Whether mild or severe, acne can be very uncomfortable.
Acne is an inflammatory condition of the skin’s sebaceous glands which produce oil to lubricate the skin. When there is a lot of oil production this can easily become trapped, meaning bacteria multiply and the skin becomes inflamed.
Acne is characterised by blackheads, white heads, inflamed areas of skin, deep cyst formation and subsequent scarring.
Contributory factors associated with acne
Testosterone: Overproduction of the hormone testosterone can lead to excessive sebum production, this, in turn, can increase the risk of inflamed sebaceous glands which can trigger an acne outbreak.
Many people experience frequent acne breakouts during puberty when testosterone levels start to rise however this can still affect adults and also women going through menopause when hyperandrogenism can also affect hirsutism (the growth of coarse, dark hair in areas where women typically grow fine hair or no hair at all) and hair loss
Imbalanced female hormones: hormonal imbalances that occur premenstrually and during the menopause can lead to skin outbreaks.
These imbalances can be pinpointed by the Dutch Complete Hormone Test that checks oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, oestrogen metabolism and the adrenal hormones cortisol and DHEA, some neurotransmitters, an oxidative stress marker and some nutrient levels.
PCOS: polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common hormonal disturbances affecting women. Acne is a recognised symptom of the condition, along with weight problems, overgrowth of facial hair, infertility, menstrual problems and blood sugar imbalances.
Imbalance in fats: a diet high in saturated or hydrogenated fats and low in essential fatty acids can make acne much worse.
Fatty acid levels can be assessed with a Fatty Acid Test. Smart Nutrition can also evaluate your diet for both good and bad fats, and set achievable goals using meal and menu ideas to help you make changes to your diet.
Nutritional deficiencies: deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals are known to be factors in the development of acne.
Nutrient deficiencies can be identified by the NutrEval Test, and a Smart Nutrition consultation can help you to pinpoint areas where your diet may be lacking certain nutrients. Please use the button at the bottom of the page to find out more.
Toxic overload: normally the liver deals with excess toxins, but if it’s overloaded or not working properly, the body has to do the next best thing: excrete toxins through the skin.
Consequently a sluggish liver or toxic diet and lifestyle can be key contributing factors in acne.
Acidic body pH: a diet high in refined and junk foods, a toxic lifestyle (smoking, drinking and stressful working conditions) and regular stress can all cause the body to be too acidic. This extra acidity favours all the nasty bacteria which cause acne.
Body pH can be measured with urine stix that can be bought from a chemists. This is also a useful way of monitoring progress whilst following an alkalinising protocol.