These changes are all thanks to pregnancy hormones that can affect the quality of your skin.

But don’t worry. These little pregnancy quirks are usually short-lived, and you’ll be back to normal as soon as the baby’s born. In the meantime, here are some ways you can control these pregnancy hormone outbreaks while still being able to enjoy your pregnant glow:

• Stretch Marks: As your skin starts to stretch and grow, it may feel itchy and red or show signs of stretch marks. For the best results, avoid hot showers, which will only dry out and irritate your skin. Make sure to moisturize regularly with a product that contains hyaluronic acid, a molecule that can hold 1,000 times its own weight in water. This ingredient will keep your skin soft and supple to greatly reduce your risk of stretch marks.
• Hormonal Acne: The best way to treat unpredictable pregnancy acne is to stick to your regular skin-care regimen. Wash your skin with a cleanser appropriate to your skin type and moisturize afterward. To prevent clogged pores that could lead to acne, exfoliate two to three times per week. While pregnant, use a more gentle fruit enzyme exfoliant with papaya or pineapple to safely care for your skin.
• Brown Spots: Brown spots on the skin caused by hormones can be made even worse by sun exposure. Make sure to use a sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB rays each time you leave the house. For moms-to-be, I recommend a mineral sunscreen that is free from toxic ingredients and uses natural zinc to protect the skin from the sun. Steering clear of chemical ingredients is important since topical products can easily absorb into the skin to penetrate the bloodstream.
• Facial Hair: If you’ve noticed upper lip fuzz appear out of nowhere in your pregnancy, you’re not alone. You can once again thank hormones for this increase in body hair — in the most unpleasant places. Luckily, this facial hair growth is normal and temporary for pregnant women. You can remove facial hair safely by waxing and tweezing, although it’s best not to use depilatories or bleaches during pregnancy since they can be absorbed into the skin.

Sincerely,

Kamila Fiore, ARNP, NP-C

[Ed. Note: Kamila Fiore is the resident Nurse Practitioner at the Sears’ Center for Health and Wellness in Royal Palm Beach, Fla. Kamila is passionate about taking a natural approach to healthcare. She believes it’s a vital necessity in this day and age – a time when our health is being jeopardized by the chemicals, toxins and processes that are incorporated in almost everything we consume, touch or breathe. She earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Florida and became state-licensed and board-certified in 2007. Her professional experience includes Aesthetics, Internal Medicine/Geriatrics and Anti-Aging. Kamila educates her patients on health promotion and disease prevention. She also is experienced in laser hair removal.]

Acne is usually considered a teenage problem. But did you know about 40 percent of men still fight acne after their 25th birthday? And more than one out of every 10 women is still battling pimples well into middle age!¹

But that wasn’t always the case.

Acne is a modern disease. In fact, if you look at cultures that haven’t adopted the modern Western diet, acne is virtually unknown.

Our ancestors didn’t eat the way we do. They hunted for meat and gathered edible plants and nuts in season. Processed foods and grains weren’t a part of their diet. And cultures that follow our ancestors’ diet today don’t have an acne problem.

In a study of two traditional hunter-gatherer cultures – the Kitivan islanders of Papua New Guinea and Paraguay’s Aché tribe – none of the subjects studied had acne. In fact, over a 2½-year period, researchers found exactly zero who suffered with acne. Zero.²

A similar situation once existed among Canada’s Inuit people. A study found that acne cropped up only after they added processed foods to their diet.³

So what’s the common thread here? It’s actually pretty simple.

People who have little or no acne are those who eat a low-glycemic diet. That is, they eat a diet that’s high in natural proteins, fruits and vegetables but low in sugar and carbohydrates.

That’s the same diet our ancestors ate for 250,000 years. Before acne became a big problem.

“Carbs” – grains and sugars – aren’t a natural part of our diet. They were introduced in recent times. And when you eat them, they cause an unnatural spike in blood sugar – a spike your body isn’t designed to handle. This jump in blood sugar tells your body to release large amounts of insulin to deal with all the sugar.

But insulin doesn’t just help your body handle the sudden flood of sugar. Insulin triggers the release of hormones called androgens… and another hormone called IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1). And studies have shown that these hormones cause an increase in acne.⁴

Australian researchers proved the effectiveness of a low-glycemic diet on teenage boys – notorious for their acne.

They assigned young men with acne problems to two diets. A control group ate a “normal” diet, while the other group ate a low-glycemic diet that was low in carbs and sugar. After just 12 weeks, the low-glycemic group had a 50 percent greater reduction in acne compared to the control group.⁵

A low-glycemic diet carries a bonus, too. The teens eating the low-glycemic diet dropped weight. Plus, a low-glycemic diet gets quick results. The Australian team found that a low-glycemic diet cut the hormones that lead to acne in just seven days.⁶

In other words, if you suffer with acne, you could be just a week away from the beginnings of relief. And it doesn’t take expensive prescriptions or some $40-a-month cleansing regimen.

