| Following on from my previous article describing the | | | | inflammation which causes the follicle to become |
| five different types of back acne, today I'd like to | | | | blocked. So what do these researchers believe |
| touch on two opposing schools of thought as to | | | | causes this acne-initiating inflammation? Our diet and |
| what actually causes back acne. As you can imagine, | | | | in particular inflammatory foods. Evidence supporting |
| until you understand what causes a disease anything | | | | this claim includes the total non-existance of acne in |
| you do to treat it will at best be a guess and at | | | | Native Americans before adopting a western diet as |
| worst aggravate the condition. And so it is with back | | | | well as the dramatic clearance of acne with the |
| acne. As such, let's take a closer look at these two | | | | consumption of certain powerful anti-inflammatory |
| theories and how they impact treatment. | | | | foods. |
| If you've done any research on back acne you've no | | | | As you can appreciate, these theories have |
| doubt come across an explanation like this... excessive | | | | tremendous bearing on how treating physicians and |
| sebum production blocks your pores (follicles) which in | | | | clinicians approach treatments for back acne. |
| turn traps exfoliating skin cells (keratin). This sticky | | | | Proponents of the "Excess Sebum" theory tackle |
| sebum-keratin mixture is then rapidly infected by | | | | acne with drugs, lotions and mechanical treatments |
| certain bacteria which in turn causes the surrounding | | | | designed to primarily strip away excess sebum and kill |
| skin to become red, sore and inflamed. And it is this | | | | bacteria and secondarily reduce inflammation. On the |
| inflammation which we call acne. | | | | other hand, proponents of the "Inflammation First" |
| Proponents of this theory (which collectively form | | | | theory advocate altering our diets and lifestyles to |
| the overwhelming majority of back acne 'experts') | | | | decrease inflammation at a cellular level as well as |
| claim that excess sebum production is the primary | | | | applying topical lotions packed with powerful |
| cause of back acne. To support this theory doctors | | | | anti-inflammatory ingredients. They do not focus at all |
| and scientists point to the fact that back acne | | | | on stripping sebum nor on killing the bacteria. |
| doesn't make its first appearance until after puberty... | | | | While it may be tempting to gravitate to one theory |
| a time when sebum-stimulating male hormones in | | | | and totally dismiss the other, I would caution against |
| both boys and girls dramatically increase. However, | | | | this. Seeing as though there is no one sure-fire cure |
| this does not explain why adults still get back acne | | | | for back acne perhaps it is more practical and |
| despite lower male hormone levels. For such adult | | | | ultimately more beneficial to accept both theories as |
| cases, supporters of this theory persist with the | | | | being valid. With this balanced and open point of view |
| assumption that excess sebum production causes | | | | you can then rationally experiment with a variety of |
| back acne - despite being unable to tell you what | | | | treatments to ultimately discover the combination of |
| actually stimulates this excess sebum production in | | | | treatments that works for you. To this end the next |
| the first place. However, what they can tell you is | | | | six articles will examine the various broad categories |
| that the food you eat has little or no influence on the | | | | of back acne treatments as well present you with a |
| appearance of acne. | | | | sensible step-by-step formula that empowers you to |
| On the other side of the fence sit a small but | | | | quickly and easily develop your own unique |
| growing group of researchers who claim that | | | | combination of back-acne-curing treatments. |
| inflammation always comes first and it is this | | | | |