This article brought to you by Sky Forest Inn Event and Retreat Center
Article by Billie Bueler – Rim Chiropractic
How is it even possible? You got through your teens, and the face looking back at you in the mirror has one break out after another?! If you’ve tried to eat well, drink plenty of water and keep your face super clean, and you’re still breaking out, I have GREAT news for you. There are still things you can do to put your best face forward!
The number one culprit in adult acne, or Acne vulgaris, are hormones known as androgens. Androgens are the group of hormones responsible for traits found in males, hence the name. Testosterone is one of the best known androgens. Both men and women have androgens, which are also key to reproduction, but men produce much more than women.. An imbalance in this group of hormones causes a number of issues, and for our purposes today, we are going to focus on one. Adult acne.
A second major factor involved with adult acne is insulin running rampant in the blood. When blood sugar levels are on a roller coaster, the insulin becomes basically a free agent. If overwhelmed regularly, insulin receptors become resistant to the very substance they are supposed to be escorting out of the blood, allowing the insulin levels to spike and drop erratically. This situation is common in diabetics, and those whose diet is high in sugar and carbohydrates.
The next actor in this production is cortisol. This steroid hormone is our primary stress hormone, and it contributes to an increase in blood glucose for use by the brain. Cortisol is also responsible for shutting down functions in the body considered non-critical in cases of high stress known as flight or fight. This is certainly an important hormone in your body, but when stress remains high over long periods of time, the resulting amount of cortisol causes health issues.
Next, we need to look at the microbiome. If your gut is losing the battle between good and bad bacteria, the results will be literally displayed on your face in the way of inflamed breakouts. The most talked about condition of the gut has been what is called intestinal hyperpermeability, or leaky gut. Imagine a window screen. The material allows air to move in and through the screen, much like the intestinal walls allow nutrients to pass through into the bloodstream. But if the screen becomes damaged, say it develops a hole in it, then unwanted things can now pass through, like flying insects for instance. In the gut, the things that can now pass through are undigested particles of food and bad bacteria. The immune system now goes on high alert, and treats these particles as pathogens, creating an inflammatory response. As our largest detox organ, the skin is left to try to expel these toxins through the pores.
And finally, we have an overtaxed, poorly supported liver. With the modern diet consisting of processed foods and an environment of airborne toxins and such, our liver has to work extra hard to neutralize these harmful things and dispose of them. When it can’t manage this, they float around in our blood as free radicals, creating inflammation and added stress on the body.
The result of all these hormones and overwhelmed body systems is skin that loses its ability to push sebum, or oil, and dirt from the pores as part of its normal way of cleansing. Instead, the debris forms a plug, and the surrounding area responds with inflammation. This lesion becomes yet another pimple.
Want to break the cycle? The things I listed above are the key to clearer skin. How are your hormones becoming unbalanced? Are you taking birth control pills, are you on some kind of medication that is interfering with the normal cycle of hormone processing? What is it in your diet that is causing your body to lose control over blood sugar or insulin levels? How are you doing at stress management, because a failure to manage stress is adding to your complexion problems. Are you maintaining a healthy gut, providing the environment needed to support good bacteria, and maintain the level of bad bacteria? What might you be eating that is causing the intestinal walls to become damaged? And last, but not least, are you doing everything you know to support your liver? Each of these systems is intimately connected, and both the good and bad news is this; doing nothing for one affects all, and doing something for each affects your entire body.
Do yourself a big favor. Start looking at these five things. Androgen balance, blood sugar maintenance, cortisol production, a healthy microbiome and taking excellent care of your liver. Your skin should clear up, and your overall health will improve dramatically. Seek professional guidance if you’re not sure what to do, Clear skin is possible! See for yourself!