Treat your acne safely and effectively with dietary supplements
Added 12.01.2009
The emotional and physical impact of acne can be devastating and unfortunately some people have to live with the trauma through adulthood. Pharmaceutical drugs may be effective at treating acne but they have adverse side effects and are not indicated for everyone. So what can you do if you suffer from acne? Research proves there is an easy, safe and effective way of treating acne: it's as simple as taking nutritional supplements.
Acne at a glance
Acne is a skin condition caused by an infection of the propionibacterium in sebaceous glands - glands usually found in hair-covered areas such as on the face and upper body. An increased risk of infection can develop when pores become blocked and rupture from within, creating inflammation.We tend to associate acne with teenagers and while most cases of acne are related to teenage hormonal changes, the skin condition is also prevalent among adults. Adult acne can be carried on from teen years and can occur in relation to menstrual periods, pregnancy, birth control pills, food intolerance, certain prescription medications, pollution and stress.
What can help acne?
Prescription medications can be effective at treating acne, but who wants to take a drug whose long string of side effects are far worse than the condition it is treating? Is there an alternative? Absolutely, and the best news is that it's not only easy and effective; it's also 100% safe and side effect-free.Scientific studies show that certain vitamins and minerals have a beneficial effect on acne, particularly on non-cystic acne. These nutrients include vitamin A, vitamin E, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, zinc, selenium and chromium. Combined, the vitamins and minerals resulted in a 50% reduction in non-cystic acne lesions. Scientists found that zinc can be as effective as antibiotics at treating acne and vitamin B6 reduced acne flare-ups prior to menstruation.
References:
Hillstrom L, Petterson L, Hellbe L, et al. "Comparison of oral treatment with zinc sulfate and placebo in acne vulgaris." Br J Dermatol 1977;97:681-4.
Verma KC, Saini AS, Dhamija SK. "Oral zinc sulphate therapy in acne vulgaris: a double-blind trial. Acta Derm Venereo." 1980;60:337-40.
Michaelsson G, Juhlin L, Ljunghall K. "A double blind study on the effect of zinc and oxytetracycline in acne vulgaris." Br J Dermatol 1977;97:561-6.
Leung LH. "Pantothenic acid deficiency as the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris." Med Hypotheses 1995;44:490-2.
Kligman AM, Mills OH Jr., Leyden JJ, et al. "Oral vitamin A in acne vulgaris." Preliminary report. Int J Dermatol 1981;20:278-85.
Snider B, Dietman DF. "Pyridoxine therapy for premenstrual acne flare." Arch Dermatol 1974;110:130-1[letter].
Shalita AR, Smith JR, Parish LC, et al. "Topical nicotinamide compared with clindamycin gel in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris." Int J Dermatol 1995;34:434-7.
Nazzaro-Porro M. Azelaic acid. J Am Acad Dermatol 1987;17:1033-41.
Norris J. "Azelaic acid really does work in acne—a double blind national and international study." Br J Dermatol 1987;32(Suppl):34.
