Acne

Acne

Definition of the pathology

Acne is a dermatosis due to inflammation of the pilosebaceous follicles, characterised by pimples (comedones, papules, nodules, pustules), mainly on the face.


Associated Symptoms

Grade 1 acne: non-inflammatory or comedonal acne

  • Grade 1 acne, scientifically known as non-inflammatory acne or comedonal acne, is the most common type of acne and usually starts at puberty, with a higher incidence after the age of 15 in both boys and girls. This type of acne corresponds to small blackheads that appear mainly on the forehead, nose and cheeks, and there is no presence of pus, as it is related to hormonal changes that directly affect the sebaceous glands, resulting in the obstruction of the hair follicles.

Grade 2 acne: papulopustular acne

  • Grade 2 acne, scientifically known as papulopustular acne, is popularly known as pimples and consists of the presence of pus-filled elevations on the skin that are rounded, hardened, reddened and may be painful. This type of acne is caused by inflammation of the sebaceous glands due to the proliferation of micro-organisms at the site, mainly the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes.

Grade 3 acne: nodular or cystic acne

  • Grade 3 acne, scientifically known as nodulocystic acne, is popularly known as internal pimples and is characterised by the presence of internal nodules under the skin, on the face, back and chest, which are very painful and palpable and usually occur due to hormonal changes associated with puberty or menstruation.

Grade 4 acne: conglobate acne

  • Grade 4 acne, or acne conglobata, is a type of acne characterised by a cluster of lesions close together with pus, which can lead to the formation of abscesses and fistulae in the skin, resulting in skin deformation.

Grade 5 acne: Acne fulminans

  • Grade 5 acne, also known as acne fulminans, is a rare form of acne in which pimples are accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, joint pain and malaise, and is more common in men and affects the chest, back and face.

Causes to be evaluated

Acne is most common during puberty, when increased hormone levels, especially androgens (such as testosterone), stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce excessive amounts of sebum. After the age of 20, hormone levels usually fall to the point where acne is reduced or clears up.

However, up to 40% of women may have hormonal acne due to hormonal changes:

Other causes:

  • Certain medications
  • Comedogenic cosmetics
  • Diet: cow's milk, foods with a high glycemic index

Naturopathic Protocol

General tips:

  • Avoid excess food: especially sugar and fats.
  • Do not pierce comedones as this encourages the spread of germs and makes lesions worse.
  • Avoid overly aggressive and antibacterial products: they upset the natural balance of the epidermal flora. Surgras soaps or products based on plants such as calendula or burdock are clearly preferable.
  • Avoid cosmetics that are too oily or occlusive (comedogenic).
  • Avoid exposure to the sun: although the skin may seem to be benefiting at the moment because it is getting dry, the sun contributes to clogging the pores due to overproduction of keratin, and acne is aggravated when you return from holiday.
  • The role of anxiety is well known: it should not be neglected, especially during adolescence.
  • Regular, but not intense, physical activity to avoid stimulating testosterone production.

🍽️ Nutrition

Eat a diet high in fibre rather than sugar and fat

  • Chocolate is often blamed for acne outbreaks. However, it is not so much the raw material that is harmful, but the hydrogenated fats it may contain. During digestion, the pancreas releases insulin to digest the fat, which in turn releases androgen hormones. These hormones increase the secretion of sebum, which clogs the pores and promotes the appearance of pimples. If possible, avoid milk chocolate, creams and other chocolate products (chocolate bars), as well as all fatty products in general that contain saturated fats (fatty meats, biscuits, sausages, chips, fast food, etc.).
  • Avoid sugary products and products with a high glycaemic index (pasta, white bread, potatoes, etc.). These expose you to hyperinsulinism, which leads to an increase in circulating androgens, IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) production and a reduction in nuclear retinoid receptor activity. Results: sebum production and follicular keratinisation are increased. Prefer whole grains instead.
  • Reduce or even avoid dairy products: milk, cheese, yoghurt. These products may contain hormonal components or molecules that affect endogenous hormones (stimulation of IGF-1 production). Dairy products also increase the body's acidity and promote the adverse effects of androgenic hormones.
  • You can replace them with vegetable milks, without forgetting our beloved vegetables, which are also rich in calcium.

Doing the right things: some interesting vitamins

Eat raw or steamed fruit and vegetables, which retain all their vitamins:

  • B vitamins, especially vitamin B6, which regulates sebum production. Found in soya, bananas and nuts, it can reduce or even clear mild acne.
  • Vitamin B3 (nicotinamide), because this molecule acts on inflammatory mediators and is found naturally in tuna, sardines and liver, but also in wholemeal bread and green vegetables.
  • And let's not forget Vitamin B12: a little brewer's yeast in your dishes when you serve them and you're done!
  • Vitamin C and vitamin E, for their antioxidant power: red fruits, citrus fruits, peppers, broccoli, fresh herbs and wheat germ vegetable oil, rich in vitamin E.
  • Vitamin A, which can cause skin problems if you don't have enough in your body, is found in liver, eggs, carrots, fresh apricots and melon. Spinach, cabbage, watercress and lettuce are also rich in vitamin A and chlorophyll, an element known to purify the blood and fight rashes.
  • Omega 3, which soothes inflammation: small oily fish, shellfish and cold-pressed vegetable oils such as rapeseed, flaxseed, camelina and purslane.