The answer could be as simple as making a few easy changes to your diet.

Sincerely,

Kamila Fiore, ARNP, NP-C

[Ed. Note: Our newest addition to the Pure Radiance panel of experts, Kamila Fiore is the resident Nurse Practitioner at the Sears’ Center for Health and Wellness in Royal Palm Beach, Fla. Kamila is passionate about taking a natural approach to healthcare. She believes it’s a vital necessity in this day and age – a time when our health is being jeopardized by the chemicals, toxins and processes that are incorporated in almost everything we consume, touch or breathe. She earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Florida and became state-licensed and board-certified in 2007. Her professional experience includes Aesthetics, Internal Medicine/Geriatrics and Anti-Aging. Kamila educates her patients on health promotion and disease prevention. She also is experienced in laser hair removal.]

1 Cordain, L. The Dietary Cure for Acne. Paleo Diet Enterprises 2006
2 Cordain, L, et al, “Acne Vulgaris: A Disease of Western Civilization,” Arch. Dermatol. 2002;138:1584-1590
3 Borré, K.. “Seal Blood, Inuit Blood and Diet: A Biocultural Model of Physiology and Cultural Identity,” Medical Anthropology Quarterly March 1991;5(1): 48-62
4 Cappel, M., et al, “Correlation Between Serum Levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, and Dihydrotestosterone and Acne Lesion Counts in Adult Women,” Archives of Dermatology 2005;141:333-338
5 Smith, R.N., et al, “The effect of a high-protein, low glycemic–load diet versus a conventional, high glycemic–load diet on biochemical parameters associated with acne vulgaris,” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Aug. 2007; 57(2):247-256
6 Smith, R., et al, “A pilot study to determine the short-term effects of a low glycemic load diet on hormonal markers of acne,” Mol. Nutr. Food Res. June 2008;52(6):718-26

But what if I told you that your emotional state may cause stubborn skin problems?

It’s true. Your skin can react to what’s going on in your mind. And that reaction may be anything from a case of hives to skin conditions like acne or psoriasis – and even hair loss.

Stress, emotional shock and negative emotions can trigger skin trouble. When that happens, and your doctor looks for a “medical” cause, he won’t find one. That may even lead your doctor to tell you “it’s all in your head.”

Technically, that may be true … but not in the way the doctor means it.

Today, medical professionals understand the link between illness and your mind. For example, they commonly accept the link between emotional stress and heart health.

But many haven’t made that connection with skin conditions. And it’s a very common problem.

In fact, Spanish doctors studied a group of people who came down with psoriasis. Almost half of them had a serious stressful event in the six months before they developed their skin problems. That was over four times more often than sick people in general.1

Another study discovered emotional shocks can lead to skin outbreaks or hair loss months – even more than a year – after the shock itself.2

No wonder so many doctors miss the connection!

“Psychodermatology” isn’t exactly a new science – it’s been around for more than 20 years. But it isn’t part of normal medical training. That may be why only 18 percent of skin specialists showed a clear understanding of psychodermatology in a recent survey.3

But it’s worth the trouble of finding one who does. Because you may be able to improve a stubborn skin condition by adding meditation or practicing guided imagery to your doctor’s treatment. Several studies have found hypnosis helps, too.

If your condition is caused by stress, exercise may help. Regular exercise can improve sleep, which lowers stress levels. It also triggers the release of endorphins – “feel good hormones.” Plus, exercise helps ease stress by refocusing your mind. It’s hard to get through a challenging workout without thinking about what you’re doing.

When you relieve the stress that’s causing your skin trouble, you could see clearer, more beautiful skin.

Psychodermatology may help with other skin issues, too.

A team at the University of Massachusetts tested this theory a few years ago. They took two groups of psoriasis sufferers, and used standard phototherapy on both. But one group also listened to meditation tapes.

The meditation group’s skin cleared up much faster. And when the team repeated the experiment with different people, the results were the same.4

If you have a stubborn skin condition – and the usual pills and lotions aren’t clearing it up – psychodermatology, even as an add-on therapy, may be the answer you’re looking for.

Best Wishes for Health and Beauty,

Tara Smith, ARNP, NP-C

_______________________________________________________

1 Vargas, L.E, et al, “Influence of anxiety in diverse cutaneous diseases,” Actas Dermosifiliogr. Dec. 2006;97(10):637-43
2 Tordeurs, D., et al, “Psychological approach to different skin diseases: life events and tendency to complain,” Ann. Dermatol. Venereol. Jan. 2001;128(1):21-4
3 Jafferany, M., et al, “The knowledge, awareness, and practice patterns of dermatologists toward psychocutaneous disorders,” Int. J. Dermatol. July 2010;49(7):784-9
4 University of Massachusetts Medical School, “Major Research Findings,” www.umassmed.edu/content.aspx?id=42426

If I could show you a photo of an ancient woman, you’d be jealous. Her skin was healthy with few wrinkles and no blemishes. We all want skin like that, right?

