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Acne - Why do we get it?
Many theories have been proposed about acne, but most theories fail to understand the underlying cause. Doctors generally treat the symptom rather than the root cause. Some doctors suggest that acne is caused by eating too much junk food, oily skin, poor hygiene, and clogging of pores that allows bacteria to be trapped inside causing irritation and eventually acne. Although all of these suggestions have some validity, they still fail to recognize the root cause of this common problem.
To begin, we must look at how food is taken in and absorbed by the body to be used for fuel or energy. First, the food we eat is passed from the stomach into the small intestine, large intestine and finally the remaining waste is passed out as feces. Although some food is broken down in the stomach, most food is broken down in the small intestine. Once it passes to the small intestine, food is absorbed into the blood stream and eventually makes its way to the liver. The liver is essentially like a filter which filters out "bad" particles while letting "good" particles pass through to reach the body. These particles carry the essential tools necessary for the cells to function normally.
Problems arise when the liver, the filter of the body, begins to get clogged up. Picture your furnace filter after 3 months. The filter is black and dirty and needs to be replaced. The same can be said for our liver. If we do not keep our liver clean by eating properly and detoxifying our liver regularly, eventually our liver looks much like the dirty furnace filter. At this point, the liver looses its ability to regulate the filtering process adequately and many "bad particles" are now allowed to enter the blood stream. In addition, the small intestine becomes more "porous," further allowing large unwanted particles to enter the blood stream. This condition is also known as leaky gut syndrome. At this point, these "bad particles" can be considered toxic. The largest organ of the body is the skin and the body tries to expel these toxins through the skin. The body's active attempt to rid the body of these toxins through the skin contributes to skin conditions such as acne, psoriases and eczema.
To correct the problem, we must look at the beginning of the process and not the end. The use of topical creams and antibiotic agents can be utilized to minimize a current acne flare up, but once again, this is only the beginning of a much more complicated process needed to deal with acne effectively. To begin, proper eating habits will ensure that the food we eat will be easily digested. Refined foods, wheat products, white sugar, coffee and so forth should be eliminated from the diet. Next, just like the furnace filter, we need to work on cleaning our liver. We can not replace the liver like we can a furnace filter, but we can regularly detoxify the liver, and also the gastro-intestinal tract to prevent it from getting too "dirty." Finally, proper hygiene will prevent built up of oils on the skin, which can contribute to acne.
If you or your family members suffer from acne, contact your chiropractor for more information or to set up a plan to help you deal with this problem.
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