Acne: Causes and Cures

Introduction to Acne

In this section, the speaker introduces acne as a common skin condition that affects 10% of the world's population. The speaker explains that acne is an inflammatory condition of the skin caused by a type of bacteria called P acnes.

Causes of Acne

• Adolescence: During adolescence, there is a surge in adrenal steroid hormone DHEA which stimulates the secretion of sebum, a type of oil secreted in hair follicles. P acnes love sebum and overstimulation causes an inflammatory condition on the skin.

• Androgens: Besides DHEA, other androgens can cause acne. Anabolic steroids are well known to cause acne, especially high-dose usage.

• Medications: Certain medications like lithium and anti-convulsant drugs can cause acne.

• Other Factors: Exposure to excess sunlight, wearing occlusive wear like shoulder pads or backpacks, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), pregnancy, and genetic factors can also contribute to acne development.

Impact on Women

• DHEA Supplements: Women who use DHEA supplements may experience an increase in testosterone levels leading to acne breakouts even if they have never had it before. It is recommended that women start with small dosages like 10-12 milligrams per day.

• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS increases production of androgens including testosterone which can stimulate acne development.

Severity and Scarring

• Cystic Acne: High-dose steroid regimes can lead to severe cystic acne on the back which requires treatment with isotretinoin.

• Permanent Scarring: Severe acne can result in permanent scarring.

Demographics

• Prevalence: Acne is more common in men than women and affects 20% of individuals who develop it severely.

• Ethnicity: Asians and Africans tend to develop severe acne while mild acne is more common in Caucasians.

Understanding Acne

In this section, the speaker explains what causes acne and how it is related to hormones.

Causes of Acne

• Male pattern baldness is caused by the scalp, which converts testosterone to DHT.

• Sebum production increases due to DHT binding to receptors on sebaceous glands, leading to hyperproliferation of follicular epidermis.

• Foods with high glycemic numbers like dairy products and junk food can cause or worsen acne.

• Hormonal disorders are also a cause of acne.

Factors that Worsen Acne

• Certain oil-based cosmetics can plug up sebaceous glands and cause acne.

• Premenstrual phase in women can lead to edema of the Silo sebaceous tract causing acne.

• Severe anxiety can stimulate increased production of hormones leading to acne.

Treatment for Acne

• Topical retinoids like retinoic acid and tretinoin are effective in treating basic acne.

• Retin-A stimulates collagen and elastin production reducing wrinkles and lines on the face.

• Antibiotics such as clindamycin or erythromycin gel are used for treating severe cystic form of acne.

• Benzoyl peroxide is an over-the-counter medication that is effective in treating mild acne.

Foods that Promote Acne

• Refined grains and sugars such as bread, crackers, pasta made with white flour, cane sugar, maple syrup and honey can promote acne.

The Relationship Between Insulin and Acne

In this section, the speaker discusses how insulin levels are associated with acne. They explain that insulin helps to metabolize sugar and glucose in cells, but higher levels of insulin can lead to increased acne occurrence.

Dairy Products and Acne

• Milk consumption has been linked to increased insulin levels, which are associated with acne.

• Some researchers claim that milk contains insulin-like growth factor one (IGF-1), which has also been linked to the development of acne. However, the speaker doubts this claim because orally ingesting IGF-1 would be largely degraded in the liver.

• Dairy products have been found to increase acne occurrence in some people who drink milk, especially sweetened milk.

Fast Food and Junk Food

• Fast food and junk food like burgers, McDonald's nuggets, KFC french fries are known to increase acne.

• A 2010 study of 5,000 Chinese teenagers found that high-fat diets were associated with a 43% increased risk of developing acne.

• Eating fried food alone increases the risk of acne by 17%.

• A study of 2,300 men in Turkey found that frequently eating burgers or sausages increases the risk of acne by 24%.

Chocolate and Acne

• Chocolate has long been suspected as a trigger for causing acne since way back in the 1920s.

• One study found that consuming dark chocolate led to an increase in acne lesions after just two weeks for males who were prone to developing it.

• Another study found that males given capsules containing cocoa powder had significantly more acne lesions after one week compared to those who took a placebo.

Whey Protein and Acne

• There is evidence linking whey protein consumption with an increased risk of developing acne among teenagers.

• Certain amino acids in whey protein, such as leucine and glutamine, can make skin cells grow quicker and divide faster, contributing to the formation of acne.

• Amino acids in whey protein can stimulate increased production of IGF-1, which can cause acne if it is found in the body.

• The speaker has seen about five studies that show a connection between whey and acne. However, most of these studies involve teenagers who tend to get acne anyway because they have increased production of DHEA.

Foods that Affect Acne

In this section, the speaker discusses how certain foods can cause hypersensitivity reactions and stimulate pro-inflammatory chemicals such as inflammatory cytokines which might promote acne. The speaker also mentions some foods that are beneficial for reducing acne.

