Tag Archives: inflammation

Women, Stress, and Acne

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Today’s blog is inspired by an interview request I received from the UK concerning the significant rise in adult women visiting their dermatologist for acne. It is absolutely true that our hard economic times, and the general ‘bad’ news coming from all sectors, internationally as well as domestically, is contributing to a major increase in acne flare ups.

Stress is a proven precipitator of acne. Yes, men also suffer from stress, but because of their hormonal differences, adult women are much more adversely affected. Recent statistics from the American Dermatology Association report that the median age for patients suffering from acne has been gradually increasing. Earlier it used to be 20.5 years, whereas now it is approximately 26.5 years or age. More than 17 million adults are diagnosed with acne in the US, of which 50 % are adult women and 25% are adult men.

It is a sad but true fact that acne often rears its ugly head at the most inopportune times possible. Acne has an uncanny knack for flaring up just in time for that big date, job interview, wedding day or other special event in our lives. This happens with alarming frequency – far too often in fact to chalk it up to “bad luck” or coincidence. There is a physiological reason for these untimely flare-ups and its name is stress.

Of all of the physical conditions we experience, stress is the most deadly. Many circumstances create stress in our daily lives. Arguing with family, friends or colleagues, not getting enough sleep, worrying, working too hard or even playing too hard can all create stress. Weekend warriors, who try to make up for a week of inactivity by spending hours engaged in strenuous physical sports, raise their stress levels to an unhealthy degree. Any activity that is practiced without moderation can lead to a stress response. This is extremely important to remember if you hope to gain control of your acne flare-ups.

For those of you familiar with my work in the anti-aging field, you know that elevated levels of the hormone, cortisol (also referred to as the ‘death’ hormone) are very destructive to the body. Elevated cortisol levels cause an increase in blood sugar. This in turn causes an instant response from our cells as they enter an extreme pro-inflammatory mode. Because acne is a systemic, inflammatory disease, any increase in inflammation will result in an increase in the length and severity of the outbreak.

Mars vs. Venus, Androgens and Acne
When our blood sugar and insulin levels rise, whether from a poor diet or from stress, we experience a serious increase in inflammatory chemicals at a cellular level. This causes inflammatory diseases such as acne to worsen dramatically. Cortisol and other adrenal steroids can act as androgens and stimulate the sebaceous (oil) glands resulting in a flare-up of acne. Although men are affected by stress and pro-inflammatory cortisol response, women suffer from both the pro-inflammatory cortisol-sugar-insulin connection, as well as the effect of the male-type hormones. Men are not affected from high levels of androgens in the same way that women are. Women are most susceptible to adrenal hormone stimulation because most of the women’s androgens are synthesized in the adrenal glands. The stimulation of the oil glands results in changes such as the clogging of the pores and increased secretion of pro-inflammatory fatty acids. These pro-inflammatory fatty acids release the chemical messengers known as cytokines, and so the inflammatory fire is fed. Men with high levels of androgen circulating do not suffer from the androgen affect like women.

The Top Ten

But the news is not all bad. We can learn how to lower cortisol levels and stop acne before it starts. Follow these simple rules and you will enjoy lowered stress levels, increased energy, elevated moods and sense of well-being and clear, radiant skin.

1. Follow the anti-inflammatory diet,
2. Make sure that you get enough sleep
3. Try to minimize stress in your life
4. Don’t drink coffee. Coffee contains many organic acids which affect our blood sugar and cortisol levels. It is not specifically because of the caffeine because you can drink a cup of decaffeinated coffee at 8 AM and your cortisol levels will still be measurable at 10 PM –the same effects as a cup of regular coffee.
5. Set aside time for meditation, prayer or a walk in Nature. It is a well- established fact that people who do this have significantly lower cortisol levels. Long term benefits include keeping our skin clear, maintaining a healthy immune system and preventing age-related diseases, such as diabetes, cancer or cardiovascular disease
6. Consider learning some simple Yoga exercises. Substitute green tea for coffee.
7. Make sure that there are plenty of essential fatty acids in your diet because essential fatty acids can decrease cortisol levels.
8. Take nutritional supplements including alpha lipoic acid, zinc, DMAE, pantothenic acid.
9. Add essential fatty acids such as borage and evening primrose oil which are rich in linoleic acid. Acne sufferers have a low concentration of linoleic acid in their sebum and the levels decrease as the acne increases.
10. Adopt a loving, non-judgmental pet

