Taking the pimples out of PMSWritten by Naweko San-Joyz
“Dammit!” shrieks Shelly. Gazing into morning mirror, Shelly sizing up latest addition to her face, an anticipated, though uninvited pimple loitering on her chin. “It’s like freaking clockwork.”Ironically, these pimples do arrive like clockwork according to dermatologist Alan R. Shalita, MD. During PMS, some women- like Shelly- release more androgens (male hormones) from their adrenal glands. This hormone release alters skin pH and increases facial oil secretion, a combination that encourages an onslaught of acne eruptions. Dr. Shalita’s research of how menstrual cycle affects acne confirmed that premenstrual acne flare-ups are a reality for millions of women. However, Dr. Shalita offers a means for forecasting PMS pimples by pointing out that a previous investigation has demonstrated a link between skin’s pore size and menstrual cycle. For example, study showed that skin’s pores are smallest in days 15 to 20 of a 28-day menstrual cycle. Facial oil secretion increased in days 21 to 26 of cycle and decreased again two days before menstruation. The worst premenstrual acne flares occurred on day 22 of average 28-day cycle. It appears that Mother Nature, a procreative mastermind, designed skin of women to look most radiant and alluring when fair-game maidens most likely have an egg in utero- awaiting a sperm bath.
| | Got Iodine in that Milk? Unassuming sources of acne aggravationWritten by Naweko San-Joyz
Iodine is a trace mineral that regulates thyroid hormones while promoting normal growth and development. It is present in iodized salt, seafood and crops grown in iodine rich soil.So you’ve read that excessive amounts of iodine can irritate your pores and provoke acne. So what do you do? Avoid excess iodine, right? But iodine shows up in a motley of unassuming locals as Jean Carper, points out in Food Your Miracle Medicine. For instance, Recommended Daily Allowance, RDA, of iodine for adults is 150 mcg, but one cup of milk has 88mcg of iodine, that’s over half of RDA. One egg has 24 mcg and a slice of American cheese carries 16 mcg of iodine. And content of iodine in some fast food meals has exceeded RDA by as much as 10 times. Just because excess iodine may provoke acne does not mean you want to ex it out our your diet. Poor iodine intake can result in Goiter, an enlargement of thyroid gland, and Cretinism, which causes dwarfism and mental retardation Foods that contain large amounts of iodine include: ·Iodized salt, sea salt, and salty foods. Because it's hard to know which restaurants use iodized salt, you might want to avoid eating out during this time ·All dairy products (milk, sour cream, cheese, cream, yogurt, butter, ice cream) ·Margarine ·Egg yolks ·Seafood (fish, shellfish, seaweed, kelp) ·Foods that contain carrageen, agar-agar, algin, or alginate - all of these are made from seaweed ·Many prepared and/or cured meats (ham, bacon, sausage, corned beef, etc) ·Fresh chicken or turkey with broth or additives injected ·Dried fruit ·Canned vegetables ·Commercial bakery products ·Chocolate ·Molasses ·Soy products (soy sauce, soy milk, tofu) ·Any vitamins or supplements that contain iodine ·FD&C red dye #3 - this appears in many foods or pills that are red or brown, including colas
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