Fish Oil for Acne

             What do fish oil and cod liver oil have to do with acne, anyway? 

 

 In a nutshell, fish oil – or rather, omega-3 fatty acids – appears to help some people clear up their skin faster.  This is because omega-3s reduce inflammation in a few different ways. At our Acne Clinic we suggest clients get on a high quality Omega 3 fatty acid when treating their skin problems. You may wonder why and how fish oil can aid in clearing acne so let's take a closer look.

  

Inflammation is a major contributor to acne, so it’s tempting to think it’s a good idea to start taking fish oil.  Fish oil contains a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, which interact with omega-6 fatty acids to reduce or end your body’s inflammatory response. 

  

When you have a really skewed omega-3:6 ratio in your diet – as in, way too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3 – your inflammation levels skyrocket. 

 Not good! 

 And for some years now, people have been using large doses of fish oil to treat inflammation by balancing out those pesky omega-6s. 

 How does inflammation relate to acne? Well, It’s responsible for the redness and swelling that makes acne so embarrassing. Reduce inflammation, and your acne won’t swell up so much (or get so cherry-red). 

 Cod liver oil, on the other hand, works to heal acne mainly because it gives you a big boost of vitamins A and D. While it also contains some omega-3s, the dosage is far smaller than what you’d get in a dose of fish oil. 

 Fish oil is basically oil that’s extracted from fish bodies, while cod liver oil is taken from the livers of codfish. Pretty simple. 

And like we said above, fish oil is a powerful source of omega-3s, and omega-3s have anti-inflammatory effects. 

What’s the big deal with inflammation? 

You see, these days, most of the common Western diet is highly  

Inflammatory. 

  

What does that mean, exactly? 

  

Well, it means that most people are eating way too many foods loaded with omega-6 fats, sugar, trans fats, and gluten, all of which are pro-inflammatory. 

  

These inflammatory foods drive your immune system to do insane things, like causing swelling where you least want it – arthritis, for example, and of course, acne. 

  

When your immune system is on constant red alert, and it stumbles across a clogged pore on that lovely face of yours, it dives in for the attack! The clogged pore becomes inflamed, red, and swollen. 

  

You see, if your immune system were healthy and normal, a clogged pore wouldn’t cause a big fuss. Your body would heal the ruptured pore pretty quickly and then go on functioning normally. No big deal! But when your body is in a constant state of hyper-immune-activation and inflammation, any little thing sets off your immune system. 

  

How do omega-3s affect inflammation? 

  

Before we get to that, let us explain a few things about the essential fatty acids: omega-3s and omega-6s. While there are many different fatty acids in the omega-3 and omega-6 families, only a couple are actually really useful and needed in the body. These are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3, and arachidonic acid (AA), an omega-6. 

  

Arachidonic acid is critical to the initiation of an inflammatory response, which is why it gets a bad rap. However, AA also turns on the cellular machinery that activates DHA, which helps to bring that inflammatory response to an end. 

  

Together, these two fatty acids are a part of an intricate chemical dance in the body that starts an inflammatory response when it’s needed and then stops it when it isn’t needed anymore. 

 (Another omega-3 found in fish and fish oils, eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, reduces inflammation mostly by interfering with AA… and therefore with the whole process of inflammation and its resolution.  

  

As you can see, omega-3 fats – namely DHA – have an incredibly powerful role in quickly helping inflammation. 

 The key here is your ratio of these omega-3s to pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats. The rub is that if the inflammation-initiating omega-6 fats aren’t balanced by sufficient omega-3s, your immune system can get vigilant.  

 Now, if you were eating like a hunter-gatherer of yesteryear – e.g. wild game, nuts, vegetables, the odd beehive – you’d have an omega-3 to omega-6 ratio of around 1:1. 

  

But in this day and age, omega-6 fats are in everything – canola oil, safflower oil, vegetable oil, corn, soy, wheat – basically most of the JFBBs (Junk Food Building Blocks) in today’s fast-food world. Most cookies, crackers, snacks, breakfast cereals, and granola bars are made primarily with these JFBBs, which, again, are highly inflammatory. 

 That’s bad news for acne! 

 In short, you’ve got to optimize your omega-3 to -6 ratio if you want clearer healthier skin. 

  

The common wisdom goes like this: fish oil gives you a huge blast of omega-3s (EPA and DHA), which is good because it balances out your omega-6 intake, reducing inflammation. 

  

And if you’re not convinced already, here’s a roundup of the key benefits to improving your omega-3 to omega-6 ratio (by reducing omega-6 consumption): 

Improving this fatty acid ratio can help… 

• Reduce redness and puffiness of acne lesions. 
• Moisturize your skin naturally, making your skin softer. 
• Reduce stress, preventing excess acne-causing sebum production. 
• Slow down skin cell over-production, keeping your pores open and free. 

• Balance hormone production, making your skin less oily. 

