Dietary Pattern to Combat Pimples

Jeanne Jung

Contributing Writer

Acne sufferers, welcome to the hot and humid monsoons of August. Korea is not a tropical paradise, contrary to what the gullible Bette Midler was told in the 90's flick ``For the Boys,'' but even so, you may already have experienced a shinier forehead than you're used to, and worsening acne. I know I always do.

So what can be done for you on the medical front? Lucky for acne sufferers, medical scientists have created antibiotic pills, topical antibiotic and retinoid gels, chemical peels and light therapies such as photopneumatic therapy (PPX) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Chemical peels using various fruit acids and other solutions act to open and cleanse the inner lining of pores. Then, built-up sebum (an oily substance produced by glands in your skin) known as comedones are manually extracted, and then the skin is calmed using soothing facials.

Light therapies are based on a certain spectrum of light that interacts with a substance from the bacteria that causes acne breakouts. In PDT, a substance is added externally to maximize the reaction. If amplified light energy is delivered to the pores, it exerts toxic influence on the bacteria without harming our skin cells. The light is within the range of visible light, and does not cause skin cancer or aging like ultraviolet rays.

Everyday practice of a healthy life style should also be in place. Here are some suggestions and recent medical findings regarding patient diets, lifestyles and severity of acne.

Acne or blackhead patients are known to be often more depressed than the general population or patients of other skin diseases, even those with chronic brain afflictions such as seizures. Acne and depression seem to have some mutual remedies and might even share some pathological basis.

A recent report by a group of psychiatrists lists zinc, selenium and fish oil as favorable to patients with mood depression. A similar report by dermatologists shows most of these elements to be good for acne patients as well. This is only a hypothesis at this point, however strong the evidence is, but trying out a healthier diet can do no harm.

Let's go over the Do's first.

Fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids have some anti-inflammatory properties and a suppressive effect on oil secretion, meaning less acne flares. Japanese cuisine traditionally involves a lot of fish, accounting for the scarcity of severe acne patients in its population. Omega-3 oils are beneficial for brain and retinal development and also implicated in preventing coronary heart disease.

If you are egg-eating vegetarian, omega-3 enriched cereals and eggs (laid by hens feeding on flax seed and walnuts) can be of some help. One drawback in eating fish is the possibility of contamination with mercury or polycarbonate phenol (PCB).

Health care officials advise restricting intake of certain large species of fish, such as white albacore tuna, shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish, for infants and women of child-bearing age. Mackerel, salmon, shrimp and prawn are relatively safer. If you fall into the above group, visit www.otispregnancy.org/pdf/methylmercury for more information.

A certain type of polyphenol, a.k.a. ECGC, abundant in green tea acts on acne by toning down inflammation and lowering the level of male hormones in pores. Common mineral supplements containing selenium and zinc help get rid of the aftermath of acne. When it comes to the matter of clear skin, fibers may act by positively affecting hormonal balance in addition to helping the body detox.

Then, is there anything to leave out of the cart next time you hit the supermarket?

Dairy products come first in this line. Contrary to the popular belief, nonfat milk doesn't significantly lessen acne. The main culprit is not the saturated fat but the cow hormones present in milk that work similarly to those of humans. You can be assured that animal fat can also add to the deteriorative effects of milk, due to its androgenic properties.

If you do decide to cut down on milk and dairy product, please compensate by consuming calcium pills or anchovies. Your skeletal system needs to stock up on calcium by the age of forty to avoid possible fractures and osteoporosis later in life.

Second in the line of food products to watch out for are carbohydrate products with a high GI (glycemic index). The glycemic index tells us how much a certain food product raises blood sugar levels. Examples of lower GI food items are oatmeal, whole wheat bread and Muesli cereals. The more hydrolyzed and processed a carb product is, the higher GI it shows. In concordance with weight watching and managing diabetes, it's the quality, not the quantity of carbs that counts. Some researchers have appropriately designated acne as ``skin diabetes.''

As we all know, oil glands are at their worst during summer due to the temperature and humidity. So what about the dazzling sun itself? Sunlight encompasses the range of ultraviolet light as well as visible light. The latter kills acne-causing germs, but the former causes brown discoloration on acne scars, wrinkles and skin cancer. Take both lights into consideration, and avoid sunlight as a whole.

If you perspire heavily, washing your face 3-4 times a day is okay as long as you keep away from cleansing oils. Olive oil is known as one of the ``non-comedogenic,'' or not-pore-clogging, oils; however, it still can clog pores to a moderate degree when combined with the other fatty ingredients that most commercial cleansing oil products contain.

If you are acne-prone, take the time to use toner-soaked cotton pads to wipe your face after washing with water and cleansers. This last-minute cleansing step is essential in dissolving soap and makeup residue that may be left to form microscopic substances inside your pores before you apply a water-trapping coat of moisturizers. Creams and foundations should be applied minimally, especially over the T-zone area. Facial cremes containing coconut oil or cocoa butter are not intended for acne-prone individuals, however delicious they may smell.

The writer is a dermatologist who graduated from Yonsei University and trained at Severance Hospital. After years of experience in cosmetic dermatology, she is now at the Hus'hu Skin Clinic in Gangnam. For more information on Dr. Jung and the Hus'hu clinic, please visit the Hus'hu website at www.hus-hu.com or call 1588-7464 (for English Speakers) or 1588- 9467 (for Japanese Speakers).