Does your teenager have acne? Check how the Child Me Everyday Base can support you in the fight against acne.

80% of people aged 11–30 suffer from acne vulgaris , and between 15 and 17 years of age this number reaches even 100% ¹ . Interestingly, this problem occurs much less frequently (or does not occur at all) in traditionally living communities - e.g. in African tribes ² . That's why experts are increasingly saying that acne is a lifestyle disease.

Where does acne come from?

What makes this problem affect so much of Western society? Scientists and doctors do not have a clear answer.

Acne is believed to occur for ³ reasons :

• excessive or increased production of sebum in skin pores;
• accumulation of dead skin cells in pores;
• bacterial growth in pores;
• inflammation on the skin.

Some factors may also increase the risk of ^acne4 :

• Hormones – an increase in the level of androgens, i.e. male sex hormones. This growth is natural in both boys and girls during puberty. As a result, the glands produce more sebum, which accumulates in the pores and clogs them.
• Family history – children are more likely to develop acne if their parents have had skin problems.
• Medicines - e.g. containing hormones or corticosteroids - may cause acne.

Certain factors, which are an integral part of the lives of modern teenagers, may exacerbate existing acne: e.g. stress, improper diet, environmental pollution .

However, all this information does not allow us to form a full picture of the problem and does not answer the question - why industrialized societies have so many more cases of acne. Scientists continue research to find out the root cause of this condition. Their reports from the last decade suggest that acne may not be a skin disease but a manifestation of inflammation of the entire body.

Inflammation as the root cause of acne.

Local dermatitis is an integral part of acne, you could even say that it plays a key role in it. Anyway, everyone can see it with the naked eye: at some point, pimples become red, swollen and painful. It is the body's response to a bacterial infection in the pores of the skin. Sensing bacteria, the immune system sends white blood cells to the site of inflammation, causing swelling, redness and pain.

However, such inflammation is secondary, i.e. it is simply a reaction of the body, scientists emphasize ⁵ . The process of acne formation begins with systemic inflammation and inflammation at the cell level ⁶ . This inflammation changes the composition of sebum and reduces the oxygen content in the skin sebum. Due to this damage and reduced oxygen levels, the environment becomes more favorable for the growth of bacteria, especially bacteria of the species Propionibacterium acnes , which are responsible for the development of acne.

Scientific research also shows that acne is accompanied by oxidative stress7 ^- too high a number of free radicals in the body, which can damage tissues, cells and the already mentioned sebum.

Increased levels of immune cells called Th17 have also been detected in the blood of people struggling with acne ⁸ . This is a type of cell that our immune system produces. An increase in their number is observed, for example, during chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases.

All this provides arguments not to treat acne as a local skin problem. If it is caused by inflammation at the level of the entire body, it is worth taking a holistic approach to solving the problem.

Acne in teenagers – where to start?

Inflammation is not always the enemy. This is the body's natural defense mechanism that helps fight infections. The problem occurs when the inflammatory process becomes chronic. It's like stress - in its chronic form, it slowly destroys the body. Even if inflammation is of low intensity but continues continuously, it may be the basis for the development of serious diseases: diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, etc. ⁹ . Moreover, inflammatory diseases are responsible for more than half of deaths worldwide ¹⁰ . The number of people struggling with the effects of ongoing inflammation is constantly growing. Therefore, it is not worth underestimating this phenomenon.

In this context, intense acne may be a red flag that something is wrong in the body. Therefore, the sooner you take steps that can help reduce inflammation in the body, the better. Fortunately, the necessary tools are available to everyone.

Diet and inflammation.

One of the simplest interventions that helps reduce inflammation in the body is to change your diet. This method has been scientifically proven to work ¹¹ . And although scientists have not yet formulated strict recommendations on what an anti-inflammatory diet should look like, there are certain rules that help reduce the risk of chronic inflammation.

