Acne: nutrition plays a role

For 30 years, dermatologists have told that food had no influence on acne. Today, they are less categorical. New studies show that what we eat probably has a role in triggering or development of acne, although the mechanism is not well understood. Explanations.

Years 1970 to 2000, food was put out of action in acne but recently several findings have challenged this assertion. It remains to better understand the association between what we eat and acne.

Acne: the food too quickly exonerated
In 1941, a study suggests that chocolate, fats, meats, sweets and nuts play a role in the development of theAcne. But 30 years later, the work of Dr. Fulton diet are harmless. Dr. Fulton exonerating chocolate in 1969: a group of teenagers had received no sweet chocolate bar and another chocolate bars, but this has caused no difference in acne. In 1971, Dr. Anderson compares the effects of an exclusion diet (no chocolate milk, peanuts, coca-cola ...) and reaches the same conclusion that Dr. Fulton.

In light of these findings, dermatologists provide their patients that their acne has nothing to do with their food. But 30 years later, "These studies have been conducted with poor methodology" admits Dr. Florence Poli, dermatologist at the Dermatological Days in Paris. In the first study, we did not control the rest of the system of adolescents. Regarding the second study, there was no control group and the importance of acne was misjudged.

Acne and food, observations
Despite this, patients still believe the role of diet in the development of their acne ... And observations made in the early 2000s seem to give reason:

"The Eskimos now have acne when they had none before moving to a Western lifestyle and we noticed the same change in subjects migrants from the countryside to the city," said Dr. Poli .
In 2002 the team of Prof. Cordain is a breakthrough: it has found no signs of acne in two primitive tribes who have retained power very close to that of their ancestors. Papuans of New Guinea and hunter-gatherers of the Ache tribe in Paraguay share a common diet carbohydrates and non-dairy, contrary to Western Civilization.
A 2005 study draws a parallel between consumption milk and acne. In 2008, a study has shown that young men who drank the most milk had the biggest problems with acne.
All studies mentioned above showed a high level of hormone-insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) was associated with acne.
Acne and food, which links?
It is possible that hormone metabolism is stimulated by external factors foodborne. The Western diet is characterized by a Glycemic Index high exposure to hyperinsulinism (insulin in the blood level), which causes hormonal consequences: elevated androgens circulating production of IGF-1, reduced the activity of nuclear receptors of retinoids. All this affects the sclipped sebaceous and follicular keratinizationTwo key elements in the pathogenesis of acne.

The milk may contain hormonal constituents or molecules influencing the endogenous hormones. The stimulating factor for milk consumption could involve three factors, singly or combined: stimulating production of IGF-1 directly with milk or indirectly by an insulin reaction type secondary to high glycemic load of milk, absorption dihydrostérone or androgen precursors in milk. The culprit is perhaps the hormone IGF-1.

In conclusion, nutrition has probably a role in the pathogenesis of acne but the mechanism is unclear. For now, the prescription of a specific plan is premature. Pending further studies, people with acne may already have a balanced diet, without excess dairy products, sugars and fats.

 

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