According to a new study presented at the Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology which is held until October 13 in Madrid, people prone to acne tend to eat more sugar than others. Stress, diet and the use of skin care are also risk factors.
Who has never had acne? Today, it is estimated that this dermatological disease linked to the hypersecretion of sebum and keratinization anomalies, would affect one in 10 people in the world. And the people affected are not just teenagers: acne is also thought to affect up to 40% of adult women. But how to permanently get rid of these unsightly pimples that ruin our lives?
If we have little control over our hormonal upheavals and even less over the genetic factors that predispose us to acne, changing our lifestyle can nevertheless help to calm things down. Because according to a study presented at the Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology which is held from October 8 to 13 in Madrid (Spain), a diet too rich in sugar, stress and pollution are risk factors for acne. And, although many women tend to spread creams and multiple dermatological treatments in the hope of making their skin problems go away, these treatments could actually make the situation worse.
By following 6,700 people in six countries in North America, South America and Europe, the team of researchers led by Pr Brigitte Dréno, dermatologist at Nantes University Hospital, found that subjects suffering from acne tended to consume more dairy, soda, chocolate, pastries and sweets than others. So the old adage that chocolate causes pimples is not a myth.
“Rubbing, massaging acne-prone skin aggravates the lesions”
Unsurprisingly, the researchers were also able to observe that participants with acne were more exposed to pollution or to stress, as other studies have already shown. Finally, skin care, supposed to solve skin problems, could sometimes cause the opposite effect, say the scientists.
“These treatments must respect the pH of the skin, which is around 5, whereas the majority of soaps are at 8”, explains Professor Brigitte Dréno. “You should not use masks, scrubs, peeling when you have acne. Rubbing, massaging acne-prone skin, aggravates the lesions. Without knowing it, patients attack their skin”, she continues.
Moreover, although cigarettes have already been pointed out as a potential trigger for acne, this study did not show any link between smoking and skin problems.
Due to its visible nature, acne has a significant psychological impact on the patient’s quality of life and self-esteem, the researchers point out. “Acne is one of the most common reasons people with skin problems contact a dermatologist. Its severity and response to treatment can be influenced by internal and external factors, which we call the exposome. For the first time, this study allows us to identify the most important exposure factors linked to acne from patients’ questions before any treatment prescription”, concludes Professor Dréno.
Sex hormones in play
In France, about 15 million people are affected by acne. Retentional acne is characterized by shiny skin, dilated pores and the presence of blackheads (comedones) and whiteheads (microcysts). Inflammatory acne corresponds to a microbial proliferation inside these blackheads and whiteheads. At this stage, papules and pustules may appear, or even nodules. Finally, cystic acne is caused by untreated or poorly treated inflammatory lesions that have led to changes in the very structure of the skin and often scars.
Sex hormones having an important role in the development of acne, adolescents are the first to be affected by this dermatological problem. However, women suffering from an excess of male hormones can also be affected.
This is why some dermatologists will advise them to take a contraceptive pill in order to regulate their hormones and calm the acne. But, in addition to any antibiotic or hormonal treatment prescribed by the dermatologist, a healthy lifestyle is essential for beautiful skin, as demonstrated by the study presented above.
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