Acne - It's More Than Just A Bacterial Infection
Propionibacterium acne, better known as P
Propionibacterium acne, better known as P. acnes, is the bacteria associated with the lesions better known as Acne Vulgaris (common acne). The bacterium itself has been the main focus of many treatments, and many therapies ranging from drugs, to topical medications, to ultraviolet light have been used to combat its growth. It is a naturally occurring bacterium that lives on the skin of most people and at normal levels presents little problem.
Medical science has presented us with a somewhat conflicting and incomplete view of the disease, and how it forms. To treat acne we are usually directed to products targeted at killing the bacteria alone. The established views of the causes, and what treatments should be used have changed dramatically over the last century. Drugs like Isotretinoin (Acutane) and other retinoids, tetracyclines, and benzoyl peroxide offer some promise at treating acne, but these drugs can have serious side effects. Some acne drugs like Isotretinoin can be very dangerous, especially to pregnant women. The only solid answer on the subject of the cure for acne given by medical science is that there is none.
We know the general process of how an acne lesion forms. Skin cells reproduce too fast and fail to shed properly. Oil glands are over stimulated and produce excess oil thus creating a plug in the pore. The excess oil promotes the rapid growth of the acne bacteria, which create chemicals that damage the lining of the pores. This process can allow other bacteria to spill into the skin, and also causes the natural process of inflammation.
We can look at the process as a combination of many factors, but the underlying cause is a blockage in the pore, a malfunctioning of the skin. There are many authorities who go into great detail on the entire process, but this author is concerned with a simplified method for preventing it from happening. The medicine behind acne is incomplete, but we know enough to be skeptical about the accepted view.
Excessive oil produces blockage. Excess oil is usually produced by both sexes during puberty and for some continues to be a problem into the adult years. Sebum (the oil on your face) acts as a natural lubricant and waterproofing for your skin. It is a fatty substance, which P. acnes thrives on. It may be cause for research to question the composition of sebum in acne sufferers. According to Cheng and Russel, the composition of sebum is about 16% fatty acids. Could the foods we eat, and other factors, be upsetting the natural chemistry of the oil on our face by making it more susceptible for digestion by the acne bacteria( which thrive on fatty acids) even at normal levels? That question will have to be left for another time. As new science comes in we'll understand the links between our diet and acne more fully.
Most ailments start with an external stimulus. Obesity, Cancers, Cardiovascular Disease, nutritional deficiency, sickness, poisoning, etc. can all be caused by external factors. Why should acne be considered any different? We know that even ancients dealt with acne. We also know that this disease affects about 80% of the population between the ages of 11 and 30. What we may not realize is that the diet of the average American contains about 120lbs of sugar (Clapp, 2005) per year. Americans' intake of high - fructose corn syrup has doubled since 1980. Teenagers, the ones most likely to be affected by acne, are also among the worst eaters. Take a look at a few statistics:
In 2005, the percentage of students in grades 9-12 who reported eating fruits and vegetables five or more times per day was 21.4 percent for males and 18.7 percent for females.
The average daily intake of total fat in the United States is 79 grams (91 g for males and 67 g for females) (NHANES 1999--2000 NCHS)
The average daily intake of saturated fat in the United States is 27 g (31 g for males and 23 g for females) (NHANES1999--2000 NCHS)
More than 60 percent of young people eat too much fat, and less than 20 percent eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day (BRFSS, 2000).
The recommended daily intake of dietary fiber is 25 g or more. Americans consume a daily average of 15.6 g of dietary fiber (17.8 g for males and 13.6 g for females). (NHANES III [1988--94], NCHS)
Most Americans consume less than one serving of whole grains a day, but between the early 1980s and 2000, consumption of refined grains increased. (Refined grains include white, whole whole-wheat and durum flour, all of which have less nutritional value than whole grains.) (Putnam J, et al. U.S. per capita food supply trends. Food Review [USDA]. Winter 2002. Available at: )
The diet of the average American contributes to many preventable diseases. When it comes to acne, we should consider the many factors that underlie the problem, and start thinking of it as a preventable disease also. Acne medications may be great at cleansing the skin, and helping alleviate the problems on the surface. Prescriptions may do well at killing bacteria. The underlying causes of acne, however, are more than just a bacterial infection.
by: katchang
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