I have often wondered how so many of Hollywood’s most stunning faces manage to have such clear complexions, given the high level of stress in the entertainment industry. The answer may be that a great many of them are huge pet lovers. Think Oprah, Jessica Alba, Heidi Klum, Rachael Ray, Paula Abdul, Jessica Biel, Julia Roberts, Demi Moore, Elizabeth Taylor, just to name a few. Perhaps this is the ideal ‘prescription,’ for beautiful, luminous, acne-free skin.

As an active researcher, I welcome your comments and suggestions.


View PerriconeMD acne products here

10 Dirty Little Secrets about Body Fat

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10 Dirty Little Secrets about Body Fat

By Nicholas Perricone, MD, FACN, CNS

There are many reasons to embrace Paul McCartney’s suggestion for “No-meat Mondays/giving up meat one day a week.” In fact, unless you are eating 100% grass-fed meat, I recommend cutting back on overall meat intake. This is not just environmentally sound, it is sound from a health/longevity viewpoint. Grain-fed meat lacks CLA, which influences body fat and lean muscle, and the omega-3 fatty acids, which are as close to a health, beauty, longevity and weight-loss magic bullet that we can get. Grain-fed meat is also high in pro-inflammatory saturated fat. Consuming a lot of these saturated fats leads to the accumulation of visceral fat. 

The Truth about Body Fat

This past decade has seen a turnaround in the way scientists regard white adipose tissue—better known as body fat, perhaps two of the most dreaded words of our generation. There are many theories as to why so many people are afflicted with excess body fat today, when twenty or thirty years ago this was not the case. Instead of feeling guilty and depressed, we need a basic understanding about the danger of excess body fat and to be vigilant in our food choices. 

Dirty Little Secret #1

There are two types of fat: subcutaneous (under the skin) and visceral (found in the abdomen and surrounding vital organs). Visceral fat is of greater concern because it surrounds vital organs and is metabolized by the liver, which turns it into blood cholesterol. Consuming large amounts of saturated fat and/or performing little physical activity results in high stores of visceral fat.

Dirty Little Secret #2

We now know that body fat is not just an inert deposit of fat cells, stored as the result of overeating. These areas of fat storage are actually an active endocrine organ. 

Dirty Little Secret #3

Body fat produces hormones, as does our pancreas, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, pineal and pituitary glands and testes/ovaries, the organs that comprise the endocrine system. These secreted hormones, known as adipokines, can contribute to systemic, low-grade, chronic inflammation.

Dirty Little Secret 

Body fat, as a group of cells, communicates with other organ systems such as the brain, the liver, the bone marrow, skeletal muscle, the adrenal cortex, the sympathetic nervous system and the complete immune system.

Dirty Little Secret #5

This agglomeration of fat cells, now an active endocrine organ, has the unique distinction of being the only endocrine organ to send pro-inflammatory and destructive signals to all organ systems, creating a spectrum of problems in every organ system, from bone growth to sexual reproduction.

Dirty Little Secret #6

Body fat directly impacts appetite, energy and our immune system. 

Dirty Little Secret #7

Body fat itself controls how much body fat is going to be stored, and the greater the amount of fat we have stored, the greater its negative influence on the entire body—an extremely destructive, inflammatory influence.  

Dirty Little Secret #8

A large storage of body fat can be so overwhelming to the system that the fat cells have to secrete hormone-like substances to increase blood vessel growth necessary to feed the accumulation of fat. 

