How to get rid of acne and pimples once and for all?

Acne and pimples may appear on our skin at any age and make us less beautiful. If they are left untreated, they can lead to permanent scarring, and it is not easy to remove the scars.

The essential step in treating acne is to diagnose the causes through a blood test and choosing the right treatment under a doctor's supervision, not to use some random generic anti-acne products, which unfortunately are prescribed by some doctors too. It should be noted that acne and pimples have different causes, and their treatments are different.

Causes of acne and pimples:

Body's inability to fully metabolize fats:

When the liver is unable to metabolize fats properly and excretes the excess fat through the bile, these fats appear as pimples or acne on our skin. This problem can have a variety of metabolic causes. To produce enzymes and break down fats, the liver needs nutrients such as B vitamins, Zinc, Magnesium, Calcium, etc., and lack of them can disrupt this cycle.

Also, an increase in some elements such as Iron and Copper can disrupt liver function, and if left untreated, it may lead to diseases such as the fatty liver.

Sometimes a lack of unsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3) lowers HDL (good cholesterol) and raises LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. HDL binds to LDL molecules, causing them to flow and be excreted in the bile. When HDL levels are low, bad fats and triglycerides increase, causing oily skin, acne and even skin cellulite.

Please do not take any supplements without a complete blood test and doctor's review. Choosing the wrong supplements may worsen the acne.

Liver function and levels of cholesterol and fats can be check through ALT, AST, ALP, Bilirubin, LDL, HDL, Cholesterol and TG blood tests.

Hormonal Disorders:

High levels of Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone and Estrogen hormones can stimulate the sebaceous glands (fat-producing glands in the skin) and cause acne and pimples.

Levels of these hormones must be checked through a blood test.

Inflammation:

Another reason that can cause acne may be inflammation, and skin can get acne without being too oily. Inflammation also causes itching and skin sensitization. It can be caused by an increase in certain minerals, such as Iron in the body. Iron overload increases the production of free radicals and results in inflammation in the tissues; this occurs because Iron attracts oxygen directly and, when it contacts delicate body tissues, the singlet oxygen molecules, detach and destroy body tissues. This mechanism is called oxidant damage or free radical damage, a potent cause of inflammation.

Iron Serum (Fe), TIBC, Ferritin are blood tests to check the levels of Iron in the body.

Also, antioxidant deficiencies will worsen inflammation and acne. Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow cell damages caused by free radicals.  Examples of antioxidants include vitamins C and E, selenium, and carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin.

If the inflammation in the body becomes severe, it may lead to other inflammatory diseases as well, such as Eczema, Alopecia Areata (a type of hair loss), etc.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a blood test marker for inflammation. CRP is produced in the liver, and its level is measured by testing the blood. CRP is classified as an acute-phase reactant, which means that its levels will rise in response to inflammation. Other common acute phase reactants include the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and blood platelet count.

Nutrition:

Sometimes certain foods cause skin allergies or stimulate the sebaceous glands and eventually lead to the formation of pimples and acne. The person may not be aware of this condition and does not pay attention to it.

Stress and Cortisol Hormone:

Stress causes hormonal and biochemical changes in the body, including an increase in Cortisol levels.

High levels of Cortisol can cause inflammation, dysfunction of certain hormones, and other problems. As I mentioned before, inflammation can lead to acne, and it has a direct relation with a high level of Cortisol. Stress also depletes the body from Zinc, Magnesium, and vitamin C, which can increase the inflammation in the skin and worsen acne.

High levels of Cortisol in the blood tests or an imbalance ratio to Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) indicates that a person is under stress, which can end up with acne, hair loss and other physical problems. Stress can have a psychological or metabolic origin.

Other Reasons:

There are other causes of pimples and acne; all of them can be detected through blood tests.

Diagnosis and treatment:

First of all, the levels of hormones, inflammation, vitamins and minerals should be checked through blood tests, and the causes of pimples and acne must be determined. The next step is to cure the root causes, not to simply take anti-acne pills such as Isotretinoin, Rakutan and antibiotics, or just use topical solutions that contain Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. These drugs do not treat the metabolic roots that cause acne but are known as generic medications and may be somewhat effective as long as they are used. Many patients that have used these drugs experienced side effects such as hair loss, dryness and skin allergies, and other problems. In other words, these drugs are not a specialized treatment for pimples and acne, and any doctor can prescribe them.

In my treatment program, appropriate supplements are recommended based on your blood test results to regulate the levels of hormones, vitamins, and minerals. This program regulates fat metabolism cycle and reduces the skin inflammation. In addition to supplements, cleansers with the right pH and anti-acne lotions that are free of harmful substances are selected according to age, gender, and skin condition.

With this program, your skin will be free of acne in a few weeks, and with the completion of the course, the causes of acne will be cured entirely. It should be noted that I do not prescribe chemical drugs. The basis of the program is supplements and natural products.

For more information on how to start treatment, please visit the Start Treatment page.