What Causes Acne?
First off!
Download this to learn about lymphatic congestion for acne & how to clear it
Now lets understand acne better:
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions worldwide (1). Historically, we did not have acne, and it is thought that the prevalence of acne development came with the integration of our western diets (1).
Acne is an inflammatory condition and affects the areas of the skin that contain sebaceous glands (oil glands): face, back, and chest.
Acne develops due to the 4 main factors, explained below. Hormonal imbalances and our diet are the two main things that drive these factors (1).
Contributing factors:
Excess sebum production (oil from glands on the skin)
Inflammation pathways
Bacterial imbalances
Increased production of keratin cells - Keratin is a substance that helps protect the skin from damage. Too much production can prevent dead skin cells from being cleared. This causes a blockage at the skin/hair follicles and reduces the skin's ability to regenerate new skin cells.
**m-TOR is an enzyme that is involved in signalling pathways within the body and is needed for our metabolism and building muscle.
Excess sebum production is driven by elevated androgen hormones (such as testosterone) and insulin growth factor-1 hormone (IGF-1).
IGF-1 can activate an enzyme called m-TOR**. mTOR, further stimulates sebum production, keratin, and inflammation,— all contributors to acne (1).
Too much activation of m-TOR can be a sign of metabolic dysfunction. Excess m-TOR not only contributes to acne, but also other metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance and arthritis (2).
You don't need to all remember these names… but what you should remember is that our diets can directly impact these pathways.
High sugar foods raise your insulin levels- high insulin increases IGF-1 and therefore the cascade pathway of acne developing (1).
Dairy foods can also contribute to acne via a similar pathway. The casein in dairy products can increase IGF-1. Additionally, dairy milk has a high insulin index which can cause blood sugar and insulin spikes (1,3).
The IGF-1 from cows milk is identical to the IGF-1 in humans, so it acts the same inside the human body (3). IGF-1 can stimulate the synthesis of androgen hormones (3). Together, these factors make it very hard for the body to fight against acne development.
Additionally, in some people, the A1-casein can cause irritation in the gut and initiate an inflammatory response (4,5).
The Gut Skin Connection:
Gut health is fundamental to treat in all conditions, but especially acne. There is a Gut/Skin bidirectional connection. You may have heard of ‘leaky gut’- if you have a leaky gut it is likely that you have ‘leaky skin’. Leaky gut can cause metabolites and toxins to enter our bloodstream and in turn, cause inflammation and an accumulation of toxins to leak into the skin (4). Just like our gut microbiota, our skin has a microbiota with ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria. An imbalance between our good/bad bacteria can impair our immune system and contribute to inflammation (1,4). Studies have shown those with acne to have a lower gut diversity (4). An imbalance of ‘good’ bacteria can also drive our gut microbiota to produce metabolites that have been indicated to activate the mTOR signalling pathway mentioned above (1).
Poor detoxification pathways:
Another cause of acne is poor detoxification pathways. When our body’s elimination and detoxification process aren’t working properly, toxins can accumulate in our system and show up on our skin - because our skin is also an elimination pathway.
Our liver is needed to help detoxify and excrete toxins. It is also needed to metabolise excess hormones that can contribute to acne eg testosterone & oestrogen.
Lymphatic congestion: Our lymphatic system can accumulate toxins and bacteria beneath the skin. Movement is needed to help get our lymphatic system moving - exercises, massage and dry skin brushing are all great ways to get the lymph moving.
The Gut: Alongside the aforementioned roles our gut plays, our gut is also key for eliminating excess toxins. Yes that’s right - you actually poop out your oestrogen.
PCOS:
PCOS is a common hormonal condition that is characterised by high levels of androgens and insulin resistance, which are 2 main drivers of acne. Therefore, it is common for those with PCOS to have acne.
Remember: PCOS can be fixed !
Overall, there are different drivers that can contribute to acne. However, by taking a holistic approach and taking into account all the factors, treating the root cause and utilising targeted supplements and dietary changes, your recovery can go a long way.
