Acne's location on your body could reveal specific health issues

Tuesday, November 08, 2016 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer
Tags: acne, inflammation, holistic medicine

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(NaturalNews) Although acne was formerly thought to be a simple skin condition caused by buildup of dirt and dead skin, it is increasingly being understood as a genuine inflammatory health condition. And while most pimples clear up on their own in a week or so, large or persistent acne outbreaks are a cause to consult a health care professional.

It's no wonder, then, that the nature of an outbreak can be used to diagnose certain underlying health imbalances. There are also certain lifestyle changes you can make to detox your body and reduce the severity of acne, or possibly clear it up altogether.

Is your diet out of balance?

According to a recent article from Providr.com, holistic medicine teaches several things about acne in different locations of the body.

In this framework, acne in the lower half of the body, including the legs and buttocks, is most likely to be caused by unbreathable clothing that traps moisture and air against the skin. If changing your underwear or pants to a more breathable fabric doesn't produce any improvement in a week or so, however, the problem may instead be due to an unbalanced diet.

Acne on the arms, scalp or head is also likely to be caused by accumulation of oil and perspiration, and can best be addressed by changing your clothing, hats or cosmetics.

Outbreaks in the neck or jaw area are more likely to reflect overactive adrenal glands or excessive sugar in the diet. Pimples along the shoulders may indicate excessive stress, while outbreaks around the stomach may indicate unbalanced blood sugar levels.

Acne in certain areas can have several possible causes. Acne on the back may be caused by stress or by digestive or nervous system dysfunction. Acne on the chest can also result from digestive issues, a poor diet, or simply an unbalanced diet too heavy in spicy food or cold beverages.

Finally, acne on the elbows may be a result of vitamin deficiency, but could also be caused by a harmless skin condition known as keratosis pilaris.

Natural acne cures

Acne is among the most common inflammatory skin disorders, affecting more than 80 percent of all people during adolescence alone. Acne can also occur later in life.

Recent research has shown that rather than being caused by a simple buildup of dead skin cells, acne actually seems to be an autoimmune disorder more analogous to allergies. A major cause of acne seems to be an overactive immune response to the presence of the bacteria Proprionibacterium acnes. This response causes inflammation-promoting cells to flood the skin, surrounding the area where pimples will eventually form. When this occurs, the sebaceous glands formerly blamed for acne also produce inflammation-promoting compounds.

The mechanisms that produce acne seem to be among those intended to prevent bacteria from penetrating the skin.

The good news about recent science is that certain foods such as chocolate or greasy foods have been cleared of their reputation as acne-causers. The truth, as always, is more complex, as an overall poor diet does seem to contribute to acne. Experts now recommend that people seeking to prevent or cure acne eat a balanced, low-sugar diet high in whole foods such as nuts, legumes, fruits, vegetables, fish and red meat. In some cases, dairy or other foods might exacerbate people's symptoms. A food diary can be a good tool for discovering your own particular triggers.

Intense scrubbing or exfoliating of the skin can irritate the skin, increasing inflammation and worsening acne. Harsh cosmetics, cleansers and moisturizers can also make things worse. If you suffer from acne, consider switching to gentler cosmetics, and washing your clothes in less harsh detergent.

Sources:

Providr.com

NaturalNews.com