It is recommended to avoid or limit the following ¹² products :

• Artificially sweetened drinks such as cola, fruit drinks and iced tea;
• Excessive processed carbohydrate products such as white bread, pasta or rice;
• Fried foods (due to the content of trans fats);
• Processed meats, such as bacon, sausage and hot dogs;
• Excessive amounts of alcohol.

At the same time, an anti-inflammatory diet should be rich in:

• Various colored vegetables and fruits;
• Whole grain products, cereals and legumes;
• Unsaturated fats (contained, among others, in avocado, nuts, seeds, fish);
• Tea and coffee;
• Dark chocolate;
• Herbs and spices.

Among the most well-known types of nutrition, the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet fit these characteristics. When it comes to acne, these nutritional approaches may be effective primarily because they contain:

• Lots of fiber , the consumption of which helps stabilize blood sugar levels, which contributes to fewer acne lesions ¹³ ;
• Lots of antioxidants that support the fight against free radicals (an increase in their level is also observed in people with acne, as mentioned above);
• Lots of Omega-3 acids , which have anti-inflammatory effects, both in the context of the entire body and locally, on the skin ¹⁴ ;
• A wealth of vitamins, minerals and other food compounds that are necessary for the proper functioning of the entire body, including its immune system, which keeps inflammation under control.

It is worth emphasizing that an anti-inflammatory diet should also contain enough water.

Physical activity and inflammation.

Too little exercise is called by some experts one of the biggest public health problems of the 21st century ¹⁵ . The level of activity and physical fitness of Polish teenagers is consistent with global trends and leaves much to be desired. Only 16.8% of children and adolescents in Poland are regularly physically active for at least 60 minutes a day, 7 days a week. Among students from grades 4-6, 74% cannot dribble a ball and 57% cannot jump rope ¹⁶ .

At the same time, we know that exercise helps reduce chronic inflammation in the body, and it does not have to be intense exercise. It is enough that they be moderate, but regular ¹⁷ . Such activities include, for example, cycling, swimming, football, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, martial arts or even a simple walk. Teenagers are recommended to exercise at least an hour every day.

Lifestyle and inflammation.

Other lifestyle factors are equally important. Getting enough sleep helps lower inflammatory markers in the body. However, the quality of your night's rest and the time you go to bed also matter. In turn, sleep disorders, e.g. trouble falling asleep, may be a sign of an ongoing inflammatory process ¹⁸ . For tips on how to fix your sleep so that your body can regenerate properly, please see a separate article .

Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress (excessive production of free radicals) can also be caused by air pollution and chronic mental stress. Therefore, it is worth taking care of the ability to cope with stress and teaching your child appropriate relaxation and calming techniques. The following may be helpful: meditation ( read about the mindfulness method here ). A good air purifier will also be useful if we live in a big city, and more time in nature in ecologically clean places.

Everyday base Child Me: how can supplementation help with acne?

Another element that can help alleviate acne (in combination with a varied anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle changes) is supplementation. Everyday base, Child • Me from nikalab in the form of delicious jellies contains ingredients that have anti-inflammatory effects proven in scientific research and can help take care of the healthy appearance of the skin. Let's take a closer look at these ingredients and their properties.

Omega-3 acids (EPA + DHA) from algae. 

According to scientists, they help take care of the general condition of the skin and support the fight against skin imperfections. They are good support in inflammatory skin diseases ¹⁹ . German dermatologists have shown that most people with severe acne have reduced levels of Omega-3 acids in their blood ²⁰ . Some studies even suggest that supplementation with these acids can be used as a stand-alone treatment for acne ²¹ .

Omega-3 acids are also a well-known player in the arena of our immunity. Scientific research confirms that they support immune system cells in fighting inflammation ²² . According to evidence from meta-analyses and systematic reviews of the scientific literature, Omega-3 fatty acids help fight free radicals and increase antioxidant activity in the body ²³ .

