Acne and food

 Science refutes the myths that chocolate, cured meats, and other foods are responsible for the appearance of pimples. The causes are quite different.

Pimples again! They seem to sprout like mushrooms. I must have eaten too much pizza or too much chocolate. But no. Let's dispel an old myth: acne doesn't depend on what you eat.

It is a much more complex issue. That includes hormonal factors, and stress, and can be made worse by bad habits. But with the appropriate countermeasures, it can practically always heal, even in the most serious cases. Provided you contact the experts in the sector or dermatologists.

Acne appears mainly in adolescence, however, it can also occur in adulthood. In the case of adolescents, we speak of juvenile acne, in the latter of late or late acne. In most people, this pathology regresses around the age of 30, but sometimes it can persist up to 40-50 years.

It can manifest itself in milder or more serious forms and, if it creeps deep into the tissues, it can lead to the formation of cysts or leave very evident scars. It should not be confused with rosacea, a chronic inflammatory disease characterized not only by papules similar to those of acne but also by dilation of the capillaries of the face and a sensation of heat and burning.

In order not to permanently ruin our skin from acne, let's see what its origin is and what its real symptoms and causes are: it will be easier to fight it.

What is at the base of the pimple The dreaded pimples are due to inflammation of the pores of the skin which have been clogged, in part or completely, by sebum and dead cells? The whole of this material constitutes the blackhead, commonly called blackhead or whitehead.

The color varies according to how the opening of the pore looks like: if it remains free, despite the presence of the material inside the pore, you have black points, if, on the other hand, it is blocked because it is completely blocked by the substances that stagnate there, you have white dots.

In both cases, what remains inside the hair follicle forms an excellent substrate for bacterial growth. Bacteria are in fact the real culprits of redness first and then of swelling and pus formation.

Here, in summary, are those small volcanoes that dot acne-prone skin, and which tend to appear in areas of the body where the skin is richer in sebaceous glands: the face (particularly the forehead and cheeks), the neck, chest, upper back, shoulders (especially in males), and chest.

The triggering factors

Various factors are called into question for their formation: first of all the increase in sex hormones, a phenomenon which occurs in a very marked way during puberty (this is why acne prefers teenagers), but which is found also different in adult life, especially in women.

For example during the menstrual cycle or after discontinuation of the contraceptive pill or, again, in the years preceding menopause.

Among the sex hormones to be indicted are androgens more precisely, male hormones which are however also present in the female organism which, starting from these substances, produces the hormones typical of women, i.e. estrogen.

What do androgens have to do with acne? They have something to do with it because they induce an enlargement of the sebaceous gland present in the hair follicle and an increase in the secretion of sebum, that is precisely those alterations that constitute the basis for the establishment of the various forms of acne and favor the proliferation of bacteria.

But hormones aren't solely responsible. There are also individual factors, such as a genetic predisposition, or the intake of certain drugs, such as lithium, barbiturates, corticosteroids and, of course, androgen-based drugs.

Myths to dispel

In addition to clearing some foods such as chocolate or salami, traditionally accused (unjustly) of causing acne lesions to appear, other myths to be debunked concern the responsibilities of hygiene and sweating in the genesis of the disease.

These factors, however, can influence the progress of skin manifestations once established: if addressed in the right way, therefore, they can facilitate the improvement of the symptoms of the disease.

On the contrary, taken the wrong way, they can worsen the situation of the diseased skin.

Facial cleansing is important, but using the right cleansers is even more so. Thinking that energy washes make it easier to eliminate sebum is a mistake. For skin irritated by acne, gentle cleansing is recommended twice a day, avoiding alcoholic tonics, abrasive soaps, masks, and facial scrubs.

Even the use of sponges can cause small traumas on irritated skin (with bleeding) and aggravate the situation. Better, therefore, to spread the cleaning product gently with your fingers and use warm water to rinse.

If you sweat, it's a good idea to wash again, because the stagnation of sweat favors the appearance of pimples.

Furthermore, these should never be crushed: if you are tempted and try to manually eliminate the unwelcome guest, it returns more aggressively than before. Furthermore, taken from the heat, small injuries can be caused which subsequently give rise to the formation of scars.

Some tricks to not irritate the skin more

Other small tricks can improve the imperfections of acne skin. For example, it is good to avoid exposure to the sun and not touch the affected area continuously.

The sun's rays thicken the skin and instead of drying it worsens its conditions, while not teasing the irritated areas with constant contact with the hands which, moreover, are never completely clean, is a strategy that favors a better skin appearance.

Shaving, in men, requires some attention. Small tricks to avoid further irritating the skin consist in rinsing it with warm water before using the razor, in order to soften the hair, and using always sharp razors with a light hand so as not to cause abrasions or cuts.

If you must use cosmetics, apply the make-up only after using a suitable base (anti-acne) and be careful to use strictly cosmetics (including sunscreen, which must always have a high protection factor). oil-free”, i.e. non-comedogenic.

The same goes for gels and other hair products. Even the latter should not be overlooked when you have acne problems. Very oily hair requires frequent washing, even every day, with delicate shampoos.