Dirty Little Secret #9

Blood vessel growth cannot keep up with the rapidly growing mass of fat cells, which then begin to become oxygen-starved. These oxygen-starved cells start releasing inflammatory chemicals to further trigger blood vessel growth. 

Dirty Little Secret #10

When we are obese, muscle is constantly converting to fat.


The Alpha and the Omega

The truth about body fat reads like a frightening 1950’s pulp science fiction story, like Steve McQueen’s memorable debut film, The Blob. But, in fact, an escape from this real-life horror story is detailed in The Perricone Weight Loss Diet (Ballantine Books 2006)—and although there is plenty of science, there is no fiction about it.  

This is why it is critical to take a powerful anti-inflammatory approach to dieting. It is the inflammatory chemicals, such as NfkB, that block the effects of insulin—whether it is to metabolize blood sugar or to nourish muscles with amino acids. 

Excess insulin and high blood sugar put a lock on body fat, ensuring that those fat cells are going nowhere. Avoid pro-inflammatory, sugary, starchy foods and beverages, body fat’s greatest allies. The high omega-3 content found in wild salmon, anchovies, sardines and other cold-water fish, along with fish oil capsules, will help eliminate this toxic fat. Their essential fatty acids have tremendous anti-inflammatory properties and are key in sensitizing our cells to insulin. Omega-3 EFAs also inhibit the production of the enzyme fatty acid synthase, which plays a role in the storage of calories as body fat. 

Alpha lipoic acid, a powerful anti-inflammatory nutrient, accelerates the removal of glucose from the bloodstream, improves insulin function and decreases insulin resistance, making its use another critical strategy in the fight against body fat.

Chromium is also critical in controlling and reducing body fat. It effectively lowers blood sugar and insulin levels—the key to the anti-inflammatory weight-loss diet. Chromium helps decrease inflammation, thereby unlocking the enzymes that aid in fat metabolization, while normalizing blood lipids such as triglycerides and cholesterol, increasing levels of the “good” HDL cholesterol and lowering total cholesterol and triglycerides, making it cardio-protective.

The general population of the United States is deficient in chromium—and low levels of chromium are associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Studies have also been published noting that increased consumption of sugar depletes our body stores of chromium, placing us at further risk for hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia (too much blood sugar, too much insulin). 

As an active researcher, I welcome your comments and suggestions.

View PerriconeMD products to help manage weight

Lighten Up: Solving the Pigmentation Problem by Nicholas Perricone, M.D.

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I often receive insightful questions from my readers and welcome the opportunity to share them with you.

A recent one that piqued my interest is the following:

Dear Dr. Perricone,

Does using the Pigment Corrective make the skin more exposed to the sun and cancer, since it inhibits the production of melanin?

Fortunately, the answer to this is ‘no.’

Pycnogenol® is a key antioxidant in the Pigment Corrective formula. This remarkable antioxidant has the unique ability to lighten the skin, diminish skin discolorations, brown spots, unsightly age spots and much more. Moreover, this is the first highly effective and completely safe product to lighten and brighten skin—and when used topically and taken as a supplement at the same time, studies have found the following benefits:

• A visible improvement in the appearance and size of discoloration and brown spots
• An overall brightening of the skin
• Protection against further photo damage
• Gentle exfoliation of damaged cells
• A smoothing of fine lines
• Improved elasticity

And, while Pycnogenol inhibits melanogenesis, (the production of the pigment melanin, responsible for skin color) and lowers skin pigmentation intensity so that skin is more even toned, studies have found it to both safe and effective.

It has been noted that oxidative stress is involved in the over-production of skin pigments. Exposure to sunlight greatly contributes to further oxidative stress. In attempts to remove these over-pigmented areas, aggressive chemical peeling agents are applied to the skin, even though some are known to cause irreversible skin damage.

The good news is that a study demonstrated that oral supplementation of 30 women with Pycnogenol for one month reduced the size of skin affected by hyper-pigmentation significantly by 37%. And, more importantly, the average pigmentation intensity of women taking part in the trial was lowered by about 22%. In this study Pycnogenol was found to be a safe and effective way to achieve a fair skin free of the dark spots or patches safely and without any side-effects.