In the Everyday Base for children from nikalab you will find Omega-3 acids from algae of excellent quality in the optimal dose for teenagers. You can read more about this ingredient on a separate page .

Vitamin D.

Levels of the "sunshine vitamin" in the body are also linked to acne, scientists say. They proved that people with acne have lower stores of vitamin D than people with healthy skin; greater deficiency has been associated with more severe breakouts in studies ²⁴ .

Scientists are also well known for the anti-inflammatory effects of this vitamin at the systemic ^level25 ; it helps reduce inflammatory markers, including: C-reactive protein ²⁶ .

We use vitamin D from algae in our products, which is a more ethical choice compared to vitamin D from lanolin in many popular dietary supplements. You can learn more about why algae are an excellent source of this vitamin in this article .

Vitamin C.

Scientific research confirms that it is a strong antioxidant and helps fight free ^radicals27 , which can damage sebum and contribute to the development of acne lesions (as mentioned above). Vitamin C is also an important link in the process of collagen formation. The correct level of collagen is necessary for the rapid healing of wounds and inflammatory lesions on the ^skin ,28 which is important in the case of eczema. A prolonged healing process may lead to more scars and discolorations, which are very difficult to get rid of. It is worth taking care to supplement vitamin C deficiencies in advance.

Nikalab jellies contain as much as half of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C for children in the form of ascorbic acid.

Vitamin E. 

Another vitamin with strong antioxidant properties. It helps protect cells against oxidative ^stress29 , which often accompanies acne. Scientists also point out that vitamin E supports the synthesis of collagen and maintaining the proper structure of cell membranes, which has a positive effect on skin elasticity ³⁰ . Vitamin E can be said to work synergistically with vitamin C, as both play key roles in protecting and maintaining healthy skin by enhancing each other's antioxidant activities.

In the Everyday Base for children from nikalab, vitamin E is available in the easily absorbable form of d-alpha tocopheryl acetate.

Iodine.

This mineral is critically important for the functioning of the thyroid gland - a gland that regulates, among others: our immunity. Scientists have proven that iodine supports the immune system directly and as a component of thyroid hormones ³¹ . Effective body defenses are essential in fighting inflammation, a manifestation of which may be acne. Iodine also directly contributes to maintaining skin health ³² .

Fiber.

As we mentioned above, diets rich in fiber support the fight against inflammatory processes. Scientific research allows us to distinguish several levels at which fiber affects inflammation:

• It supports maintaining stable levels of glucose and insulin in the blood ³³ . Elevated blood sugar and insulin are related to inflammation in a vicious circle - one drives the other ³⁴ .
• Fiber provides food for the bacteria in the gut. These bacteria produce anti-inflammatory chemicals that also affect the skin – e.g. short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) ³⁵ .
• It helps in the efficient movement of stool through the intestines. This reduces the time that irritating substances come into contact with the intestinal mucosa and prevents toxins from being reabsorbed into the bloodstream, which also helps reduce inflammation.

In nikalab jellies you will find innovative, organic tapioca fiber FiberSMART®, slowly digested by bacteria.

In the Everyday Base, Child • Me there are no ingredients whose consumption would be inconsistent with the principles of an anti-inflammatory diet, including: they are without added sugar. The jellies owe their delicious fruity flavor exclusively to natural and safe ingredients.

We recommend taking 3 gummies a day, at a time, at any time. Combined with a varied diet, the ingredients contained in the jellies support the proper functioning of the immune system, fight against chronic inflammation and alleviate the symptoms of acne (or prevent it). You will learn more about the reasons why it is worth supplementing Baby Me Base every day in a separate article .

