Free Radicals and Acne

Medical research into the causes of acne in recent years, has highlighted many more causes than what was previously understood. Teenagers, specifically teenage boys, appear to have the highest incidence of acne, and this is medically mainly attributed to the effects of the increased levels of testosterone as they reach puberty. Testosterone stimulates the sebaceous glands in the skin which results in the production of more sebum oil. Too much sebum, as most of us are already aware, causes complications in the skins natural renewal process; dead skin cells around the follicles do not shed properly and this causes the pore to become blocked. Bacteria then turn the blocked pore into a spot and the area becomes inflamed causing the unsightly appearance we associated with acne disorders.

Some ethnic groups eg. African skin types, which are relatively quite rich in sebum however, seem to suffer much less from acne disorders. GPs also report seeing more adults that are suffering with acne in adulthood, yet their skin is more often of a dry type, which confuses the traditional line of thought that the overactive sebaceous gland is the main cause of acne and associated skin disorders.

Recent research interestingly suggests however, that the cause of spots in many adults is not closely associated with sebum production but is rather associated with inflammation at the cell level. Stress, smoking, pollutants, and potentially a poor diet, all contribute to generating high levels of free radicals in our body. Free radicals are molecules that have an un-paired electron in their outer ring. We generate them naturally in our bodies as part of the natural process of oxidation ie. where we take in oxygen which our body then uses directly and converts into other substances to help feed our brain and body.

A free radical is an unstable particle that is continually searching for an extra electron to make it stable. If it manages to 'steal' that odd electron from another particle then that particle is then unstable and it then searches for an electron to make up its number. This chain reaction can be damaging to human tissue and this is what we mean when we refer to damaging free radicals in the context of skin damage.

The body has a natural defense system that helps fight free radicals - antioxidants. These are molecules which interact with free radicals in a safe way, terminating the chain reaction they cause before the molecular structure of human tissue becomes damaged. The skin care market has recognised the importance of countering the effects of free radicals for a few years now and many products claim to help counter this damaging process.

Some general tips to help reduce the inflammatory causes of acne in adults by reducing the effects of free radicals:

• There are many acne skin care products and diets which aim to reduce acne by targeting the free radicals in our body by taking on extra antioxidants. Aim to eat oily fish, fresh vegetables and fruit, flaxseeds, nuts and yogurt to help feed your bodies source of antioxidants
• If you are going to take supplements then concentrate your efforts on A, B, C and E, zinc, selenium and Omega-3 fatty acids. These all play a part in supporting the bodies natural mechanism for coping with free radicals
• Try and keep sun exposure to moderate levels as UV radiation from the sun can stimulate the production of free radicals
• along with sun protection, its a good idea to use a face cream that contains antioxidants
• Another positive effect of ensuring you supply your body with enough antioxidants is that they convert the naturally occurring amino acid tryptophan into the brain boosting serotonin which has the effect of making you feel happier
• hormonal manipulation -  seek medical advice to find out more about this option. The commonly combined oestrogen/progestogen methods of hormonal contraception have seen some positive effects. The antiandrogen, Cyproterone (Diane-35), in combination with an oestrogen has been seen to be particularly effective at reducing androgenic hormone levels. Diane-35 is not available in the USA, but a newer oral contraceptive containing the progestin drospirenone is now available with fewer side effects than Diane 35. Both can be used where blood tests show abnormally high levels of androgens, but have been shown to be effective even when this is not the case