Oral supplementation of healthy volunteers with Pycnogenol was shown to help prevent UV damage and the resulting photo-aging. Pycnogenol inhibits the inflammation caused by UV-exposure and consequently protects the skin from sunburn.

In pre-clinical trials it was also demonstrated to be protective against chronic UV-exposure induced skin malignancies. These findings point to a significant photo-protective and anti-photo-aging effect of Pycnogenol.

So the news is good, as Pycnogenol helps lighten and brighten the skin while protecting it from further UV damage.

The Top 10 Weight Loss Supplements

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The Perricone Anti-Inflammatory Weight Loss Diet nutrients work in a special way to enhance loss of body fat, preserve muscle mass and regulate levels of blood sugar and insulin. They will also promote beautiful, healthy, youthful-looking skin.

  1. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)
    Alpha lipoic acid, often referred to as ‘the universal antioxidant,” is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory found naturally inside of the energy producing portion of the cell known as the mitochondria. Alpha lipoic acid enhances our ability to metabolize food into energy. ALA is a unique antioxidant because it is both fat and water soluble. This means it can go to all parts of the cell, including the lipid (fat) portions such as the cell plasma membrane, as well as the interior of the cell (known as the cytoplasm) where water soluble chemicals reside.

  2. DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol)
    DMAE is a naturally occurring nutritional substance with powerful anti-inflammatory properties; it is found in fish including wild Alaskan salmon, anchovies and sardines. DMAE is important in the production of neurotransmitters, which are essential in the communication from one nerve to another and between nerves and muscles. Taking DMAE as a supplement will not only improve your cognitive function by improving memory and problem-solving ability, it will help increase skin firmness and muscle tone—important for anyone on a weight loss or antiaging program.

  3. Glutamine
    Glutamine is the body’s most abundant amino acid. It plays an important role in keeping the muscles functioning properly and helps reduce muscle deterioration. Glutamine literally drives muscle-building nitrogen into the muscle cell where it is synthesized for growth. It is also converted into glucose when the body needs more energy. When the body is in a highly inflammatory state, it breaks down our muscle tissue to get the extra glutamine needed, resulting in muscle mass loss.

  4. Carnitine
    Carnitine and its derivative, acetyl L-carnitine, are two of the most important nutrients for weight loss. Carnitine is critical for energy formation and an active metabolism. Carnitine transports the fatty acids from our blood into the cell for this energy production. Thus, for carnitine to have optimum effect, we must have adequate essential fatty acids, such as omega 3’s, present in the diet.

  5. Acetyl L-carnitine
    Acetyl L-carnitine acts as an antioxidant, a natural anti-inflammatory that enhances the affects of the other antioxidant systems within the body. These anti-inflammatory properties protect the cell plasma membrane (the cell’s first line of defense) and prevent the conversion of arachidonic acid into pro-inflammatory chemicals. Although exercise will naturally increase our levels of acetyl L-carnitine, if we are obese, over thirty or have other health problems, it will not raise them to therapeutic levels, therefore supplementation is necessary.

  6. Coenzyme Q – 10
    Coenzyme Q-10, also called ubiquinone, is a powerful antioxidant/anti-inflammatory with many benefits for treating and preventing obesity. It acts similarly to acetyl L-carnitine in that it assists in energy production within the mitochondria. CoQ10 enhances the metabolism, giving us greater energy and endurance, a greater ability to lose body fat, preventing the energy decline seen in aging cells. CoQ10 also maximizes the burning of foods for fuel, helping to normalize fats in our blood.

  7. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)
    Conjugated linoleic acid is a fatty acid found in many of the foods we eat. At one time, beef and lamb were exceptional sources; however when their diet was changed from grass to grain, levels of CLA dramatically decreased in the meat and dairy products. CLA has powerful antioxidant/anti-inflammatory activity. It decreases body fat, especially in the area of the abdomen and helps block the absorption of fat and sugar into fat cells (adipocytes). It also helps the insulin receptors remain intact, thus increasing insulin sensitivity.