Bibliography:

1. Beata Bergler-Czop, Monika Bilewicz-Stebel, Anna Stańkowska, "Acne vulgaris - the most common dermatosis of young people", Wiadomości Dermatologiczne, March 27, 2019, dziennikscidermatologiczne.pl.
2. Campbell CE, Strassmann BI. The blemishes of modern society? Acne prevalence in the Dogon of Mali. Evol Med Public Health. 2016 Oct 2;2016(1):325-337. doi: 10.1093/emph/eow027. PMID: 27651516; PMCID: PMC5046992.
3. Acne, Overview, Diseases and Conditions, Oct. 08, 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/symptoms-causes/syc-20368047.
4. Overview of Acne, National Institute of Arthritis and Mucoskeletal and Skin Diseases, July 2023, www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/acne.
5. Joyce Rico, MD, The Role of Inflammation in Acne Vulgaris, Multiple lines of evidence support a pivotal role for inflammation in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris, Practical Dermatology, August 2013.
6. Stein Gold LF. What's new in acne and inflammation? J Drugs Dermatol. 2013 Jun 1;12(6):s67-9. PMID: 23839203.
7. Arican O, Kurutas EB, Sasmaz S. Oxidative stress in patients with acne vulgaris. Mediators Inflamm. 2005 Dec 14;2005(6):380-4. doi: 10.1155/MI.2005.380. PMID: 16489259; PMCID: PMC1533901.
8. Céline Mias, Valerie Mengeaud, Sandrine Bessou-Touya, Hélène Duplan, Recent advances in understanding inflammatory acne: Deciphering the relationship between Cutibacterium acnes and Th17 inflammatory pathway, journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology, 02 February 2023.
9. Margină D, Ungurianu A, Purdel C, Tsoukalas D, Sarandi E, Thanasoula M, Tekos F, Mesnage R, Kouretas D, Tsatsakis A. Chronic Inflammation in the Context of Everyday Life: Dietary Changes as Mitigating Factors. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jun 10;17(11):4135. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17114135. PMID: 32531935; PMCID: PMC7312944.
10. Pahwa R, Goyal A, Jialal I. Chronic Inflammation. [Updated 2023 Aug 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/.
11. Margină D. et al., op. cit.
12. Diet Review: Anti-Inflammatory Diet, Harvard School of Public Health, October 2021, hsph.harvard.edu.
13. Zaidi TH, Zafar M, Khoso BK, Ghafoor R, Asghar S, Parveen S, Ahmed U. Acne Vulgaris and Its Association with Dietary Habits at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2023 Mar;33(2):347-354. doi: 10.4314/ejhs.v33i2.20. PMID: 37484185; PMCID: PMC10358392.
14. Balić A. et al., “Omega-3 Versus Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Prevention and Treatment of Inflammatory Skin Diseases”, Int J Mol Sci. 2020
15. SN Blair, Physical inactivity: the biggest public health problem of the 21st century Br J Sports Med, 43 (1) (2009), pp. 1-2.
16. Grzegorz Cygonik, “ Research on physical activity of children and adolescents. It's bad!”, onet.pl/informacje/wsip, September 21, 2023.
17. Cerqueira Érica, Marinho Daniel A., Neiva Henrique P., Lourenço Olga, Inflammatory Effects of High and Moderate Intensity Exercise—A Systematic Review, Frontiers in Physiology, VOLUME=10, 2020, DOI=10.3389/fphys.2019.01550.
18. Dzierzewski JM, Donovan EK, Kay DB, Sannes TS, Bradbrook KE. Sleep Inconsistency and Markers of Inflammation. Front Neurol. 2020 Sep 16;11:1042. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.01042. PMID: 33041983; PMCID: PMC7525126.
19. Balić A, Vlašić D, Žužul K, Marinović B, Bukvić Mokos Z. Omega-3 Versus Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Prevention and Treatment of Inflammatory Skin Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jan 23;21(3):741. doi: 10.3390/ijms21030741. PMID: 31979308; PMCID: PMC7037798.
20. Hope for Europe's 23 million acne sufferers as dermatologists identify possible link between key nutrient and skin condition / Akne Patienten zeigen erniedrigte Omega-3 Fettsäure Spiegel, Annabelle Sanderson, 11-MAY-2022, EurekAlert!, https://www.eurekalert.org /news-releases/952249.
