Acne, Inflammation and the Importance of Good Nutrition

The beauty business is booming in the UAE and is expected to grow even more by 2021. What are the most popular skin concerns?

I recently had the pleasure of sharing my expertise during the Little Black Book segment on Dubai Eye 103.8 and answering listeners burning questions. Although the questions were all different, they tended to center on three common themes: acne, inflammation, and good nutrition.

[playlist ids="8420"] Acne is a common concern, whether you’re a teen or you’re well into adulthood. No one wants to look in the mirror and see that a spot has erupted on their chin or nose. What’s the common culprit behind acne? Inflammation. But, inflammation doesn’t only cause and worsen acne, it also causes redness and exacerbates other skin issues as well. In fact, there’s been a major increase in the occurrence of inflammatory skin issues, including acne and rosacea. Although stress can influence inflammation, the biggest cause may be lurking in the kitchen cupboards.

Healing the skin from within

Most people who are dealing with acne, rosacea and other inflammatory conditions head to the doctor to help them manage these conditions. Doctors are limited in what they can offer and often prescribe antibiotics. The bad news is antibiotics, especially prolonged use of them can actually worsen inflammatory skin conditions. While antibiotics may address certain symptoms, they don’t address the root cause of inflammation: Diet They say you are what you eat and if your diet is full of sugar and processed foods, it’ll show up on your skin. And, if you’re diet is full of sugar - a known inflammatory - you’ll be faced with a skin flare up. If you want to heal acne, you have to start with what you’re putting in your body and making beneficial lifestyle changes.

Keep a food diary

Although we may have a general idea of what we’re eating, we may not read the labels of the packaged foods we eat. As a result, we have no idea how much sugar we’re actually eating. Sugar is often added to a variety of foods, including our favourite sauces and dressings. To see how much sugar you’re ingesting in a given day, keep a food diary and note the main ingredients of the foods you eat, including the percentage of sugar in the product.

Eat whole foods

Whole food nutrition is by far the best way to ensure your body, and subsequently, your skin gets all the nutrients it needs to keep inflammation at bay and truly feed your skin. Fill your plate with superfoods - the whole rainbow of delicious fruits and vegetables - that are full of antioxidants that fight the free radicals your skin is faced with every day.

Boost gut health

Some studies show that people who have inflammation issues have stomachs that are low in hydrochloric acid. To replenish gut health, eat more greens! This includes giant salads that are full of greens, including kale and rocket, as well as your morning green smoothie. Celery juice is another delicious way to get more greens and increase gut health. Focus on adding more greens to your daily diet and before long, your skin will glow with good health.

Reduce stress

Since stress often triggers acne and inflammation, look for healthy ways to reduce stress. This includes yoga and meditation, which can calm you down and help you process your stressors accordingly.

Skin products that improve skin health

Once you’ve begun to make important lifestyle changes to your diet, turn your attention to your skincare routine. If you’re like most people, you’ve applied products with harsh chemicals to your skin to deal with your skin concern. Irritating ingredients only make the issue worse. Irritants like Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) can worsen skin conditions. Additionally, harsh acids can strip the skin’s natural oil and dry it out. Instead, look for products that contain natural plant-based ingredients that also contain lactic acid and salicylic acid. These ingredients work at the cellular level to treat acne-prone skin and help it heal.

Products to add to your acne-fighting skin care routine

After cleansing, spray Purity Balance Exfoliating Prep onto your hands and pat on your face to balance and tone your skin before applying other products. Purity Balance removes excess oil and impurities and also improves the ability of the skin to absorb active ingredients. It contains Lactic Acid and Salicylic Acid making it ideal for acne-prone skin. Three times a week, apply the Clear Clarifying Mask to remove impurities and excess sebum from the pores. The mask contains both clay and sulfur to detoxify the skin and minimise pore size without stripping the natural barrier function. It also contains salicylic acid to help clear spots and prevent new breakouts from occurring.