Teenage Acne

One bears not only physical scarring, but the emotional scarring is apparent to anyone who has talked to a teen with acne problems. Many teenagers feel that they would sell their soul to clear their acne, because it is sore & painful, makes them feel very self-conscious, can lead to long-term scarring and chronic depression. It’s a very serious health condition – a study published in 2010 showed that suicidal ideation occurs 2-3x more frequently in teenagers with acne.

Acne isn’t caused by being dirty, and there’s so much more to it than just hormones. Let’s take an in-depth look at the acne that strikes 80-90% of teenagers in Western Society.

It does (mostly) start with hormones

During the ages of 10-13 most teenagers experience a surge in hormones. This can be both welcomed and feared at the same time. Basically, these hormonal changes can increase sebum production. When we have excess oil in the opening of our skin pores, this can form a plug and there’s a cascading affect where oil-loving bacteria will multiply which increases the inflammation in the pore and causes infection.

Diet related causes

Everyone has heard that chocolate causes pimples. Let me break this down. Chocolate itself doesn’t cause pimples, but research shows that both the intake of dairy and sugar can increase acne, both of which are contained in chocolate. Sugar isn’t a cause of the problem but it certainly can exacerbate it by the insulin-related effect. High glycaemic index foods will cause the pancreas to secrete a large amount of insulin, which will also increase levels of insulin-like growth factor. Insulin-like growth factor can increase oil production, thus making existing acne much worse. Teenagers with acne should consider a low-GI diet and absolutely avoid refined sugars in drinks & food.

Nutritional deficiencies

Deficiency of Pantothenic Acid (aka Vitamin B5) in the skin results in the accumulation of oils and fatty acids that can cause acne, and B5 is also importantly involved in the production of sex hormones, therefore internal and external treatment with B5 has seen amazing benefits for all sufferers of acne, especially teenagers. Almost every pathway in the body requires Zinc to work properly, especially when it comes to hormones. SkinB5 has designed a perfectly balanced formula with Vitamin B5, Zinc and other essential acne-fighting nutrients to treat the cause from the within.

Cleansing the face

Washing the face with harsh cleansers isn’t the answer, and can in fact make the problem worse. The skin has a fine balance of sebum, and when it is stripped away by harsh cleaners, the body will only work harder to make more. The best type of cleanser to use is a gentle cleanser that will work to unclog the pores, clean away the dead skin and remove excess oil – foaming cleansers do this very well, such as SkinB5’s Acne Control Cleansing Mousse. Acne can be very sore, so the last thing any acne sufferer wants is to have to scrub at the skin.
Teenage acne doesn’t have to be ‘just the thing you have to go through’ –thankfully there is a lot that can be done to reduce and eliminate breakouts!

Haley is a passionate Naturopath & nutrition expert, writer, and mum of 2 young children, with years of experience in the industry. She is a known as a real 'nutrition nerd' and follows the latest natural health research. As a Paleo and raw food enthusiast, she coaches people in healthy living, beauty and positive mindset. Haley has personally experienced the benefits of the SkinB5 natural acne treatment system and is happy to offer her guidance to help others regain clear skin. Follow her blog at www.aliveinwonderland.com & link with her on facebook at www.facebook.com/aliveinwonderlandhealth

for more details, visit this website:
http://www.skinb5online.com/en/blog/

The Importance of a Nutritional Treatment Approach for Acne

Many standard treatments of acne include medicated creams and washes, however this is only assisting the skin from the outside. Most of the time, this type of treatment does not achieve long lasting clear skin because it does not fix possible underlying causes that begin within the body.


Your skin can tell so much about you – including how stressed you are, how old you are, how tired you are, how hydrated you are and how nourished you are. If you are malnourished or missing key vitamins or minerals your skin can be affected. We have 3 layers in our skin that include the epidermis, the dermis and the basal layer. The skin cells are replaced every few weeks, and for them to form healthily they need to be nourished continuously. If we are low in certain nutrients it can affect the pathways that influence cellular health and many problems can arise, including acne, poor healing and early aging.

Key vitamins & minerals required for healthy skin

Research shows that pantothenic acid, aka Vitamin B5, is vital for healthy skin. A deficiency in this vitamin can cause dermatological problems, particularly including acne. If we don’t get enough pantothenic acid from our diet - or if our body requires a higher amount - then we are likely to have problem with metabolising fats, which will affect the sebum in the skin. Vitamin B5 is also vital in the production of many hormones, so not having enough will also likely result in hormonal imbalances, and many people suffer hormonal acne as a result.

Research also shows us that key minerals like Zinc are extremely important for our skin. Zinc is vital for healing and is involved in almost every pathway of our body, especially our hormones. Our diets can often be lacking in this extremely important mineral due to soil deficiencies. If we are lacking in zinc then we often experience poor wound healing, poor immunity and hormonal imbalances. Similarly, deficiencies in nutrients like Vitamin A and Niacin, aka Vitamin B3, are also shown to be related to skin and hormonal problems.

Treating underlying causes

It is very apparent that if you have an underlying deficiency of key vitamins or minerals that control our skin health & hormones, then treating the skin with creams and washes from the outside will never correct the underlying nutritional requirements. SkinB5 has developed a unique treatment that provides a therapeutic amount of Vitamin B5 and other essential nutrients required to correct deficiencies often seen in those with all types of acne. SkinB5 has combined these nutrients in a tablet form to combat these common imbalances to fight acne from the inside, where it often starts. Through a long process of research, they have also developed a moisture balancing cleanser & moisturiser that also contains Vitamin B5 to help deliver it straight into the skin cells.

Psssst – don’t forget water!

If you are not sufficiently hydrated, this is also an important consideration because your body will struggle to transport nutrients. Ensure that you stay hydrated so it can get those vitamins and minerals where they’re needed!

Haley is a passionate Naturopath & nutrition expert, writer, and mum of 2 young children, with years of experience in the industry. She is a known as a real 'nutrition nerd' and follows the latest natural health research. As a Paleo and raw food enthusiast, she coaches people in healthy living, beauty and positive mindset. Haley has personally experienced the benefits of the SkinB5 natural acne treatment system and is happy to offer her guidance to help others regain clear skin. Follow her blog at www.aliveinwonderland.com & link with her on facebook at www.facebook.com/aliveinwonderlandhealth

for more details, visit this website:
http://www.skinb5online.com/en/blog/