Can Diet And Exercise Affect Acne?

July 2, 2011 admin Uncategorized

Diet

Doctors used to believe that sugary and fatty foods were major triggers for acne, but now research is showing that it is not the food itself, but rather the way it interacts with our systems causes problems such as acne.  One reason why sugary and fatty foods can cause acne are that they overload our digestive systems, making it difficult for our livers to eliminate toxins in the normal manner.  They can instead build up and cause problems such as spots and blemishes.

Another way in which what we eat can affect acne is in the chemicals that are released when our bodies breakdown certain foods.  Basically one of the main causes of acne is over production of sebum, which is usually triggered by the male hormone androgen.

Scientists now believe that mass produced meat and diary products contain significant levels of hormone-like substances that are being absorbed by our bodies during ingestion, triggering slight changes in our own hormone patterns which can led to raised androgen levels, which in turn can trigger acne

Significant improvements in the severity and longevity of acne symptoms have been reported by sufferers who have cut meat and dairy products from their diets.

Exercise

It is still unclear whether exercise alone has any effect on the physical symptoms of acne, but it can have a significant impact on the sometimes severe psychological symptoms that often affect acne sufferers such as lack of confidence, acute shyness, stress and depression.

Exercise stimulates the brain to produce chemicals that make us feel happy and alert.  A healthy body can help to project a healthy self image, which is something that can be badly damaged by the disfiguring affects of acne.  Because rigorous exercise can make you sweat it is important that you have a shower and change your clothes after you have finished exercising, especially if you suffer from acne on your torso, just to ensure you don’t exacerbate the acne