Another important component in the great acne battle is to be aware of the following internal factors that can exacerbate your acne and hamper healing. These little nuggets of information will help you make wiser choices in your day to day life.
1. The two biggest culprits in your Diet are foods that are high in iodides and androgen hormones. Be aware of hidden sources of iodides. Stay away from iodized salt; soy, kelp, seaweed and miso food products; blue-green algae, spirulina, and chlorella supplements; vitamins with iodides; avoid biotin and vitamin B-12; whey or soy protein shakes and bars. Milk and cheese can be problematic too, due to the salt lick provided to dairy cattle. Foods high in androgen hormones include peanuts, peanut oil, peanut butter; corn oil; canola oil; shellfish; organ meats. Substitute choices are recommended and available for the acne prone who react to dietary influences.
2. Medications can have a huge impact on acne from making an acne condition worse to inducing acne. Steroid drugs and topical creams are examples of note. However, the use of steroids to control an illness is understood and respected. The list is too extensive to note here. Just be aware that a prescription medication you are taking may have an affect on your acne. If that is the case, talk with your doctor.
3. Marijuana use will aggravate acne. This stems from the impact marijuana has on testosterone levels in the blood. The first response within the body is an increase in testosterone levels followed by a significant drop in hormone levels. The skin does not like this roller coaster affect and will react accordingly.
4. All things feminine. Yes, acne does flare 7 - 10 days prior to menses. The menstrual cycle does not cause the breakouts. It only aggravates the conditions in an acne prone skin. The best advice is to stay on top of your acne regimen to keep it under control and be self-aware.
Do yourself a favor and avoid male-dominant (androgen-dominant/lo-dose) birth control pills. Ask your doctor about estrogen-dominant birth control pills or seek other options.
Pregnancy can present as a time bomb and can cause acne flare-up, especially at the beginning of pregnancy. It usually clears as a pregnancy progresses to term due to the extra estrogen in the body. Post-delivery can be quite a different story as the hormones are readjusting and there is less estrogen in the blood. This renewed acne storm is usually evident around 90-days after the baby's birth.
Poly cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may lead to hormonal acne in some patients due to excess androgen male hormones levels in the blood.
5. Cosmetics and Toiletries are the worse offenders if they contain pore-clogging ingredients. Think "acne cosmetica" then check all labels diligently and avoid the worse offenders. When you find any in your home, do yourself a favor and toss them into the rubbish bin. Bear in mind that this can potentially include topical acne medicines, hand lotions, lip balms, hair products, eye makeup remover, and tissues containing lotions.
6. Your lifestyle choices also exert an impact on acne. Fabric softeners used in the washer or dryer leave a waxy residue on fabrics. Other choices to be aware of are water softeners which contain potassium chloride and swimming pool disinfectants that contain iodides and chlorine. All of these chemicals are irritating to an acne skin.
There are many factors that present a challenge to the acne prone. To help you navigate the hazards of everyday life and setting you on the path to clear, healthy skin. Check out the Clear Acne Treatment available at Facial Zen. For details visit this link: www.facialzen.com/clear-acne-treatment.html
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