Acne Vulgaris |
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Acne bacteria exists on everyone’s skin and it is presumed to make some symbiotic contribution to the skin, though the details of its benefits are unknown. In of itself, acne is not a bad thing. Problems arise, however, when acne bacteria is allowed to reproduce freely on the skin. Under normal conditions, the skin’s acidic pH will limit the growth of many bacteria, including acne. But if pH levels increase slightly, closer to 7 (neutral pH), the skin will have lost all of its ability to prevent an overrun of bacterial and fungal growth. With acne bacteria reproducing as fast as there is sebum to feed it, open pores now become prime candidates for infection.
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| How does a pimple form? |
The sebaceous glands produce sebum (often in excess during the summer months) which then bonds with nearby dead skin cells. The resulting substance can readily plug pores, much like a cork to a wine bottle. If acne bacteria has been allowed to reproduce without restriction, there is a high likelihood some of it will have been trapped in the pore. Since acne feeds off of skin oils, it begins to replicate within the sebaceous gland. The growing number of acne bacteria in the clogged pore then triggers an immune response, and white blood cells rush to the clogged pore to kill off the bacteria. This immune response is what is responsible for the inflammation, or pimple, that is visible to the naked eye.
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| What can I do about acne infection? |
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It’s imperative to keep your skin away from alkaline substances like common soaps (check for active ingredients like sodium carbonate or sodium palmitate) and detergents. Cleanse your face and body with pH-balancing products like KAVI Cleansing Bars and make sure to wash your clothes with a pH-neutral laundry product like all-natural, bio-degradable KAVI Laundry Cleanser. Remember, the preservation of the skin’s hydrolipidic layer is your first line of defense against acne infection.
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| Can what I eat have an impact on my acne? |
Despite all modern wisdom asserting the contrary, diet can have a significant impact on your skin’s likelihood to become inflamed and irritated. If anything, some people have allergies to certain foods and are unable to properly metabolize certain substances. It is important to determine if you have any sensitivities to certain foods. Though each person is different, there are a growing number of cases where people are unable to properly break down ingested animal fats. In those cases, it is believed some of the undigested animal fat is expelled by the body through the skin. This fat has a much higher tendency to clog pores than sebum. The most problematic foods have been red meat, pork, and whole milk. It is recommended you give up these foods for 2 weeks to determine whether your acne improves. It may be hard to give up hamburgers, bacon, and pepperoni pizza, but that’s a choice you need to make for yourself.
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| There are so many acne solutions out on the market. Do they all work? |
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It seems every year the number of people suffering from acne increases. The segment of the skincare market devoted exclusively to acne treatment has burgeoned into a billion dollar business. And unfortunately, those seeking a cure are more than willing to throw good money after bad in the hope that the next "cure" will be legitimate. There are countless products out there and many of them just don’t work.
Of all the solutions available on the market today, there are a handful of substances able to create some statistically significant impact on the effects of acne. Though these substances are not equally effective, they are the only ones out there which can make any difference at all. Remember, acne infections are a result of excess sebum, dead skin cells, and abundant acne bacteria on the skin. If a product doesn’t serve to curb any of these three elements, then it probably doesn’t work. |
