Got Acne? Time to Eat Black Stuff and Smell The Roses
“Acne is a symbol of teenage years.”
“It’s alright, acne will disappear once you reach adulthood.”
I used to worry about my acne as a student, wishing I could grow up as soon as possible, and have beautiful skin once I entered adulthood.
Yet, even after passing the 20-year-old mark… I am still plagued by acne!! That is when I realised, adult acne return even after they heal, making them more troublesome than teenage acne. Acne that arises from menstruation can get really depressing. I guess there are a lot of people who share the same worries, thinking, “When can I say goodbye to acne?”
What do you think is the cause for adult acne? Many people think that eating too much greasy or sweet food, not washing our faces properly etc., would lead to the excess secretion of sebum, subsequently leading to acne.
Actually, unlike teenage acne, adult acne unique: it is not limited to one cause. Other causes that affect adult acne include irregular diet, lack of sleep, smoking, drinking, stress, dry weather, dry skin, cosmetics, and hormonal imbalance. And for most adult females, hormonal imbalance is the main reason for acne!
Today we are going to explore the relationship between acne and hormonal imbalance, and introduce an effective healing method. Learning the correct methods is important too, as we bring the fight to stubborn acne!
Extreme illustration, to demonstrate the big differences in hormonal cycle. The chart above is the male’s testosterone production. Below is the female’s hormonal production (blue for estrogen, red for progesterone).
Above illustrates a simulation of the hormonal secretion difference between the sexes. While the example may be extreme, when compared to the males, females’ hormonal secretion changes fiercely depending on timing. This is due to different hormonal needs for different functions in the body, and the hormonal imbalances highly affect their personalities and thoughts.
The first day on the graph represents the day of menstruation. Two weeks before menstruation, estrogen production decreases as progesterone production increase. The wonderful estrogen is often called the hormone for beautiful skin, because it controls the secretion of sebum, and gives moisture and bounce to our skins. Also, between 2 weeks before menstruation and one week before, the steep increase in the progesterone hormone causes water to be retained in the body, which easily leads to swelling, and easily leads to over-secretion of sebum that results in unhealthy skin. That is why acne accompanies progesterone secretion before menstruation.
For female skin, along with the period of the menstruation cycle, hormonal balance changes. By understanding your own cycle, it is possible to increase the amount of estrogen secretion to maintain the condition of our healthy skins.
So, where can we put our attention to increase estrogen production?
To increase estrogen effectively, we need to eat the right food.
Let us have a look at the foods that are outstanding in their effectiveness in increasing estrogen, and works great to beautify our skins.
1. Soybean Products
We often hear people say that isoflavones are female hormones, and that is not an exaggeration. Soybean products such as tofu, soybean milk, and fermented beans contain isoflavones. Isoflavones work like estrogens, and can be said to be an essential part for female hormone production.
2. Dark-coloured Food
There are many ingredients that are dark coloured, including black beans, black sesame, hijiki (a type of sea vegetable), wood ear, konjac, shiitake, seaweed (including nori and wakame), and black vinegar. Foods that are dark in colour assists in the production of female hormones.
3. Nuts
Nuts such as almonds and pistachios promote female hormone secretion in the pituitary gland (a part in our brain) and ovary.
4. Cabbage
Cabbages contain a mineral called Boron, which has the effect in increasing the production of estrogen. In Japan, cabbage is also believed to help in breast enhancement, and is probably linked to the Boron in it.
5. Rose Hip Tea
Rose Hip Tea is a type of tea that we can get from the supermarket. Rose Hip is the fruit from the rose, and is also called the “Vitamin C Bomb” in Japan. Rose Hip contains the most Vitamin C among all food, boasting 20 times the amount of Vitamin C found in lemons.
Beautiful skin from Vitamin C: The abundance of vitamin and iron improves not only acne, but also every skin troubles.
Scent of rose puts female hormones in order: From times old, the rose has been used as a symbol of health, beauty and youth, and its scent is said to be exceptionally compatible with females. The scent of the rose is reported to have the ability to alleviate stress, from which our autonomic nerves can begin to arrange themselves, acting as a mechanism to maintain the normal hormonal balance.
That concludes the introduction of the link between female hormones and acne. Even though medication and skincare can help us when our skin is in a bad condition, those alone are not enough. We should understand the right cause behind acne, and take good care of ourselves from within.
By doing daily and consistent care, you may see the joyous results in your health and beauty. Do give the foods a try!
