Acne? Sex won’t help, dietary modification will.

It’s infuriating. Just at the time when a boy or girl pays so much attention to their appearance, their face becomes covered with unsightly festering sores. What to do about it? Cosmetics alone won’t help here, the remedy has to start from within, and it has to go very deep – right down to the level of our DNA.

Few people can avoid it – around 85% of individuals suffer from acne during puberty. But it often persists even later – at the age of 20, it still affects almost half of the population. However, at least its intensity can be influenced very effectively, especially by adjusting diet and lifestyle, as well as by using specific dietary supplements.

When hormones go crazy

“Hormones are to blame”, it used to be claimed about the causes of acne. This is true, but only in part. Sex hormones from the androgen group, which start to be secreted in large quantities at puberty, bind directly to the nuclei of cells where our genetic information is located. There, they then interfere with so-called cell signalling – that is, the system of biochemical processes that signal cells to multiply, for example. In addition, they stimulate the sebaceous glands in the skin, the product of which then serves as food for the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes – the actual cause of the problem.

But sex hormones are not only secreted at puberty, their production continues throughout most of adult life. So if acne was caused by them, it would hardly disappear with the end of puberty for most people.

What are the genes responsible for?

The susceptibility to acne is largely due to genetics, specifically those parts of DNA in which the CAG nucleotide triplet is repeated. If these parts tend to be shorter, the individuals concerned are more prone to acne in adolescence and, perhaps, to baldness in adulthood.

But besides genetics, there are also epigenetic influences at work. As we have repeated many times on this website, the presence of a certain gene in our DNA does not mean anything. What is also important is whether this gene is switched on, i.e. whether the body can “read” it and make proteins according to it. The switching on and off of genes happens through so-called epigenetic reactions, the course of which we can largely influence ourselves, especially by our lifestyle.

And epigenetics is a major contributor to acne. In addition to the aforementioned effects of sex hormones (influencing cell signalling is also one of the epigenetic influences), insulin-like growth factor IGF-1 (Insulin Like Grow Factor) plays a role.

Attention to insulin

IGF-1 explains why acne usually disappears after puberty. It is the main growth factor of puberty, which activates the tumultuous bodily changes that take place during this period, and its production drops significantly after puberty.

As the name suggests, the main purpose of growth factors is to promote growth, i.e. anabolism. A side effect is that what is not supposed to grow also grows – IGF-1 also promotes proliferation (i.e. rapid cell multiplication) in the sebaceous glands, for example. It also influences the production of the nuclear transcription factor FoxO1 (transcription factors influence transcription, the first step in the process of transcribing a gene to make RNA from DNA).

Inflammatory processes, which are also regulated by a number of epigenetic mechanisms, also play a role. Therefore, if we manage to reduce the overall course of inflammatory processes in the body, acne will also subside.

Start from the diet

A change in diet is an absolute essential in the treatment of acne. What should we focus on?

Less sugars
Excessive consumption of sugars is one of the very important negative epigenetic factors affecting many processes in the body and the risk of many serious diseases. And it is also involved in the development of acne.

As the phrase “insulin-like” in the name of the growth factor IGF-1 suggests, the hormone insulin, which is secreted by the body when carbohydrates are ingested in the diet (insulin controls the storage of glucose from the blood into the storage polysaccharide glycogen), plays a role. IGF-1 and insulin then work together to suppress the production of the transcription factor FoxO1, an important part of the mechanism of acne formation.

Excessive consumption of sugars also promotes the production of microRNA-21, which also affects FoxO1 production and also promotes the production of interleukins, which are involved in inflammatory processes. In addition, the increased production of microRNA-21 occurs mainly in macrophages, immune cells that play a crucial role in inflammation.

Less dairy products
Whether or not consuming milk and milk products is good for humans (with the exception of infants) is hotly debated. However, there is no dispute about their contribution to acne – the first research to prove this was carried out in 1885!

Milk is primarily a food for the nourishment of young animals and therefore contains a number of growth factors that promote anabolism (i.e. cell proliferation and tissue growth). At puberty, however, it is these growth factors that are involved in the aforementioned proliferation of cells in the sebaceous glands. Milk also promotes cell signalling by the growth factor IGF-1 and the production of micro RNA-21).

For its anabolic effect (and of course for its easily digestible protein content), milk or whey is a popular part of athletes’ diets and the basis of sports supplements, such as recovery drinks. It is no coincidence, however, that bodybuilders who consume a lot of it often develop acne even in adulthood.

Saturated fats
Excessive consumption of saturated fats promotes the production of interleukins, which are involved in inflammatory processes. Particularly harmful here are palmitate and similar saturated acids, which are abundant in fast food products, for example.

Useful dietary supplements

Dietary changes should be supplemented with other positive epigenetic factors, such as regular exercise. Dietary supplements containing epigenetically active nutrients in concentrated form can be very useful.

Resveratrol, a dye from red wine, has extensive epigenetic effects and is one of the most effective agents in the treatment of acne. It has a significant anti-inflammatory effect and also has antibacterial effects, including directly against the acne agent Propionibacterium acnes. Moreover, its effectiveness has been confirmed by both internal and external administration (application of a gel containing resveratrol).

Omega-3 – these unsaturated fatty acids have extensive epigenetic effects. They have anti-inflammatory effects, regulate proliferation-related processes, and also have a very positive effect on the psyche, which is particularly stressed during puberty, and on cognitive processes.

Vitamin D3 – This epigenetic vitamin plays an important role in many areas related to the skin, and acne is no exception. Its deficiency is typical in people suffering from this problem.

EGCG – epigallocatechin gallate is one of the substances with a very complex epigenetic action. It reduces inflammation, suppresses proliferation.

What about the sex?

Although it is said that acne disappears when you start having sex, this is largely a myth that has never been confirmed. Rather, it is a coincidence, as acne often disappears spontaneously by the time a large proportion of young people start having sex.

Nevertheless, the influence of this fact cannot be completely ruled out. Finding a partner and starting a sexual life has a significantly positive effect on the psyche, and our emotions are also among the important epigenetic factors. Satisfaction with oneself, however, is definitely a more important influence than the actual effect of sex.