Can you eat your way to spot free skin – what diet is best for acne skin?

By GP and Cosmetic Doctor Dr Susanne Farwer

Acne is a very common and complex disorder that can cause a lot of emotional distress to people. It’s not just a teenage disease as more and more adults are experiencing this inflammatory skin condition.

Sufferers are spending a lot of time and money to get their skin under control. Common skin care regimen to tackle the problem from the outside consists of glycolic and/or salicylic acid based products plus light-weight moisturiser with SPF.

But what can you do from the inside?

The question whether there is a connection between your diet and your spots is not a new one.

Two decades ago you were probably told that what you eat won’t affect your spots. But how can you explain, that for example, rates of acne have been documented to be extremely low in isolated hunter-gatherer communities? And vice versa, studies show that the typical Western diet (high in sugar and fat, low in fibres) is associated with a higher risk of acne.

I also find it noteworthy that there is evidence that a high consumption of milk is linked to acne but this is not the case for fermented dairy products e.g. yoghurt.

Interesting, isn’t it?

How is all this linked together?

One possible answer is called the gut-brain-skin axis. Acne sufferers are found to have lower levels of good bacteria (e.g. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) in their guts. This makes them more prone to bloating, constipation, systemic inflammation and mental health problems like depression and anxiety. International studies show that impaired gut flora reduces levels of ‘happy chemicals’ (serotonin & dopamine) in the brain. Bad gut bacteria also cause a reduction in anti-inflammatories and even omega-3 fatty acids, all essential for your mental and skin wellbeing. A healthy microflora is also regarded as a protective factor for blood sugar spikes linked to cravings and weight gain.

So, what can you do in terms of eating away your spots?

Make sure you enjoy a healthy balanced diet with lots of fresh vegetables and high quality protein intake e.g. eggs, pulses, lean meat and fish. Reduce the amount of carbohydrates to avoid blood sugar spikes that are linked to acne and mood swings. 

Go for fermented dairy products instead of milk. It has been suggested that milk is associated with acne because it contains growth hormones. Yoghurt, kefir and buttermilk are excellent alternatives. Low fat Greek style yoghurt is worth a try; it’s not only delicious but also a superior source of protein as it contains nearly twice the amount of protein as normal yoghurt. 

Consider investing in a probiotic supplement. There is sound evidence that oral probiotics lead to significant reductions in the total number of spots with a marked reduction in sebum production. There is a wide choice of different supplements to select from. My personal recommendation is OptiBac® probiotics ‘For daily wellbeing EXTRA Strength’. Definitely a premium product.

Add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet. They are known to have anti-inflammatory properties to fight acne lesions as well as mood enhancing features to tackle depression and anxiety.

Great if you manage to have 2 portions of oily fish per week but I believe the majority of us are not able to eat salmon, mackerel or sardines on a regular basis. So, getting a supplement might be a good alternative. I like Omax3™ but there are lots of other high quality products out there.

Krill oil has received a great deal of attention recently and is the supplement that everyone is talking about. It is a pure and natural source of omega 3 which also provides the antioxidant astaxanthin. Antioxidants work within the body to neutralise free-radicals and thus it is the presence of astaxanthin that sets krill oil apart from traditional fish oils.

If you are not used to these ‘extras’ in your diet, slowly add them in and think of creative ways to make eating fun so you can truly eat your spots away!

I would love to hear your comments and any success stories you have had with your diet and clearing your acne problems.

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You can follow and engage with Dr Susanne Farwer on Twitter and Facebook.

RioBlush Medical is delighted to announce that Jazz Dhariwal was  honoured with the inaugural, “Salesperson of the Year” award,  at the 2011-12 Cosmetic News Aesthetic Awards.   

We are just thrilled to see that Jazz has been recognised officially by his colleagues for what, we here at RioBlush,  have known for quite some time. 

Please join us in congratulating Jazz and this wonderful accomplishment.
  

by Lee Takeuchi

As reported by The Guardian, a small biological research company in Spain has developed a test which, some claim, can predict our expiry date.