Beneficial Foods for Reducing Acne

• Omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish are anti-inflammatory and have been shown to decrease acne.

• Probiotics promote a healthy gut microbiome, which is related to reduced systemic inflammation and lower risk for acne.

• Green tea reduces inflammation and might help reduce acne lesions when applied topically to the skin.

• Turmeric is anti-inflammatory.

• Paleolithic diets, which focus on lean meat, fruits, vegetables, and low grains, nuts, and legumes have been associated with lower insulin levels that benefit acne.

• Mediterranean diet focused on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans fish and olive oil low in Dairy and saturated fat has also been related to reduced acne development.

Anabolic Steroids & Acne

In this section, the speaker discusses how anabolic steroid drugs increase the chance of developing acne. The speaker also explains why not everyone who uses steroids develops acne due to genetic components.

Anabolic Steroids & Acne

• Those who use anabolic steroid drugs have a much greater chance of developing acne. If they keep taking them they will probably progress to cystic acne form leading to scarring unless treated rapidly enough with tretinoin drug.

• Oral steroids or injected steroids both stimulate DHT production and excess sebum secretion which always lays the groundwork for acne.

• Not everyone who takes steroids develops acne due to genetic heritability factors. Some bodybuilders could take huge amounts of steroids but won't get it because they don't have genetics for it.

• The same reason why some bodybuilders can take huge amounts of steroids or testosterone and never go bald while others do is due to genetic factors.

Steroids & Baldness

In this section, the speaker discusses how steroids affect hair loss and his personal experience with steroid use.

Steroids & Baldness

• At least half of young bodybuilders who used steroids lost their hair.

• Male pattern baldness has a genetic component, so not everyone who takes steroids will go bald.

• The speaker's decision to drop out of physique competition was because he didn't want to use steroids and risk going bald due to his genetics for male pattern baldness.

Steroids and Applied Metabolics

In this section, the speaker talks about his personal philosophy on steroids and how he would continue to train for health and maintain muscle. He also discusses his digital publication, Applied Metabolics, which covers a variety of topics related to health, nutrition, exercise science, anti-aging research, ergogenic AIDS, hormonal therapy, supplement science, effective fat loss techniques and women's health and fitness.

Steroids and Personal Philosophy

• The speaker talks about the plethora of drugs available today that weren't around back then like Trend below and other steroids that are using massive amounts.

• Despite this availability of drugs, the speaker says he would still use steroids but not compete. He would continue to train for health and maintain as much muscle as possible.

Applied Metabolics Publication

• The speaker introduces his digital publication called Applied Metabolics which covers a wide range of topics related to health.

• Unlike other digital publications that focus on specific areas such as nutrition or strength training only, Applied Metabolics covers a variety of topics including anti-aging research, ergogenic AIDS, hormonal therapy etc.

• The speaker claims that none of these publications can match the variety of topics covered in Applied Metabolics nor match his experience in the business which is 62 years of constant study.

• Furthermore, he claims that none of these people are professional writers unlike him who has over 50 years of experience as a professional writer.

Benefits of Subscribing to Applied Metabolics

• The speaker highlights some benefits subscribers get from subscribing to Applied Metabolics such as saving money by avoiding buying fake supplements or doing ineffective routines.

• He promises subscribers will get practical information they can use today rather than just interesting studies with low practical value.

• Additionally, each issue comes out on the first day of every month and there are no ads.

• The speaker also claims that Applied Metabolics is probably the least expensive digital publication available, about one-third the price of most other digital publications.

Additional Benefits for Subscribers

• The speaker offers additional benefits to subscribers such as an invitation to join his private Applied Metabolic Facebook page where he posts new information on nutrition, exercise science, general health and medicine every day.

• He also has an email portal on his website where current subscribers can send him short questions about anything they read in Applied Metabolics or anything else pertaining to nutrition and exercise science.

• As a service of appreciation for their subscription, he promises to answer these emails promptly. However, this only applies to current subscribers.

Applied Metabolics and Adopting a Dog

In this section, the speaker talks about two things: Applied Metabolics and adopting a dog.

Applied Metabolics

• The speaker recommends subscribing to Applied Metabolics for those who want to learn about exercise, nutrition, bodybuilding, general health, and disease prevention.

Adopting a Dog

• The speaker's dog Bruno passed away due to kidney failure. He had the dog for 20 years and misses him terribly.

• The speaker plans on getting another dog soon through serendipity or by going to a local shelter. He believes that adopting a dog is meritorious because it saves a life.

• Although he has never picked up a dog at a kill shelter before, he is willing to do so if necessary. Dogs are appreciative of being saved and will be loyal friends who will never turn their back on you.