I’m going to show you exactly how it can be yours, no matter what condition your skin is in today.

When I went searching for a cure for acne, I found a study that looked at more than 1,300 people living in isolated, primitive cultures. These hunter-gatherers had gorgeous skin.

The key was diet. The natives ate the same way their ancestors had eaten for millions of years: high-protein, low-glycemic, and rich in antioxidants.

When I spoke to the lead researcher on the phone, he told me how he was disappointed that this research had been lost and ignored.

It’s a shame, because it wasn’t just their skin that was gorgeous. They also had no signs of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, or heart disease.₁

This is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.

It doesn’t require chemicals. It’s not expensive. And you don’t have to endure injections and surgery. All you have to do is go back to the diet you were intended to eat.

This got me interested. So then, I found that not only did it give natives beautiful skin, but a similar diet was tested on modern Australians who had really bad skin. I was delighted to find that in just three months, not only did their acne clear up, but they slimed down. And… hormones thought to contribute to skin eruptions were suddenly back in balance.₂

Remember, your skin is an organ, just like your heart. When you have bad skin, it’s a reflection of what’s going on inside your body. What you eat will either make it healthy or damage it.

Any time you eat processed food instead of the real thing, your body knows the difference.

And it gets worse as you grow older, because your skin loses the specialized cells that repair your skin.

When you follow a primitive diet, all this changes. By eating high-protein, low-glycemic foods, you naturally protect your skin with the nutrients nature intended for you to have.

Here’s what you can do to have healthy, glowing skin at any age:

1. Eat antioxidant-rich fruits, vegetables, and natural protein instead of high-carbohydrate, processed foods. Most fruits and vegetables and all protein is low-glycemic. When a food is processed and contains high-glycemic carbohydrates, it turns to sugar. Sugar damages the collagen in your skin and makes wrinkles. So, cut these unhealthy foods out of your diet to stop further damage. Antioxidants will take care of the damage already done.
2. Apply natural antioxidants directly to your skin. Here’s a list of antioxidants particularly important to your skin. You should include them in your diet and look for creams to apply them directly to your skin.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1. Cordain, L. et al. “Diet and Acne Revisited” Arch Dermatol. 2002;138:1591-1592.
2. Smith, R. et al. “The effect of a high-protein, low glycemic–load diet versus a conventional, high glycemic–load diet on biochemical parameters associated with acne vulgaris: A randomized, investigator-masked, controlled trial.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2007 Aug; 57(2):247-256.

There was definitely a reason behind it, but exercising wasn’t really it. I found this out through simple observations of myself, and then research backed it up.

In fact, research shows that exercise improves the look of your skin by:

• Increasing blood flow to the skin
• Renewing cells
• Flushing toxins out of the skin through sweat
• Improving digestion and bowel movements, and improving kidney and liver function, which decreases toxins in the body
• Decreasing stress and the production of stress hormones such as DHEA and DHT, which are part of acne flare up1

So, if you’re breaking out when you exercise, what’s causing it?

It’s more than likely from one of these 5 problems:

You’re wearing makeup when you exercise.

I used to wear makeup all the time! As a woman, I do understand the pressures of always looking our best. But wearing makeup will clog your pores, especially when you’re mixing it up with sweat and oils that are being secreted by your skin when exercising. It doesn’t even matter if it’s mineral or not, it will still block your pores. So, if you’re wearing makeup, wash your face before you work out and pat dry. And if you still want to feel “pretty” while working out, just wear a bit of mascara and some lip hydration, and you’re good to go.

You aren’t washing your face or showering after your workout.

This is a must! Even though sweat unclogs pores, it leaves behind a salt residue which can clog pores again. In addition, cells are being renewed… so, if you don’t wash your face and body, the dead skin cells may also clog your pores. I like to use mild tea tree oil soap so it doesn’t dry out my skin too much. In addition, depending on your skin, applying a good moisturizer that doesn’t clog the pores will help keep your skin balanced and reduce the secretion of too much oil.

You aren’t drinking enough water.

If you don’t drink enough water, you will be dehydrated. Dehydration doesn’t allow the body to optimally circulate nutrients, vitamins, minerals, or antioxidants. While at the same time, you’ll probably retain water, which will not only have you sweat out all the toxins, but also will add a few more pounds to your weight. And I’m sure you don’t want that to happen. Please don’t forget: Clean, filtered water is best. The fewer toxins you have to get rid of, the better.