Telomeres are structures at the ends of chromosomes comprised of hundreds to thousands of tandem repeats of the DNA sequence. The reason telomeres are so important is that they are critical in maintaining the structural integrity, positioning, and accuracy of replication of the chromosomes that carry the genes which serve as the blueprint for all our life functions. Telomere loss occurs as a natural result of normal DNA replication. The test is based on the idea that biological age can be calculated measuring our telomeres. 

María Blasco, the 45-year head of Spain’s cancer research centre and one of the world’s leading telomere researchers, explains that “short telomeres do not just provide evidence of ageing. They also cause it.” 

Blasco compares the current state of telomere testing to the beginnings of cholesterol testing. “This is a different kind of marker. It is a new, molecular marker. Even though we measure telomere length in blood cells, it has been shown to be an indicator of the degree of telomere shortening in the whole organism,” she says. Even so, she is insistent that the test is not a magic measure of individual life length. 

María Blasco says that telomeres can potentially be “re-elongated” and, hence, that biological age can be reversed but that this does not open the door to immortality. Scientists have been able to extend a mouse’s age by up to 40% but there aren’t any immortal mice out there.

Isn’t science fascinating? We think so.

Doctor Josh Berkowitz owner and renowned physician at Wimpole Aesthetics Clinic gives an overview and discussion on RioBlush Carboxy Therapy treatments and value

You´ve heard RioBlush carboxytherapy is a great treatment option for dark circles. You´ve probably heard it uses carbon dioxide gas to enhance the flow of blood within the delicate under-eye area and you´ve also probably been told RioBlush carboxytherapy can be used to successfully treat stretch marks, scar tissue, localised fat and cellulite.

Do you want to know how it actually works? Do you want to read about the science behind the “miracle”? Take a look at this comprehensive overview by acclaimed physician Doctor Patrick Treacy.

…and won’t stop you relating to those around you!

We read this weekend that Botox can impair our ability to relate to others. A North Caroline professor of psychology and neuroscience, Tanya L. Chartrand, has recently published a paper discussing how the use of Botox reduces our ability to empathise with others. 

For the study, Dr Chartrand chose two groups that could be matched on everything except their aesthetic treatment preferences. One group used the paralysing agent (Botox) and the other used a filler (Restylane).

The filler group were demographically similar to the paralysing agent group – in terms of age and gender, socio-economic status and that they had the same concerns and desires to look good.

The idea is that empathy, the way we think and feel, is grounded in our bodies. The way we understand others’ emotions is by experiencing those emotions ourselves. We do this with facial micro-mimicry. If you are wincing in pain, I immediately do a micro-wince that sends signals to my brain and, by experiencing it myself, I understand what you are going through.

If you can’t mimic someone’s wince, your brain isn’t going to be sent the same message – that I am experiencing pain – so you end up not being as accurate and not really understanding their emotion.

There’s also research showing that Botox can help people feel better about themselves but if you are looking for something to give your skin a fresh, healthy glow and don’t know where to start… why not try RioBlush Carboxy Therapy? 

 Carbon dioxide exists naturally in our bodies. Its role is to dilate the blood vessels in order to receive more oxygenated blood carrying nutrients to the muscles and, also, destroy fat cells.  

In addition to its effect on fat cells and muscles, CO2 will also increase the amount of blood reaching the tissue layer beneath the skin and, as a result, your skin will look suppler and your fibrous tissue will get thicker and firmer.

If you would like to learn more about RioBlush, you can contact us via e-mail or talk to us on Facebook and Twitter. 

That time of the year again, FACE is taking place this weekend - starting today! - and we’re there.

On Saturday, at 2.30pm, join us for a “minimally-invasive localised facial fat reduction” lecture by German dermatologist, Dr Sabine Zenker.

Dr Zenker will be sharing her expertise in the effective reduction of submental and other localised fat deposits using advanced Carboxy Therapy techniques.

You can also catch up with her during our Q&A session at the RioBlush Booth (LG 49) from 4.30 to 5.30pm.

Oh… and keep an eye out for our usherette!