The article that follows was printed in the "Today's Therapist" magazine and was written by Dr Martin Schiele, a Biomedical Research Scientist by profession.
Dr Schiele recommends using products that have been developed using only natural ingredients of the highest quality. The natural products do not include any STEROIDS, HORMONES, CORTISONES, PEROXIDES, ALCOHOL, PARABENS and ANTIBIOTICS
WHAT IS ACNE?
This is a common inflammatory disorder of the sebaceous glands. It involves the face, neck, back, shoulders and chest.
Spots and other skin eruptions are the hallmarks of acne (blackheads with papules, whiteheads (pustules) and raised red blemishes with semisolid centres
and beneath the skin’s surface localised bacterial infection.
WHO CAN GET ACNE?
Most people associate acne with the troublesome teenage years. Indeed, up to 75% of adolescent males and up to 30% of adolescent females are affected. Yet, up to 8% of these who had clear skin in their youth develop acne as adults. In fact, acne can erupt at any age.
WHAT CAUSES ACNE?
Acne, at any age, can be triggered by an abnormal response of the skin to normal levels of the male hormones “androgens” (masculinising hormones which are present in both men and women), which control how much oil, or sebum, is produced from the sebaceous glands. Hormonal imbalances can lead to an overproduction of sebum.
In women, menstrual periods or pregnancy can also create acne-producing hormonal disturbances. In fact, one reason why acne sometimes occurs during pregnancy, and why it is a common symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and of women who have recently stopped taking the contraceptive pill, is because of the hormonal disruption that occurs in all three cases.
Other acne triggers:
Emotional stress exacerbates the problem by triggering the body’s adrenal glands to become overactive, which, in turn, boosts the sebum production.
Certain medications, particularly steroids, contraceptives or drugs that affect hormonal levels.
Internal disturbances in the natural balance of flora in the gut, resulting in bad digestion due to lack of friendly bacteria.
Internal toxicity in the body, which can be caused by a variety of factors including constipation, bacterial or yeast overgrowth (candida in the gut) or a food sensitivity.
(Toxins are disposed of by the body into the skin). Contrary to popular belief, acne is in the vast majority of cases not caused by eating chocolate, dairy products, red meat, nuts or fatty snacks or by drinking colas. However, acne can be brought on or aggravated by certain foods sensitivity or food allergies.
FACTS ABOUT ACNE
Clinical manifestation of acne range from non-inflammatory comedones, the primary lesion of acne, to inflammatory papules, pustules and cysts caused after the follicular duct becomes plugged.
The pathogenesis of acne is multi-factorial and involves over-production of sebum, an abnormal follicular keratinization process, proliferation of a number of certain bacteria particular Propionibacterium acnes, and hormonal and immunological factors.
Microbiology of acne; on examining the aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of pustular acne lesions it is found that most pustules are infected by more than one bacterial species.
The bacterial species predominantly present and therefore associated with acne vulgaris are:
- Staphylococcus aureus (aerobic)
- Staphylococcus epidermidis (aerobic)
- Propionibacterium acnes (anaerobic)
- Peptostreptococcus species (anaerobic)
- Bacteriodes species (anaerobic)
TREATMENT OF ACNE
Conventional treatments of acne vulgaris include combinations of topical anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and peeling agents, oral antibiotics, topical and oral retinoids and hormonal agonists and antagonists. Some of these are linked with unwanted and even harmful side effects.
For further free information on the prevention and treatment of acne read more in the consultation room...