Great Looking Skin for Back to School

A lot of great kids out there are getting ready to go back to school and may be self-conscious about how their skin looks. What if they look in the mirror on that first day and see a red mountain staring back at them?! Acne breakouts can affect self-esteem, social life, and school.

"Teen acne" of some form affects nearly 90% of teenagers, and this can extend into the college years. We're familiar with dozens of advertised products that claim to solve acne problems by just a wash of the face and "miracle skin cream" application. These are sponsored by a multi-billion dollar skin care industry that sells images of perfect skin. But research shows that when it comes to looking good outside, it depends on what we put INSIDE as well.

True Skin Beauty Really Starts on the Inside

Our skin is the largest working organ of the body! The outer epidermis, which gives us our coloring and protects against the sun, isn't a stand-alone covering. There are two other layers. Below the epidermis is the dermis. It covers nerve endings, sweat glands, oil glands, and hair follicles. Then comes a layer of subcutaneous ("under skin") tissue, a fatty layer covering our insides.

So obviously, what's going on inside with all those glands and tissues is important to what shows up on our skin.

What causes teen acne? Acne or pimples appear at the time of hormonal changes when young girls and boys mature from childhood to adolescence. This time, known as puberty, is when the hormone "androgen" can cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge primarily in the face, neck, and chest. The sebaceous gland produces "sebum", an oily substance which eventually reaches the surface of the skin where it mixes with dead skin cells, bacteria, and white blood cells to form whiteheads, blackheads, nodules, or cysts (teenage acne).

Sebum seems to stimulate the lining of follicle walls, resulting in a higher rate of keratin production. Keratin is a protein found in hair, skin and nails. The mixture of keratin and sebum in teenagers promotes bacteria growth that causes inflammation associated with acne. The white blood cells, whose role is to fight off infections and destroy bacteria, on occasion fight a losing battle, adding to the acne.

Nutrition and Diet play important roles in controlling acne

Doctors now agree that nutrition and diet are key to healthy skin. It's not so much the chocolate they had after school, but what they didn't have. And what nutrients isn't the body properly producing or absorbing? These two factors may be the bigger reason for acne breakouts.

Foods that can help keep acne under control are:

• Fruits: A good source of vitamins and antioxidants. Antioxidants ward off harmful molecules (free radicals) produced in the air or through environmental toxins that can harm our cells and tissues.
• Nuts, grain and seeds: A great source of omega-3 "fatty acids". Fatty acids are responsible for healthy cell membranes, the passageways for nutrients to cross in and waste to get out. One ounce of nuts, grain or seeds provides the same omega-3 as 3.5 ounces of fish.
• Olive oil: Our skin should get at least 2 tablespoons of oil each day for proper lubrication. Olive oil is also beneficial due to its monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants.
• Vegetables: Sorry, teens!!! Vegetables provide the body with endless vitamin, mineral, antioxidant and digestive properties that reflect in healthy skin.
• Brazil nuts, turkey and tuna: Rich in the mineral Selenium. It helps reduce inflammation that is associated with acne.
• Teens should also carry water with them and drink the equivalent of 6-8 glasses per day.