Acne is embarrassing, painful, unattractive and seemingly unavoidable. All of us deal with pimples at some point in our lives, but why do some people have cases that last well into adulthood? Commercial treatments focus on skin cleanliness and unclogging pores. At first glance, this logic seems sensible. Perhaps some skin is more susceptible to dirt and oil than others. Or maybe those with acne are cleaning their face the wrong way. However, after jumping from one cleaning product to the next without any noticeable difference, it becomes obvious that acne is more than skin-deep.
The Commercial Approach to Acne is all Wrong
Acne develops from inside the body, not outside. Our skin is an organ of elimination, serving as a barrier to foreign invaders and a manner of secreting waste products. An excess of toxins in the body can lead to skin inflammation resulting in acne.
Why Antibiotics Help Temporarily
Acne is caused by inflamed and clogged acne pores that become infected. Often this infection is due to picking, popping or merely touching the sensitive area. Antibiotics treat the infection, but inevitably acne returns since toxins continue to exist in the body. Additionally, over-usage of antibiotics creates more resistant strains of acne.
Accutane: Effective and Dangerous
As recently as 2009, pharmaceuticals such as Accutane were used on patients whose acne did not improve with antibiotics. Accutane decreases the amount of oil produced by the skin's sebaceous (oil) glands, dries the skin and has anti-inflammatory properties. Patients were advised to take two pills daily, and told there was no need to modify their diets. While most people reported astounding success with Accutane, the drug was recalled by the FDA. Serious and wide-spread injuries such as rectal bleeding, seizures, birth defects, liver damage, kidney damage and depression were all cited.
Remove the Source, Get Rid of Acne
Food allergies are the most common cause of acne. Repetitive consumption of an allergen leads to an immune system reaction. Inflamed skin, among other conditions, results. Many foods can cause acne, but the most common are dairy products. If you or a loved one suffers from acne, the best course of action is to check for food allergies.