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Acne Links

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Acne is an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaseous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Acne usually appears during adolescence in its most common form known as "acne vulgaris", which means common acne.

For most people, acne begins at puberty. The body starts to produce hormones called androgens. Androgens cause the enlargement and over-stimulation of the sebaceous glands in people with acne. This leads to the over-production of sebum, and coupled with a sluggish exfoliation process leads to blocked pores and acne.

Sensitivity to these androgens also causes acne during the menstrual cycle and sometimes in pregnancy or during the menopause. It’s important to note that acne is not caused by excess in hormone levels, but an abnormal reaction to normal levels of these hormones. We are now seeing more people developing acne in adulthood; possible reasons for this are diet, lifestyle and more synthetic hormones in our environment (foods, water, plastics and medication).

Since acne is different for everyone, there may be certain foods that cause flare-ups in your skin. Clearly, these foods should be avoided. You may also want to check your vitamin supplements for their iodine content; while normal amounts of iodine have not been shown to affect skin, amounts greater than the RDA of 150 mcg may aggravate your acne. Overall, use your common sense. Drink lots of water and eat a healthy, balanced diet — but don’t be afraid to indulge your cravings every now and then.