In addition to helping clear your skin, a healthier omega-3 to -6 ratio can also provide the following benefits: 

• Reduced joint pain. 
• Improved mood.  
• Improved brain performance.  
• Stronger hair. 
• More energy. 
• Improved cholesterol levels.

Taking fish oil can definitely help with inflammation in the body and skin. However, just taking a high quality Omega 3 fish oil will not cure your acne.  If you need help with getting your acne under control our Clinic can do just that. Visit us a UtahAcneclinic.com to see how.

Acne Scarring-How Should I Treat My Scars?

Acne Scars
 
Acne can be a devastating disorder – not only is it frustrating to have active acne in the form of spots, redness and pustules, these lesions can leave their mark in the form of scars and dark spots.

Before we talk about acne scarring, let’s address the difference between scarring and dark spots. Clients often talk about their “scarring”, but quite often what they really mean is the darkish red marks left over from an acne breakout. This is not “scarring”, this is actually called hyperpigmentation – also called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or PIH. 

When we talk about scarring, we mean marks on the skin where it is pitted. There are many different types of acne scars.

Icepick: Looks like an ice pick has been pressed into the skin. It is generally small in diameter, but can be shallow or deep.

Box: Looks somewhat like a chicken pox scar with more rounded edges. It can be small or large in diameter and is fairly deep, though not usually as deep as icepick scars.

Rolling: Looks like a smooth indentation in the skin. These scars can be deep or shallow, but are generally shallower.

Hypertrophic: Also known as keloids, which are the excess growth of scar tissue at the site of a healed skin injury. These types of scars usually take a more aggressive medical modality to see results. The following is a list of those modalities, most of which are performed in a doctor’s office:

Subcision (aka Subcutaneous incision) is a technique in which a depressed acne scar is lifted to the skin surface with a surgical instrument such as a tiny scalpel or needle. The deep portions of the scar are released and the surface elevates with the wound repair process. Several treatments are usually necessary and are performed under local anesthesia to eliminate discomfort. This procedure causes bruising which fades after about 1 week.

Fillers There are various types of fillers used for acne scars. We will mention a couple of them – Restylane®, a clear, synthetic gel made with hyaluronic acid. Silicone is another filler commonly used on acne scars. Both Restylane® and silicone are injected into acne scars to raise the surface of the skin and give a smoother look. Fillers do not last – they are a temporary solution to acne scar removal.

Scar Excision (aka Punch Excision) is a surgical method of treatment uses a scalpel or punch to remove the scar. Under local anesthesia, the scar is excised and the skin edges are then sutured together. The newly produced scar eventually fades and may not be noticeable. If it is noticeable, it is more amenable now to resurfacing techniques. Excision
is typically recommended to patients with deep pitted scaring.

Punch Elevation is a surgical method of treatment that uses a scalpel or punch to excise the base of the acne scar leaving the walls of the scar intact. The excised base is then elevated to the surface of the skin and attached with sutures, steri-strips, or skin glue. This method lessens the risk of color or texture differences as can be seen with graft replacement, and lessens the risk of producing a visible scar as can be seen when wound edges are sutured.
Laser Skin Resurfacing

Ablative lasers: Using the Erbium:YAG or CO2 laser, the skin is removed layer by layer which eliminates the scar’s surface. Simultaneously, heat produced from the laser tightens the skin, which helps to smooth out the scars. This method has a significant recovery time and is used less frequently since the advent of the Fraxel™ laser.

Nonablative lasers such as fractional laser, Smoothbeam and pulsed dye lasers do not remove layers of skin, but instead penetrate through the skin in an attempt to stimulate collagen growth from underneath the surface of the skin.

Dermabrasion or surgical skin planing, is a surgical procedure in which a surgeon removes or “sands” the skin with a rotary abrasive instrument which improves its contour and gives it a smoother appearance. Recovery from this treatment may take several weeks; but if done by someone skilled in this technique , the results can be very good.

The red marks left over from acne are frustrating – it’s bad enough to have acne, but then to be left with the red marks and scarring?  It’s just not fair.  At Skintherapy Skincare and Acne Clinic, we tell our clients that only time can fade the redness.. and it does.  It takes time, but the redness will eventually go away with the right product, and a dedicated client. Pitted and keloid scarring may take more aggressive procedures like the ones listed above. Once we clear your skin, if you are unhappy with what scarring is left behind, we will recommend seeing a cosmetic dermatologist and refer you to only the best! 

Acne Excoriee- What are the Signs and Symptoms

Acne excoriée is a type of acne that is sometimes called picker's acne because it occurs when the affected individual picks at the acne lesions. The picking exacerbates the acne and causes scars; the scarring leads to more acne and, ultimately, more picking.

The general public has a tendency to minimize the significance of the medical condition commonly called acne. It surprises many people to learn that it is, in fact, a very complicated medical condition that comes in different forms and is caused by different situations. Common acne is often diagnosed as acne vulgaris, with the word acne meaning the outbreak of pimples, of course, and the word vulgaris means common. There is another very disturbing form of acne that gets the name acne excoriee.

