About Acne Acne is the most common skin condition that affects 75-80 % of the teenagers and 40-50 % of adults.
This inflammatory skin condition comes in the form of pimples, blackheads, white heads and cysts or nodules.
Many external as well as internal factors play a role in triggering acne outbursts.
Oil, germs and dirt result in clogging of the skin pores and clogged pores trap bacteria and create perfect environment for bacteria to grow and thrive.
It is a well-known fact that above mentioned external factors and internal factors like excessive production of sebum, hormonal imbalance, stress and sluggish digestion can also lead to acne outbreak.
But recent studies have shown an association between acne and obesity.
Studies on Relation of Acne and Obesity Acne outbreaks tend to coincide with puberty and it is the most prevalent skin condition in teenagers.
Studies have found that overweight teens are at higher risk of developing acne.
A recent survey of around 3600 Norwegians between the ages of 18 to 19 was done.
This research on Norwegian teenagers found that 19 % of overweight teenage girl had experienced the problem of acne compared to 13 % of girls who fall in normal weight category.
Among the boys, the number was 14 % regardless of the weight.
This led to a conclusion that excess weight has link with acne and overweight teenagers especially girls are more likely to develop acne than their peers who are normal weight.
How Obesity increases the risk of developing Acne? Studies showed that there is a link between BMI (Body Mass Index) and acne outbreaks.
The exact reason behind this still under study but obesity brings about many changes in the body that trigger the risk of acne.
Let us have a look at the various physiological and psychological changes in the body that are associated with excessive weight and result in acne.
Hormonal Imbalance: Obesity or Higher Body mass index can cause changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis that further result in changes in puberty hormones.
Overproduction of androgens or natural steroids like estrogen and testosterone increase the production of sebum in the body.
And the overproduction of sebum is one of the causative factors behind the occurrence of acne.
Excessive sebum clogs the skin hair follicle and bacteria proliferate in the clogged skin pores.
Excessive androgen levels in the body also cause follicular cells to proliferate, hence blocking the opening of the follicle and resulting in the formation of acne.
Increased progesterone level is also a contributing factor in acne production.
According to American study, it has been observed that adolescents are starting puberty at an early age due to their high Body Mass Index.
Early puberty commencement correlates to early development of acne.
High Glycemic Index: Obesity is usually linked with unhealthy eating habits such as eating processed foods, refined sugar and untimely bingeing of high-calorie food.
Most of these foods have high glycemic value.
Glycemic index measures the effects of foods that we eat on the blood glucose levels.
Our body digests and metabolizes some physical form of the food very quickly.
Foods having high glycemic value increase the blood glucose levels instantly, whereas foods with low glycemic value do not raise the blood glucose levels.
High glycemic diet triggers insulin resistance and acne.
If obesity is due to eating high glycemic processed and refined food, then it can trigger the pre-existing acne condition.
Obese people have increased insulin activity if they are eating sugar containing foods and this promotes the development of acne.
High glycemic foods give rise to hyperinsulinemia, which further results in increased plasma concentrations of IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor.
Free IGF-1 induces epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis and causes follicular obstruction that triggers acne outbreak.
Cutting down on glycemic loads helps in losing extra calories and achieving optimal weight, all this can help acne sufferers.
Acne can be treated with the help of topical creams or ointments, oral medications to combat the growth of bacteria, dietary restrictions, relaxation techniques to relieve stress; and last but not the least weight management.
Dietary restrictions include avoiding high calorie processed food like burgers, pizzas, cookies and cakes.
Acne sufferers are benefited by making healthy choices in diet as this helps in losing weight.
Obesity plays an important role in development of acne so take some important measures to shed those extra pounds and you will not only get slimmer, toned body but also acne-free, clear skin.
This inflammatory skin condition comes in the form of pimples, blackheads, white heads and cysts or nodules.
Many external as well as internal factors play a role in triggering acne outbursts.
Oil, germs and dirt result in clogging of the skin pores and clogged pores trap bacteria and create perfect environment for bacteria to grow and thrive.
It is a well-known fact that above mentioned external factors and internal factors like excessive production of sebum, hormonal imbalance, stress and sluggish digestion can also lead to acne outbreak.
But recent studies have shown an association between acne and obesity.
Studies on Relation of Acne and Obesity Acne outbreaks tend to coincide with puberty and it is the most prevalent skin condition in teenagers.
Studies have found that overweight teens are at higher risk of developing acne.
A recent survey of around 3600 Norwegians between the ages of 18 to 19 was done.
This research on Norwegian teenagers found that 19 % of overweight teenage girl had experienced the problem of acne compared to 13 % of girls who fall in normal weight category.
Among the boys, the number was 14 % regardless of the weight.
This led to a conclusion that excess weight has link with acne and overweight teenagers especially girls are more likely to develop acne than their peers who are normal weight.
How Obesity increases the risk of developing Acne? Studies showed that there is a link between BMI (Body Mass Index) and acne outbreaks.
The exact reason behind this still under study but obesity brings about many changes in the body that trigger the risk of acne.
Let us have a look at the various physiological and psychological changes in the body that are associated with excessive weight and result in acne.
Hormonal Imbalance: Obesity or Higher Body mass index can cause changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis that further result in changes in puberty hormones.
Overproduction of androgens or natural steroids like estrogen and testosterone increase the production of sebum in the body.
And the overproduction of sebum is one of the causative factors behind the occurrence of acne.
Excessive sebum clogs the skin hair follicle and bacteria proliferate in the clogged skin pores.
Excessive androgen levels in the body also cause follicular cells to proliferate, hence blocking the opening of the follicle and resulting in the formation of acne.
Increased progesterone level is also a contributing factor in acne production.
According to American study, it has been observed that adolescents are starting puberty at an early age due to their high Body Mass Index.
Early puberty commencement correlates to early development of acne.
High Glycemic Index: Obesity is usually linked with unhealthy eating habits such as eating processed foods, refined sugar and untimely bingeing of high-calorie food.
Most of these foods have high glycemic value.
Glycemic index measures the effects of foods that we eat on the blood glucose levels.
Our body digests and metabolizes some physical form of the food very quickly.
Foods having high glycemic value increase the blood glucose levels instantly, whereas foods with low glycemic value do not raise the blood glucose levels.
High glycemic diet triggers insulin resistance and acne.
If obesity is due to eating high glycemic processed and refined food, then it can trigger the pre-existing acne condition.
Obese people have increased insulin activity if they are eating sugar containing foods and this promotes the development of acne.
High glycemic foods give rise to hyperinsulinemia, which further results in increased plasma concentrations of IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor.
Free IGF-1 induces epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis and causes follicular obstruction that triggers acne outbreak.
Cutting down on glycemic loads helps in losing extra calories and achieving optimal weight, all this can help acne sufferers.
Acne can be treated with the help of topical creams or ointments, oral medications to combat the growth of bacteria, dietary restrictions, relaxation techniques to relieve stress; and last but not the least weight management.
Dietary restrictions include avoiding high calorie processed food like burgers, pizzas, cookies and cakes.
Acne sufferers are benefited by making healthy choices in diet as this helps in losing weight.
Obesity plays an important role in development of acne so take some important measures to shed those extra pounds and you will not only get slimmer, toned body but also acne-free, clear skin.