SkinDeep

Now we know that acne is linked to an imbalance of hormones (not only androgens, but also insulin, oestrogen, adrenalin, cortisol, and many others).

Did you know that you have a lot more power to control acne than you may think. Even if you are genetically predisposed to have acne, you can change the course of how acne develops. We know this thanks to the sciences of epigenetics and microbiome. Here are 12 proven tips to get rid of acne.

Studies show a mixed efficacy on the use of antibiotics to treat acne, and there is a good reason for that. Antibiotics continue to be the first line of treatment against acne, globally, while the misuse and overuse of antibiotics is aggravating the serious problem of antibiotic resistance. Should you use antibiotics to treat acne?

Current acne treatments were formulated 30-50 years ago, before the 2 major inflection points of human sciences - the Human Genome Project in the early 2000 and the Human Microbiome Project. These treatments are harsh, damaging and controversial.

There are a lot of terms to make acne sound complicated. But there are really just 2 essential distinctions - the comedones and the pimples.

There is a link between what we eat and acne (and health of course). If we don't eat, we die. The nutrients in the food we eat give the energy to our cells to function and make us who we are. The quality of the nutrients or the lack of nutrients can dictate the kind of health, healthy skin and healthy mind we achieve.

The sea and the land where our foods are produced are currently in a poor state. There is a dramatic drop in the level of nutrients in the soil and a dramatic rise in the level of toxins in the fish grown or caught in the sea. We make a case for the need of food supplements to complement our dietary needs, particularly for young people.

The sources of inflammation linked to acne are various. Acne is also linked to the brain through the endocrine system (hormones). We explore the role of adrenaline and cortisol on the skin and on the immune system.

Skin ages, so skin is different at birth, in puberty and in adulthood. Acne is a response to body's inflammation at all ages. But the source of those inflammations may be different for young people vs adult.

Know someone who has acne? Ever felt uncomfortable looking at an image with acne? Thought of giving them unrequested advice? Before you do or say anything, consider how your actions will impact the acne sufferer. Remember they are already in an unbearable state of mind.