Acne excoriee is commonly called “picker’s acne”. The condition usually starts out like other acne outbreaks. A pimple erupts, first one, then another. For most people, this begins during the adolescent years, when the body is undergoing major hormonal changes, some of which trigger the onset of acne vulgaris. For most people, this eruption of blemishes comes at a time in life when even the little things seem big. It’s almost impossible not to poke, scratch and squeeze a bit. The problem with picking acne blemishes is that it’s unsanitary and infection can set in, causing a bigger blemish. When the acne blemishes occur on the face of someone experiencing episodes of self-doubt, and low self-esteem, however, picking the blemishes can lead to a disturbing obsession that is self-perpetuating. A vicious cycle of eruptions and picking and open sores begins that can be very difficult to stop. Excoriated acne is often accompanied by other medical maladies that are more serious, even life threatening. Major medical conditions such as depression, attention-deficit disorders, and other anxiety- and mood-related may be hiding beneath the ravaged surface.

Picking acne - why does it happen?
Acne excoriee usually begins during adolescence, when ideas of self-image are in upheaval and undergoing change, matching the changes going on with the physical body. A fragile self-image may create an atmosphere where every imperfection perceived, real or not, is distorted in significance. By picking away at the blemishes on the face, no matter how small, many people find satisfaction, as if they are picking away at their troubles or their
emotional pain. The underlying emotional trauma manifested in picking acne lesions may also be a coping mechanism. Trauma may be happening at the time the picking begins or it may be a timely outlet for previous trauma.

Popping pimples seems like a good idea at the time. It’s quick, it’s satisfying, and it leaves you with a smooth surface. Problem solved, right? It might seem like it, but every day our acne specialists see the fallout from acne that’s been overzealously picked and popped. Most commonly, popping pimples will leave you with very dark or red spots, even scabs, in the area where you picked. These marks, called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, can take months and even years to go away without chemical peels and the right product for acne scars. Picking too deep can even leave you with permanent pitted, “ice pick” scars that only laser treatments or plastic surgery can improve.

But the real problem with popping your pimples is not the appearance of the surface of your skin, but its affect on your acne overall. Squeezing a pimple damages the follicle wall deep inside your skin, encouraging further inflammation and breakouts in the picked area. You could get a cluster of pimples in the area where you popped, or the popped pimple could come back to haunt you again and again in the same place because the wall of that follicle has been compromised.

To get rid of a pimple, we recommend applying ice to the lesion for a few minutes twice a day in order to reduce redness and swelling, healing your pimple from the inside out. Or, schedule an acne treatment with us. Our acne specialists at Skintherapy Skincare and Acne Clinic can remove dead skin cells and oil from the follicle without breaking the follicle wall and spreading acne bacteria. Better yet, they can recommend the best acne products for you so that you won’t break out in the first place.

If you tend to pick at your skin while watching TV, put gloves on.  If you do it in front of the mirror, put a picture of a picked scar on the mirror as a reminder.  If you use a magnifying mirror, get rid of it!  Whatever you can do to break the cycle.

Hair Care Products and Acne

During this series on pore clogging ingredients, we have talked extensively about many different products that you use on your face, but what other types of products cause breakouts? Your hair comes in direct contact with your face most of the day, so your hair products are going to affect your acne. In fact, using acne safe products on your hair is just as important as using acne safe products on your face.

 Hair products without pore-clogging ingredients are a bit tricky to find. As far as we know, there is no special brand that creates shampoo, conditioner, etc specifically for acne prone skin. This means that we need to check all the ingredients on every bottle of hair product we buy and use.

 Natural Products:

Some clients decide to go a very natural route and make homemade shampoo to keep their skin safe or buy their hair care from a health food store. However, just because the products were handmade or from a health food store does not mean they are safe for acne prone skin. Always check ingredients before purchasing or creating a product to make sure it is safe and will not clog pores.  Our pore-clogging list is available at UtahAcneClinic.com.

If you would like to use products with a more natural base it is rather important to watch out for the following ingredients. These are great natural oils that can be very beneficial for those who do not suffer from acne, but they will cause breakouts if you are acne prone.

Cocoa butter

Mink oil

Wheat germ oil

Olive oil

Coconut oil

Coconut butter

Soybean oil

Caster oil

Other essential oils

Not So Natural Products:

We also have clients who use Pureology, ColorProof and some AG HairCare products without aggravating their acne. If you would like to go this route with your shampoo and conditioner, please check every individual bottle of product you use for new and unsafe ingredients.

If you are suffering from acne and have questions about the products you are using or on how to ultimately clear your skin, please call the Skintherapy Skincare and Acne Clinic of Salt Lake City. We are here to guide you on your journey to a clear complexion.