New Study Questions Causes of Acne In Women

Hormones, oily skin- they are to blame for unsightly acne- right. Not according to a recent study published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Researchers from Seoul National University examined 46 women without acne and 46 women with acne, all with an average age of 27. The study did not find a link between the oil level of the skin and the number of acne lesions in any given area of the face.

The examiners concluded that increased facial oil secretion in women with acne is not the “primary cause” of acne development, or even the cause of non-inflammatory acne like comedones and blackheads, or inflammatory acne lesions like papules and cysts.

While the study was conducted with Korean women, author of “Acne Messages” Naweko San-Joyz says the study has implications for women worldwide. “Acne can arise as a side-effect of multiple health and environmental factors.”

San-Joyz recommends women take a holistic approach to their health when they way to pinpoint the cause of their acne.”

Steps women can take to treat an acne condition include:

Getting proper nutrition

Needless to say, the diet and acne debate remains hotly contested. But, San-Joyz argues that enough medicals studies have linked nutritional deficiencies with acne to justify boosting your nutrient intake to limit the number of acne lesions you have. Consume foods containing vitamins A, B, and C, the mineral zinc and the essential fatty acid omega-3 to help keep acne away.

Managing stress well

Another heated acne topic involves the acne-stress connection. Medical studies have demonstrated that stress can provoke acne lesions. That is because stress can impact a series of biological functions that include food digestion and immune function.

San-Joyz notes, “Most people don’t realize that the skin is not only a vital organ but an environmental barrier. The skin can prevent the formation of zits if it’s capable, but if the skin has to decide between preventing a zit from forming and destroying a viral pathogen, you’ll skin will choose to kill the virus first and handle you zits later.” Constantly managing stress simply limits the number of things that you body can do at one time.

Simple stress reduction tips involve taking deep breaths, taking a brisk walk, or reading for a few minutes to help stress dissipate.

Cleaning with less toxic materials
Dermatologists detest the mythical link between poor hygiene and acne. Yet, San-Joyz warns that the link between environmental toxins and the growing rates of adult acne cannot be ignored. For example, dioxin is a prevalent environmental toxin that is created by certain household chemicals when exposed to sunlight and garbage incinerators. Dioxin is an oily powder that sticks to the skin and is spread by the wind and rain.

Dioxin exposure can cause the body to produce excess amounts of keratin, the protein found in hair, fingernails and skin. This buildup of keratin clogs the pores and causes pimples and blackheads.
San-Joyz recommends using hydrogen peroxide or vinegar as natural cleansing substitutes when ever possible to avoid creating dioxins.

Find more tips for preventing acne at Noixia.com