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We tell you how…
26th June, 2019
Acne—those angry looking red bumps, black and white heads—can not just affect your appearance, but also your confidence and self esteem. And while breakouts were earlier restricted to your teens, the last few years have seen people of all age groups battling with acne.
Causes & Solutions:
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Stress:
The sebaceous glands in the skin produce more oil under stress due to the raised cortisol levels.
Take action: Destressing is important, whether it’s with mediation or with exercise. Exercise releases happy hormone serotonin, thereby reducing stress. Find a workout that you love—this could include a sport as well.
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Hormonal Imbalance
Acne is triggered due to the increase in certain hormones (androgens) that stimulate the fat glands to produce sebum, leading to clogging of the skin. Apart from that, high insulin levels in the blood also increase oil production causing pigmentation and acne.
Take action: Meet an endocrinologist/dermatologist and do the necessary tests to determine how you can get your those hormones back on track. Medical treatment along with a sound nutrition plan can even reverse such acne.
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Lack of Sleep
Sleep is the body’s biggest healer, constantly repairing and restoring its functions. Lack of sleep generally leads to stress, again leading cortisol levels, which in turn lead to acne.
Take action: Get a good night’s sleep for at least 8-10 hours to see a difference.
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Wrong Diet
Consumption of highly refined grains and breads has been known to spike insulin levels, again leading to acne.
Take action: While you don’t need to go to extremes (don’t worry, we’re not recommending just soups and salads), you should have a well-balanced meals that contain carbohydrates, fats and fibre to help maintain good antioxidants levels in the body.
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Vitamin Deficiency
Zinc and vitamin D3 deficiency increases your risk to acne. Children who are vegetarians and consume more of processed and fried foods like chips tend to have higher zinc deficiency.
Take action: Cut out the junk!
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Mobile Phones
Like pollution, the touch of dirty screens on your face can also cause acne.
Take action: Sanitise your phone case and screen daily.
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Sugar
Sugar is known to accelerate the process of ageing, as well as cause acne and other skin-related issues.
Take action: Stay clear of sugary desserts, baked goods and processed foods that contain sugar.
Foods that help prevent acne:
- Whole grains like wheat, jowar, bajra, quinoa
- Berries like strawberries, blu berries, raspberries
- Nuts
- Dal/ lentils
- Vegetables like bhindi(okra), spinach, peas, carrots
- Fatty fish like mackerel and salmon