Trace elements that play an essential role

  • Remember to include zinc in your diet, as this trace element plays an important role in skin immunity and helps to reduce sebum production. Many people do not get enough zinc because of a poor diet or because they exercise a lot, which depletes zinc reserves through sweating. Zinc is found in wholemeal cereals, seafood, lentils, watercress and soya beans.
  • Magnesium helps reduce stress, high levels of which have been linked to the severity of acne. Its place is taken by oilseeds such as almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts, not to mention seaweed and wholemeal bread.
  • Copper, which has anti-infective properties, is the other component of acne pimples. Oysters, liver, dried fruit, wholemeal bread and dried fruit are rich in it.
  • Sulphur, which reduces seborrhoea (through hepatic conjugation of sulphur). Consider adding pulses (lentils, azuki beans, chick peas), root vegetables (carrots, turnips, beets) and fish to your diet.

You can finish your meal with an herbal tea made from burdock, rosemary or fumitory, plants that help detoxify the body naturally.

What if you adopted the Mediterranean diet to fight acne and skin imperfections?

The Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest in the world. It is rich in fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, dried fruit, garlic, thyme, basil, rosemary and olive oil: everything you need to tackle the problem of acne. By using more natural products and eating a healthy diet, you can avoid deficiencies in certain vitamins and trace elements.

🌿 Phytotherapy

First Intention:

Burdock:

  • 2 capsules of 250 mg each in the morning, at noon and in the evening before meals
  • Duration: 3 months

To complement:

Infusion of Wild Pansy flowers and leaves:

  • 5 grams per cup
  • Add 5g of Chicory flowers and roots.
  • Steep in boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Drink 3 cups a day.
  • Duration: 1 month renewable

Local treatment:

Prepare an infusion of Chamomile and Sage:

  • 15 grams each
  • Steep for 10 minutes in 1/2 litre of boiling water.
  • Keep the infusion warm with compresses for 10 minutes.

🌳 Gemmotherapy

Raspberry : 

  • 5 to 15 drops per day in a glass of water, 15 minutes before a meal.
  • Duration: 3 weeks
  • Take a break of 1 week before renewal

Juniper:

  • 6 drops in 1 teaspoon of mineral water, morning and evening before meals
  • Duration: 3 weeks
  • Take a break of 1 week before renewal

🌺 Aromatherapy

Local treatment:

Make a Green Clay mask:

  • 2 tablespoons of clay powder + mineral water diluted with 5 drops of lemon essence.
  • Apply and leave for 10 minutes (do not allow clay to dry).
  • Duration: 1 time per week

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) essential oil:

  • Put 2 or 3 drops on a compress soaked in warm water.
  • Apply to the infected comedone and leave for 1 minute.
  • WARNING: Bergamot must not be used pure (always diluted in vegetable oil).
  • It is photosensitising (sensitive to sunlight) and may be slightly irritating to the skin.
  • It may cause allergies and skin irritation in some people.
  • Test the elbow bend before first use.

For a daily treatment, prepare the following mixture:

For purulent acne, mix:

💊 Micronutrition

Zinc:

  • 1 ampoule per day
  • Duration: 2 months

Vitamin E:

  • 200 to 400 mg per day
  • Duration: 2 months

🧘‍♂️ Manual Techniques

To cope with stress, calm the mind; if you feel nervous, think of calming plants:

Lymphatic drainage improves the circulation of lymph in our subcutaneous tissues. Residues and toxins under the skin are better removed when they are drained regularly. Lymphatic massage therefore reduces the appearance of pimples and comedones associated with acne. If your skin is prone to blemishes, take 5 minutes a day to massage your skin before applying your skincare routine.

"Free acne" treatment plan

Acne affects a large number of women today, as social networks can attest. It is easy to find videos on Youtube, articles on blogs, stories on Instagram (and so on) that testify to the significant number of women who struggle with this condition.

For a long time now, the allopathic answer to this type of skin disease has been given in most cases: cyproterone acetate (Androcur), isotretinoin (Roaccutane), the pill (Diane 35),... And BINGO, they work, but at a price! In general, they cause adverse effects, their efficacy is often modest in women, and the risk of relapse is significant, sometimes doubling the effect. They are a public health hazard.

What is important to understand about acne is that it is a multifactorial disease and it is important to find the cause or causes: poor diet, stress, hormonal imbalances, inappropriate cosmetics, among others.

Today, it is necessary to offer women an alternative to treat their acne, and this involves a more global treatment of the pathology.

That is why we have created an application dedicated to this pathology. It is available on the Applestore (Apple) and Google Play (Android) under the name "FREE ACNE".


Acne