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FEATURES
ACNE
What is it?Acne is typically
associated with oily or greasy skin,
whereas eczema (see right) is
linked with dry skin. Acne usually
starts during adolescence, when
hormones make the skin’s oily
sebaceous glands more active.The food link ...Some foods
can help reduce acne while others
potentially promote it. High-GI
foods, such as white bread and
chips, are bad for acne if eaten
in large quantities, while a low-GI
diet helps counter acne.
Drinking a lot of milk regularly
may increase your chances of
developing or aggravating acne,
but fermented milk products such
as yoghurt can help reduce this.
Overall, eating a plant-based diet
and drinking plenty of water is
your best dietary defence.SOLUTION Sleep it off
Make sure you get enough sleep.
Adolescents and teenagers need
10–10½ hours sleep each night,
whereas adults need around eight
hours. Regular daily exercise helps
you improve your sleep quality
and stimulates the production of
natural ‘killer’ cells, an important
aspect of skin immunology.
Sleep deprivation is also linked
with craving higher-GI food, which
in turn aggravates acne. It’s true —
beauty sleep is important!Skin cancer red flags
Contact your doctor if you notice any
of the following on your skin:
1 Persistent small, red scaly patches
2 A scab or an ulcer that won’t heal
3 A mole or lesion that has changed shape,
size, colour, texture, sensation or feel.
Early treatment is more likely to result
in a cure, and minimise scarring.Flawed skin is far from
fun, but there are ways
you can turn it around.COMMON SKIN
CONDITIONS