Featured Topic: Acne PDF
Preview Featured Topic: Acne
Featured Topic: Acne (4 slides) What really causes acne… • Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States • Acne doesn’t happen because skin is “dirty” • Acne occurs when sebum (the oil that keeps our skin from drying out) and dead skin cells plug a hair follicle (pore). If the plug is infected by bacteria, it creates a red, swollen, pus-filled acne pimple. • In other words, acne involves: – abnormal clumping of cells in the follicles/pores – increased oil (sebum) production – bacteria – inflammation 3 Acne Triggers • High carb diets – Eating foods high on the glycemic index make acne worse – Foods that spike blood sugar can also increase hormones and cause inflammation. The hormones can stimulate oil production, which in turn, can trigger acne. – One survey found that 86% of participants who began a low carb diet saw improvements in their skin • Stress – High cortisol levels aggravate acne; one study found that college students had more severe acne during exams than at other times of the school year • Changing Hormone Levels – Women may experience acne flare-ups before their menstrual cycle Nutrients to Prevent and Reduce Acne • Sulfur – a natural acne fighter – Antibacterial activity in the gut to prevent buildup of toxic bacteria – Helps stop overproduction of oil to prevent pored from becoming clogged • Potassium – Keeps toxic bacteria and fungi in the intestines in check – Promotes liver and kidney detoxification • Vitamin A as retinyl acetate – Stops the buildup of dead skin cells which can clog pores – Required for the immune system; stops the bacteria which is linked to acne • Zinc is important to building healthy skin – One study found that people with the lowest zinc levels were most likely to have acne flareups • Also: vitamin C, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, chromium, burdock, boswellia Other Steps to Minimizing Acne • Eat a low carb diet – In a study of teenage boys, those following a low carb diet had a 50% reduction in acne breakouts versus those eating an unrestricted, high carb diet • Manage stress – Adaptogenic herbs including rhodiola and ashwagandha keep cortisol levels in a normal range • Hormone support, especially for women – Diindolylmethane More Vitamin D to Prevent Preterm Births (1 slide) Vitamin D is critical during Pregnancy • Previous research found that higher blood levels of vitamin D (more than 40 ng/ml) lowered risk of preterm birth by 60% versus lower vitamin D levels (20 ng/ml or less) • In a new study, researchers tested blood levels of pregnant women at their first prenatal visit and gave additional vitamin D if their test level was less than 40 ng/ml – 90% of women over all had low D levels and needed additional vitamin D • Result: women whose vitamin D levels increased to 40 ng/ml or more at their follow up visits had a 6% risk of preterm birth – a 60% reduction versus the normal population, confirming the findings of the original study What is worse for you than smoking? (3 slides) Obesity causes more cancer deaths than smoking? • Inactivity and obesity might soon account for more cancer deaths than smoking • As smoking-related cancer deaths have decreased, cancers related to obesity and inactivity have increased – A study published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine linked obesity to 13 different types of cancer • If current trends continue, by 2030 the percentage of overweight and obese Americans will be 86% or more Obesity and Cancer Risk • Versus people of normal weight, being overweight – Doubles or quadruples risk of endometrial cancer – Doubles risk of esophageal cancer – Doubles the risk of liver cancer – Increases risk of colon cancer by 30% – Increases risk of brain cancer by 50% – Increases risk of breast cancer 20-40% • Why? – Obesity is associated with chronic inflammation, which can lead to DNA damage, which leads to cancer – Fat tissues produces more hormones, which can stimulate cancer cell growth
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