Healthy Acne Treatment

I know, you've heard so many conflicting theories about the causes of acne--and acne treatments.I know because I've read and heard them all throughout my search for a permanent acne treatment or cure.

Although I've found a great acne treatment in chemical peels, there's a healthy acne treatment if you're not ready for chemical peels--or if you're interested in improving your overall health.  There are new studies that support a dietary link to acne, although your father's dermatologist told you that food had nothing to do with it. Many recent studies link sugar to acne.

Redness

Dr. Perricone, in his book The Clear Skin Prescription: The Perricone Program to Eliminate Problem Skin
and other book, stresses again and again that we need to eliminate sugars and simple carbs in our diet if we want to reduce acne and wrinkles because sugar and carbs cause inflammation due to a process called glycation.

Inflammation is the body's response to injury, and in this case the injury is caused by glycation.Once a clogged pore becomes inflammed, the area usually becomes red and tender. This can lead to acne scars, which can leave  life-long scars, internally as well as externally.

Glycation

Glycation is a process that impairs molecules, leaving them hardened and useless. When you experience glycation in younger skin, that hardening is seen in a slowing down of skin cell turnover, hence skin cells and sebum are clogging pores and contributing to inflammation. So only acne treatments that excessively exfoliate the skin, decrease inflammation, and/or slow down sebum production will help alleviate acne. As we age, glycation causes hardening that is seen in the form of wrinkles, and acne if the skin is still producing enough sebum.

It’s an ugly process whereby a sugar (or glucose) molecule bonds with a protein or lipid molecule, causing hardening and inflexibility. This also occurs throughout the body and within our organs.

Sugars

The bottom line: if we hope to reduce acne at the source of the problem, we have to reduce our sugar intake!

Okay, simple enough. Many of us are willing to do that to eliminate future outbreaks . Anyone can cut back on sugar, just use a sugar substitute, avoid fruit juices, drink diet sodas, and quit candy, right? Wrong. Sugar is everywhere—and most of us don’t even realize where it’s hiding.

Simple Carbohydrates

Unfortunately, sugar isn’t the only problem: simple carbohydrates are converted to sugar or glucose, which causes glycation, hence acne and wrinkles, at the same rate.  Here are some simple carbohydrates that you should avoid if you want a healthy acne treatment as well as a real strategy to slow down the aging process and reduce wrinkles:

·        Milk

·        White flour  (bread, burger buns, rolls, pretzels, stuffing, cakes, pastries, donuts, etc.)

·        Boxed Cereal

·        Potatoes and corn

·        Rice

·        White flour pasta
·        Fruit juices

I gave up these foods several months ago, and it wasn’t easy, but I have clearer skin because of it--with the help of glycolic acid peels. There are some complex carbohydrate replacements if you want to try to reduce sugars, but these still cause glycation--although not to the same extent as simple carbohydrates and sugars. The best way to eliminate acne is to eat unprocessed foods, such as meats and vegetables.

Complex Carbohydrates

Here are some complex carbohydrate substitutes:

·        Milk: plain non-fat yogurt (thinned if you want to drink it) 

·        White Flour products: whole-grain or multi-grain replacements

·        Boxed Cereal: oatmeal, buckwheat, or other whole grains

·        Potatoes and corn: beans

·        Rice: brown rice

·        White Flour Pasta: whole-grain pasta

·        Fruit juices: whole fruits

If you can pick only one of these to substitute, choose the one that you consume most often. Try it for a month, and then substitute another. You’ll be healthier, and your skin will thank you for finding a healthy acne treatment. 

If you're still not convinced and don't want to try changing your diet, you may want to check out other options for acne treatments.