Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder that to some degree affects about 80% of males and females between the ages of twelve and twenty-four. Acne is most common in males because androgens (male sex hormones) like testosterone stimulate the production of keratin and sebum, which can lead to clogged pores. During puberty, androgens increase in both sexes, making girls in this age group more susceptible as well. Hormones don’t disappear after adolescence and many women suffer with adult acne due to hormone imbalances. Oral contraceptives high in progesterone can cause acne breakouts too. Acne can be devastating in your teenage years, but acne can have an even deeper impact if you have it in your 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.

Acne is not caused by ‘dirty’ pores, but most likely by overactive oil glands, the excess oil clogs the pores and when the air hits it, it oxidizes and causes blackheads, bacteria becomes trapped inside.

The exact cause of acne is not known, but facts that contribute to acne include heredity, oily skin and andogens. Other factors that can cause acne are allergies, stress, the use of certain drugs, overconsumption of junk food, saturated fats, hydrogenated fats and animal products, nutritional deficiencies; exposure to industrial pollutants (machine oils, coal tar derivatives, chlorinated hydrocarbons), the use of incorrect cosmetics, monthly menstrual cycles; and overwashing or repeated scrubbing of skin.

The skin is the largest organ of the body. One of its functions is to eliminate a portion of the body’s toxic waste products through sweating. If the body contains more toxins than the kidneys and liver can effectively discharge, the skin takes over. Some doctors call the skin the ‘third kidney’. As toxins escape through the skin, they disrupt the skin’s healthy integrity. This is a key factor behind many skin disorders, including acne. If the pores become clogged, the microbes that are involved in causing acne flourish. Dirt, dust, oils and grime from pollution clog the pores but this can be eliminated by cleansing the skin properly.

True or False: Does bread cause spots?

Researchers say that acne is almost unknown in subsistence societies of the Amazon and Papua New Guinea, where refined starches are not eaten, and claim that the Inuit of Alaska never got spots until they adopted a Western diet of refined carbohydrates. The theory will now be tested by a team of dermatologists at RMIT University in Australia, who will put 60 adolescent boys on a three-month low-carbohydrate diet.

Can eating sugary foods cause Acne?

TRUE. For years, sufferers have been told that sweet food does not cause acne. Now Australian scientists have found that high GI (glycaemic index) foods such as sweets release insulin and other hormones; these in turn stimulate oil production and inflame the skin.