21. Jung JY, Kwon HH, Hong JS, Yoon JY, Park MS, Jang MY, Suh DH. Effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid and gamma-linolenic acid on acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Acta Derm Venereol. 2014 Sep;94(5):521-5. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1802. PMID: 24553997.
22. Gutierrez S et al. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on immune cells. Intl J Mol Sci., vol. 20, no. 20, pg. 5028, 2019. & Calder, P. C. et al. Optimal Nutritional Status for a Well-Functioning Immune System Is an Important Factor to Protect against Viral Infections. Nutrients., vol. 12 no. 1181, 2020. & Basil MC and Levy BD. Specialized pro-resolving mediators: endogenous regulators of infection and inflammation. Nature Reviews | Immunology, vol. 16, pg. 51-67, 2016. & Saray Gutiérrez et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Oct 11;20(20):5028. Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Immune Cells.
23. Heshmati J, Morvaridzadeh M, Maroufizadeh S, Akbari A, Yavari M, Amirinejad A, Maleki-Hajiagha A, Sepidarkish M. Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation and oxidative stress parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Pharmacol Res. 2019 Nov;149:104462. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104462. Epub 2019 Sep 26. PMID: 31563611.
24. Hasamoh Y, Thadanipon K, Juntongjin P. Association between Vitamin D Level and Acne, and Correlation with Disease Severity: A Meta-Analysis. Dermatology. 2022;238(3):404-411. doi: 10.1159/000517514. Epub 2021 Aug 4. PMID: 34348293.
25. Yin K, Agrawal DK. Vitamin D and inflammatory diseases. J Inflamm Res. 2014 May 29;7:69-87. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S63898. PMID: 24971027; PMCID: PMC4070857.
26. Krajewska M, Witkowska-Sędek E, Rumińska M, Stelmaszczyk-Emmel A, Sobol M, Majcher A, Pyrżak B. Vitamin D Effects on Selected Anti-Inflammatory and Pro-Inflammatory Markers of Obesity-Related Chronic Inflammation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Jun 13;13:920340. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.920340. PMID: 35769088; PMCID: PMC9235399.
27. Padayatty SJ, Katz A, Wang Y, Eck P, Kwon O, Lee JH, Chen S, Corpe C, Dutta A, Dutta SK, Levine M. Vitamin C as an antioxidant: evaluation of its role in disease prevention. J Am Coll Nutr. 2003 Feb;22(1):18-35. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2003.10719272. PMID: 12569111.
28. Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients. 2017 Aug 12;9(8):866. doi: 10.3390/nu9080866. PMID: 28805671; PMCID: PMC5579659.
29. Characteristics, Health Claims, EU register, EFSA Opinion reference 2010;8(10):1816, ec.europa.eu.
30. Pullar JM, et al, op. cit.
31. Shahid MA, Ashraf MA, Sharma S. Physiology, Thyroid Hormone. [Updated 2023 Jun 5]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-.
32. Characteristics, Health Claims, EU register, EFSA Opinion reference 2009;7(9):1214, ec.europa.eu.
33. Xie Y, Gou L, Peng M, Zheng J, Chen L. Effects of soluble fiber supplementation on glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Nutr. 2021 Apr;40(4):1800-1810. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2020.10.032. Epub 2020 Oct 23. PMID: 33162192.
34. Mitsugu Shimobayashi, ... , Ralph Peterli, Michael N. Hall Published March 12, 2018. Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2018;128(4):1538-1550. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI96139.
35. Xiao X, Hu X, Yao J, Cao W, Zou Z, Wang L, Qin H, Zhong D, Li Y, Xue P, Jin R, Li Y, Shi Y, Li J. The role of short-chain fatty acids in inflammatory skin diseases. Front Microbiol. 2023 Feb 2;13:1083432. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1083432. PMID: 36817115; PMCID: PMC9932284.