production.
Zinc: People with acne problems often have zinc deficiency. The anti-androgenic activity of zinc can control the sebum production. It also kills acne-causing bacteria and reduces the redness and inflammation.
Vitamin C: As an antioxidant, vitamin C kills harmful free radicals. Apart from that, it maintains healthy levels of collagen, which is responsible for your skin strength and elasticity. It also helps you reduce skin redness associated with acne.
Vitamin A: Low levels of vitamin A is associated with acne. It can effectively suppress the androgen production and reduce the amount of sebum your skin produces. Its antioxidant properties could prevent oxidative stress, protecting sebaceous glands. Vitamin A is an active ingredient in many drugs treating acne.
Omega-3 fatty acids supplements: Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory effects. They are commonly found in fish and seafood. Or else, you can go for fish oil supplementation, which is associated with an improvement in overall acne severity. It works well for individuals with moderate to severe acne.
Take Care Of Your Gut Health
Your unhealthy gut may also contribute to acne. Addressing your gut issues is one way to achieve a clear skin. As you know, there exist good and bad bacteria in your tummy. Things go out of control if bad bacteria takes over because of an unhealthy diet, excessive medication, or stress. Ultimately, the toxins, fungi, and other viruses leak into your body when the bad gang is in action. Among many other things, this will also lead to inflammatory acne on your skin. Apart from a healthy diet, you can also consume probiotics regularly to deal with bad bacteria. Kefir, kombucha, natto, yogurt, and apple cider vinegar are great sources probiotic foods. Or else there are supplements available in the market. Talk to your doctor before you decide to take supplements.
Maintain A Proper Diet
One of the greatest myths regarding acne is that eating greasy food results in acne formation. The fact is that it has little effect on acne. However, a few studies have indicated that dairy products and carbohydrate-rich foods may trigger acne. Chocolates are also often blamed as a cause of breakouts. More research is needed to link chocolate with acne. It is found that low glycemic diet may be helpful in treating acne. Foods that are high in omega fatty acids and vitamins are also beneficial.