  8. Chromium
    Because Chromium is an essential nutrient for normal sugar and fat metabolism, it is critical in our effort to control and reduce excess body fat. Chromium supplementation effectively lowers blood sugar and insulin levels and can also increase levels of the ‘good’ HDL cholesterol. This lowers total cholesterol and triglycerides, thus playing a key role in regulating appetite, reducing sugar cravings, and lowering body fat.

  9. Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA)
    Gamma linolenic acid is an important omega-6 essential fatty acid. The average American diet causes a deficiency of GLA because of the large amounts of trans fatty acids, sugar, red meats and dairy products. The body rapidly converts GLA into dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid, the precursor of prostaglandin E1, a powerful anti-inflammatory hormone-like compound that helps to regulate inflammation, blood pressure, and many other bodily processes.

  10. Maitake Mushroom Extract
    Studies show that maitake mushroom extract enhances insulin sensitivity for controlling blood sugar levels and may serve as a safe and reliable weight loss supplement—even without additional behavior modifications, such as decreased caloric intake and increased exercise. It is established as a powerful tool in preventing a dangerous quartet of metabolic imbalances that increase our risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes called Metabolic Syndrome. Metabolic Syndrome consists of high blood pressure, elevated levels of insulin, excess weight (especially around the abdomen), and dyslipidemialow, or low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, and high levels of triglycerides. Read more about Maitake Mushroom benefits.

The 10 Sins of Skin Aging

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  1. Pro-Inflammatory foods (sugar and starches)
    Foods can be pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory. Avoid pro-inflammatory foods—these will promote wrinkles, a host of diseases, accelerate aging and cause the storage of body fat.  Eating pro-inflammatory foods such as sugary and starchy foods shows up on the skin as a loss of radiance, dark circles under the eyes, the loss of tone, puffiness, an increase in fine lines and wrinkles, the loss of facial contours and increased pore size.  These foods can also exacerbate acne, which is a systemic, inflammatory disease.   I am not exaggerating when I say that sugar can rob you of your youth, health, and beauty.

  2. Excessive exposure to the sun.
    Although we have all heard it a million times, excessive sun exposure will accelerate skin aging and cause skin cancer. We need to get some sun in order to absorb Vitamin D and keep our bones strong and healthy.  However, baking out in the hot sun at the beach or by the pool is very destructive to your skin, as well as to your immune system.  Excess sun exposure will cause photoaging, resulting in the following:

    Loss of skin elasticity
    Thinner, more translucent-looking skin
    Wrinkles
    Dry, rough, leathery skin
    Broken capillaries on the face
    Freckles,
    Liver spots on the face, back of hands, arms, chest and upper back
    Spots or blemishes on the lower legs and arms
    Skin Cancer

  3. Stress
    Of all the destructive, pro-inflammatory and pro-aging forces I have observed as a physician, nothing compares with the negative effects of stress. Stress causes certain hormonal changes in your body, which rapidly alters the function of the cells in your vital organs. Not surprisingly, these effects are reflected in the appearance of your skin.
     
    Stress causes the release of the hormone cortisol.  When we have large amounts of cortisol circulating in our blood streams for extended periods of time, it is extremely toxic. Our brain cells, or neurons, are extremely sensitive to the effects of cortisol. When it is circulating at a high level, cortisol causes brain cells to die. Excess cortisol can destroy your immune system, shrink other vital organs, decrease your muscle mass, and cause thinning of the skin, accelerating skin aging and wrinkling and making blood vessels under skin more prominent.

  4. Smoking Cigarettes and/or exposure to second hand smoke
    Cigarette smoke is highly damaging and aging to skin. When we inhale just one puff of a cigarette, over a trillion free radicals are produced in our lungs, which then trigger an inflammatory response that circulates throughout our body.  When we inhale tobacco smoke, the result is activation of white blood cells which line our arteries, causing an inflammatory response, predisposing us to heart disease. 
     

