Reduce acnes hormone

The skin is one of the largest organs of the body and has a variety of functions from protection and temperature control to detoxification. There are several conditions which affect the skin and in this article we are going to focus on acne. Spotty skin is mainly considered to be a side effect of puberty, but there are a substantial number of adults – male and female, who also fall prone to this condition.

Although acne is considered to be a hormonal condition there are other factors such as liver function, bowel toxicity and diet that act as strong influences for skin health, all of which we will be taking a look at in this article.

Skin – the basics

The skin is made up of several layers and acne affects the sebaceous glands found in the epidermis or outer layer. These glands produce sebum, a mixture of wax and oils which lubricates the outer skin layer and prevents excess water loss from the body. The sebum travels to the skins surface via a skin pore.

The sebaceous glands are under influence of male and female sex hormones. Testosterone stimulates the size and activity of the gland. Male and female acne is associated with high levels of testosterone. This triggers large amounts of sebum to be produced which shouldn’t really be a problem other than generating very oily skin. The problem occurs because the rise in testosterone also increases the pores production of keratin which binds with the sebum and actually blocks the pore. The result is an enlarged, swollen and inflamed pore, a typical symptom of acne.

Hormonal havoc

Testosterone is responsible for feelings of drive, motivation and ambition; it gives us energy and a competitive edge. There are a few diet and lifestyle factors which send testosterone levels soaring.

Firstly exposure to long term stress and adrenal fatigue this increases testosterone production in both men and women. Alcohol, sugar, saturated fat and caffeine intake also have a strong impact of increasing testosterone. A lack of regular cardiovascular exercise reduces a substance called ‘sex hormone binding globulin’ which carries testosterone in through the blood. Having low levels of this substance also increases testosterone production.

To reduce acne it’s advisable to learn how to manage your stress, reduce caffeine, alcohol, saturated fat and sugar whilst partaking in regular cardio vascular exercise.

Tips for balancing hormones

o Limit coffee and tea to one cup a day and avoid caffeinated soft drinks

o Don’t skip meals, start your day with a good breakfast containing protein and complex carbohydrate

o Swap teas and coffees for herbal teas or filtered water

o Commit to 2-3 sessions of cardiovascular exercise a week

o Limit alcohol to 2-3 glasses a week for a least 3 months

Overloaded liver

All the toxins that enter your body from an external source or those that are generated by natural daily cellular activities are passed to your liver to be deactivated, processed and eliminated from your body. Your liver has over 400 functions and its role in detoxification is one of its most important functions. If your body has an overwhelmingly high level of toxins then your liver pretty much has its work cut out. If it falls behind on this job then the body looks to other organs in which to get toxins out of the body as quickly as possible.

Two alternative routes of detoxification are the lungs or the skin. If you suffer from acne then there is a strong possibility that your liver has become a little overloaded, your body has become very toxic and your skin is showing the signs of this imbalance. You can start to take the weight off your liver by cleaning up your diet and lifestyle, drinking more water and taking regular sauna’s or steams which help to flush these toxins out of the skin.

Detoxification tips

o Cut back on alcohol limit your intake to 2-3 glasses of wine a week for a least 3 months

o Cut back on processed foods which contain synthetic food additives, preservatives and colors

o Drink at least 2 liters of filtered water a day

o Avoid walking or exercising along busy roads to avoid traffic fumes

o Limit tuna to once a week as this is high in the toxic metal mercury

Toxic bowel

One way to really overload your liver is to have a toxic or stagnant bowel. If you suffer from constipation then you are likely to be encouraging the putrification and stagnation of foods within your bowel. The longer you go without a bowel movement the more toxic your bowel becomes.

A good measure of bowel health is transit time, which is the amount of time that it takes for food to travel from the mouth, all the way through the digestive tract and for its waste products to be eliminated through a bowel movement.

A healthy person should have a bowel transit time ranging from 8 to 14 hours. You can measure your own transit time by eating a large amount of sweet corn or beetroot (which are both substances that be seen upon elimination). Note the time you eat the chosen food and then monitor your stools for the appearance of the food. The time between when you ingested the food to the time it first appears in your stool and stops appearing in your stool is your bowel transit time range (i.e. range 8-14 hours).

You should be having 1-2 bowel movements a day, anything short of this and you are likely to be producing too many bowel toxins for your liver to handle.

Constipation and bowel toxicity can occur for a number of reasons including under active thyroid, food intolerances, low levels of digestive enzymes, eating under stressful conditions, magnesium deficiency or dietary factors such as eating too little fiber and not drinking enough water.

Once you are having regular bowel movements you should notice a positive change in your skin. However this change may take a while to get noticed. It take 12 weeks for a new skin cell to be born and make it’s way from deep in the dermis layer of the skin to the surface. Be patient with all your good efforts it could take up to 12 weeks to actually see and feel the benefits.

Tips for reducing bowel toxicity

o Cut back on foods which are know to be constipating – eggs, red meat, cheese, milk, bananas

o Increase your intake of soluble fiber – oats, oat bran, lentils, pulses, brown rice, fresh fruits and vegetables

o Increase your intake of water to at least 2 liters a day.

o Take a break from your work, chores and phone to relax while you eat.

o Increase food rich in magnesium – nuts, seeds and green leafy vegetables

Nutrients for healthy skin

o Vitamin A - helps cells reproduce normally and since skin cells have a fast rate of production Vitamin A is needed to ensure that skin generation is healthy. Vitamin A has a natural immune boosting property for all mucus membrane and body surfaces and has long been linked as one of the top vitamins for skin health. Found in oily fish, eggs and yoghurt whilst beta carotene the vitamin A precursor is found in orange or yellow fruits and vegetables.

o Vitamin C – helps with the production of collagen and elastin two protein component of skin which generates good firm skin tone. This nutrient also has immune enhancing properties and helps with skin healing. Found in citrus fruits, peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes and kiwi fruit.

o Glutamine – this amino acid helps clear acne by balancing blood sugar levels and stabilizing the stress response whilst also having a positive effect on intestinal health. It is found natural in fish and meat or can be taken as a nutritional supplement.

o Vitamin E – one of the main problems with acne is scaring and this vitamin is well known for aiding skin recovery and preventing scaring. It also protects form infection and aids hormone balance. Found in soya, corn and olive oil plus nuts and seeds, and wheatgerm.

o Saw Palmetto – this berry extract can be taken as a capsule and helps both men and women maintain normal testosterone levels.

Source : www.americanchronicle.com