Natural acne treatments that clear up acne must take into account the many underlying causes of acne. One of the reasons topical acne treatments and remedies don’t work is because teenagers have a sudden increase in various hormones that affect oil secretion as well as secondary sexual characteristics. The cause of acne sometimes lies in the biochemical pathways of hormones and other cell signaling molecules.
Hormones are chemical messengers that are secreted into the bloodstream by different glands in the body to be carried to areas of the body where the chemical information is needed for proper cell function.
Symptoms of hormone-related acne include but are not limited to:
1) Premenstrual acne breakouts
2) Excessive hair growth on the body
3) Weight gain and other metabolic problems (for example, problems losing weight)
4) Loss of hair on the head
There are four processes that take place in the skin for acne symptoms to appear. These are increased oil production, increased skin cell production, multiplication of “propionibacterium” bacteria correlated with acne and inflammation. These processes are affected by hormones in the body. To get rid of chronic acne, a multi-pronged approach is needed that eliminates the underlying inflammation that creates the necessary environment for acne to persist.
Eating foods that are refined carbohydrates (i.e., high on the glycemic index) triggers a hormonal cascade that leads to increased oil production, as well as increased skin cell production. One of the easiest ways to address inflammation is through diet. One dietary change would be to find low-glycemic (or complex carbohydrate) alternatives to your favorite refined foods to reduce fluctuations.
The hormone insulin is secreted by the pancreas and is involved in regulating blood sugar. But there is a spike in secreted insulin levels when we eat foods that are refined sugars (white bread, pasta, cookies, cakes, pizza, pastries). This spike triggers a second insulin-like growth factor hormone (IGF-1) which in turn stimulates a third class of hormones (androgens) that increase oil production (this includes sebum in the skin) and causes breakouts. of acne. Switching to a low glycemic index is helpful in avoiding the pitfalls of wildly fluctuating hormones. Sprouted grain bread and sweet potato (really!) are examples of low-glycemic foods that taste great.
Some human studies have shown that androgens increase IGF-1 levels in the blood, while IGF-1 also increases androgen levels, leading to a vicious cycle that ultimately increases sebum production.
An underlying hormonal imbalance known as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) in women often presents with symptoms of acne and underlying hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and hyperandrogenism. These patients are often overweight as well. Laboratory tests often indicate that these patients have high levels of androgens, IGF-1, and low levels of sex hormone-binding globulins (SHBG) that reduce androgen levels in the blood.
However, it is important to clarify that while many women with PCOS have acne, not all women with acne have PCOS.
Natural hormonal acne treatments can attack not only excess oil secretion, but also the underlying inflammatory cascade that sets the stage for the acne aftereffect. The presence of inflammation may explain why an aspirin mask (a crushed tablet of aspirin that is made into a paste with a few drops of water) applied to acne works to temporarily reduce swelling. However, the underlying inflammation cannot be treated with topical treatments.
This is an overview of the main hormones involved in acne, since the interaction of different hormones is complex.
The first step in treating hormone-related acne is to establish whether there is a hormonal imbalance. To do this, you should talk to your doctor about getting lab tests done. done to establish the baseline for your hormones. Before making any changes that may affect your health, consult your doctor. This article is written for information only. It is not intended to diagnose, prevent or treat any type of symptom or condition.
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