    In addition, there is a tremendous inflammatory response in all organs of the body —including the skin. Cigarette smoking depletes the skin of oxygen and vital nutrients including Vitamin C, critical in keeping skin youthful, moist and plumped up. Tobacco also acts as a vasoconstrictor, which means that it causes constriction of blood vessels. This reduces local blood flow to an area, and temporarily raises blood pressure.  When the blood flow is reduced to the skin it results in a gray, pallid, lifeless and unhealthy looking complexion. Smoking also causes dry, leathery looking skin, premature deep lines, wrinkles and loss of radiance.

  5. Excess Alcohol
    People generally think that alcohol is bad for the skin just because it dehydrates the body.  They incorrectly assume that increasing our water intake will counteract the problem.  Unfortunately, alcohol creates inflammation throughout the body including the skin, resulting in effects that far outlast dehydration.  The metabolites of alcohol are molecules known as aldehydes.  Aldehydes are destructive in that they cause damage to the cell plasma membrane, as well as other parts of the interior of the cell.
     

    Alcohol causes small blood vessels in the skin to widen, allowing more blood to flow close to the skin’s surface. This produces a flushed skin color and a feeling of warmth which can lead to broken capillaries on the face. The alcohol-induced dehydration also makes the skin more prone to fine lines and wrinkles.

    Dullness, enlarged pores, discoloration, sagging and lack of resilience are some of the short and longer term effects. Because alcohol alters blood flow to the skin, it will give you an unhealthy appearance that can last for days. An occasional glass of red wine can confer some health benefits for a number of reasons.  But as with everything from eating to exercise, moderation is the key.  Too much alcohol is highly destructive.

  6. Lack of sleep
    A good night’s sleep will ensure that you awake refreshed, looking radiant and youthful. Adequate sleep is vital to avoid eye area puffiness and maintain vibrant skin.  When we look at the hormone parameters during sleep, we find that sleep turns down the negative effects of cortisol and the “bad” neurotransmitters, like epinephrine and norepinephrine that can be elevated during stress. Growth hormone is released during sleep—and growth hormone is the youth hormone. The hormone melatonin is also released, which has a positive effect on the immune system and the skin. It is during sleep that we rebuild energy reserves and regenerate the body as our cells undergo a process of repair.  Studies also show that inadequate sleep leads to unwanted weight gain and a craving for fat laden and carbohydrate-heavy foods.
     

    People who exercise regularly enjoy improved sleep quality. They fall asleep more quickly, sleep more deeply, awaken less often, and sleep longer.

  7. Lack of Exercise
    There are mountains of studies proving that exercise can take off pounds, reduce incidence of heart disease, lower blood pressure, improve mood, solve sleep problems, and even cut risks of certain cancers.  Exercise will also ensure that you have beautiful skin.  Studies have indicated that exercise benefits the skin in much the same way it improves bone and muscle quality.  Without regular activity, bones become fragile and muscles atrophy.  When the skin of those who exercise regularly is examined under a microscope, the impact of their high fitness levels is clearly apparent.  The clear skin is thicker and has more and healthier collagen, the fibers that give the skin its strength and flexibility.  Exercise increases circulation and gives the skin a healthy and radiant glow.  As long as we use moderation and don’t overdo it, exercise of almost any kind has a powerful, positive, and anti-inflammatory effect on all our cells.

  8. Not eating enough protein
    This ongoing lack of protein is first notable in the face, as the features become soft looking.  The sharp definition, contoured cheekbones and that great jaw line all becomes blurred.  When the supply of protein is depleted, the body is then forced to feed upon itself.  This causes both tissue and muscle to breakdown. Protein cannot be stored in the body.  Because it is essential for cellular repair, the days that we don’t eat enough protein are the days that we are accelerating aging.

  9. Going fat free
    Healthy fats, especially omega 3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fat, have powerful anti-inflammatory effects improving skin’s moistness, texture, suppleness and smoothness.  We need good fats, such as those found in salmon, sardines and other cold water fish, extra virgin olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocado and açai (a Brazilian berry whose fatty acid ratio resembles that of olive oil).  These “good” fats will help us absorb nutrients from our vegetables and fruits, keep our cells supple, our skin glowing and wrinkle-free, our brains sharp and our mood upbeat.  We also need dietary fat to burn fat.

  10. Not drinking enough water
    Remember these key facts:  Water is important—If you do not drink water, your organs and cells cannot function.  You don’t have to overdo it—but if you don’t drink water, you cannot metabolize fat, nor can you flush wastes out of the cells.

    A dehydrated body provokes the development of aging, inflammatory compounds.  Water has great anti-inflammatory properties and will help you skin to be radiant, soft and supple—the key difference between a grape and raisin is water.

Try Perricone Cold Plasma to reduce the 10 signs of aging.

Acne Diet – More Than Skin Deep

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Think beautiful skin starts in a bottle?  Think again.  Beautiful, clear skin starts in your kitchen and has everything to do with what you put into your body.

Your skin is a direct reflection of what’s happening digestively; I like to tell our clients to think of their skin as their intestines turned inside out.  So when my clients come to me wanting clear skin yet are washing down their Doritos with Diet Coke, well…there’s work to be done in the education process.

A large part of our nutritional practice at the Flagship involves treating people with acne.  And guess what?  90-95% of our clients with acne have either been on the Pill, on antibiotics, or some combination of both.  This causes an overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria, and depletes the good bacteria present.  And acne is the residual after-effect of this imbalance.  The work we do to correct the imbalance is with a yeast-free, sugar-free diet rich in essential fatty acids and protein.  This in effect will rebuild the digestive system and restore luminous, clear skin.

PRIMO PROTEINS
Protein helps repair the skin and supports liver detoxification and hormonal balance (another culprit of acne).  The best choices include: wild Alaskan salmon and other cold-water fatty fish, chicken, turkey, eggs, Greek yogurt, whey protein, and grass-fed meats.  Choose 2-4 ounces per meal.

SUITABLE STARCHES
Since carbohydrates have the greatest impact on blood sugar and inflammation, choose them wisely.  Fruits and vegetables should be the base of your diet; you can incorporate ½ cup cooked of the following per day: barley, beans and legumes, brown rice, rolled or steel-cut oats, winter squash, sweet potato, buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth, and millet.

FABULOUS FATS
The right fats can literally make or break your health, and we all need them to survive.  Go for avocados, raw nuts and seeds, nut butters and tahini, olives and olive oil, ground flaxseeds, raw coconut and coconut oil, and grape seed oil.  They’ll correct dry chicken skin and regulate sebum production.  Incorporate at least 2 tsp of fat per meal.

STEER CLEAR…
When you’re working hard to eat healthfully, the following can quickly undo all your efforts: white flour and sugar (pasta, bread, muffins, cake, and cookies—and no, whole wheat is not any better), fruit juices and dried fruits, aged cheeses, milk, soy, vinegar, alcohol, and mushrooms.

Cleaning up your act in the kitchen will ultimately help clear up your skin.  Give your body 3-6 months for all the changes to take place.  You’ll be glad you did!

Esther Blum,MS,RD,CDN,CNS
Registered Dietitian
NV Perricone, MD Flagship
791 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10065
212.734.2537

Dr. Perricone Q&A – Acne Questions #3 – Breakouts On Forehead

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Q: I seem to experience a lot of acne breakouts on my forehead, in the area where my hair touches my skin. Why is this?

A:The oils from the hair can cause inflammation in the skin, which can clog the pores. Certain hair treatments only exacerbate this tendency. It is critical that you keep your hair clean and avoid the use of pomades, gels, etc. if you wish to reduce the probability of acne.

Try to keep the hair pulled back off of your face, forehead, and back of the neck. To treat breakouts, try using toner pads that are saturated with DMAE three times per day.

More questions? Post a comment.