You’re eating too many carbohydrates or processed foods.

I found that when I reduced the amount of grains in my diet and increased my protein and fats, it certainly helped. I noticed that when feeling my face with my hand, it felt less “bumpy.” Interestingly enough, in my research I found that cultures who eat more grains and stray away from their native diets have crooked teeth and acne. Also, just recently I found a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology to support what I thought was a heck of a good theory:

Professor Mann, along with Robyn Smith, PhD, and Royal Melbourne Hospital, divided 43 males, between the ages of 15 and 25, into two groups. One group was given foods with a low-glycemic index, such as whole grain breads and pasta, legumes, and high-protein foods. The second group was fed a more “typical” teenage diet consisting of white bread, potatoes, and sugary drinks and snacks.

After 12 weeks, the boys in the high-protein, low-glycemic-index group showed a 50% reduction of acne.

You’re not getting enough antioxidants or greens daily.

Yep, back when I was breaking out, I certainly wasn’t eating enough veggies. Now I incorporate at least 1- 2 servings of veggies in my day. But even better, I found a really quick and easy way that you, too, can get these rich greens into your body. Get the greens in powder form and mix it with water. I do 1-2 drinks a day. One tip though… since it may take a few times to get used to the taste: Add a bit of cranberry juice to it or blend the water and ice in something like a Magic Bullet. My skin has dramatically improved because of this. It looks more glowing, super hydrated, and more radiant than it has ever been.

Your Health and Fitness Specialist,

Coach Yari

Yarixa Ferrao, A.K.A, Coach Yari is a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM) and an expert in functional training, fat loss, sports performance, and cellulite. Coach Yari is the founder of Get Fit in 6, a 6-week life transformation program for both men and women in Delray Beach, Florida. You can visit her at: www.getfitin6.com.

Something they told me in medical school has to be wrong. I’ve been seeing more and more acne in mature adults. Yet convention claims that the primary cause is genetic. If it were genetic, how can it change in a single generation?

One thing is for certain: It’s not just a teenage problem anymore. Nowadays about 40 % of men continue to endure acne past the age of 25. Even more surprising, 12% of all middle-aged women suffer from acne.₁ If you suffer from facial blemishes as an adult, you know how troublesome it can be.

In my own practice, I have had remarkable results using diet to cure acne. But I get resistance because every dermatologist in town believes science disproves any link between diet and clear complexions. Their only solution is to see a dermatologist and get prescriptions for antibiotics, drugs, and toxic creams like Accutane.

Today, I’ll share recent evidence that diet has an undeniable link to acne. My friend and colleague, Dr. Loren Cordain, has released a remarkable program that produces fast results. It’s called The Dietary Cure for Acne.

Dr. Cordain is an expert on the diets of the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes. These cultures still follow their traditional diets, which haven’t changed for centuries.

In 2002, Dr. Cordain and colleagues studied the Kitavan people who live on remote islands in Papua, New Guinea. Their findings were startling – not a single case of acne in 300 natives between the ages of 15 and 25. Later, his colleagues examined hunter-gatherers living in a remote jungle in Paraguay. After following 115 of them for two years – again, not a single case of acne!

Compare that to American teenagers: Over 80% of U.S. teens between the ages of 16 and 18 have acne.

Dr. Otto Schaefer treated the Inuit (Eskimo) people in some of the most remote villages and outposts on Earth. When he started his practice, the Inuit were still following their native diets – wild animals from hunting and fishing, along with a few wild plants gathered during the summer. He noted no acne. But as the Western diet encroached, Dr. Schaefer noted that the locals were complaining about changes in the complexions of the teenage Inuit. They were seeing acne for the first time.

So, how does the Western diet cause skin problems? As Dr. Cordain points out, over 70 percent of the energy we get in our diets comes from refined sugars, grains, vegetable oils, and diary. That’s just not natural. To diverge this far from your natural eating habits is a dangerous experiment.

Landmark Study Proves the Dietary Acne Cure

In November of 2005, Dr. Neil Mann from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia conducted a study of dietary intervention in acne patients for two years. Based on Dr. Cordain’s work using diet alone, he was able to improve or cure the acne of the majority in the study.

So, what is the diet to cure acne? A high-protein and low-glycemic intake is key. Remember, the glycemic index measures how quickly the food will spike your blood sugar. Dr. Cordain also explains how to use the concept of glycemic load. It adds a calculation taking the quantity of carbs you’ll find in a serving of a particular food into account.

To give you a better idea of how glycemic load differs, let’s look at watermelon. It has a high glycemic index, meaning it breaks down into sugars rather quickly. But its glycemic load is very low, because a typical serving has few grams of carbohydrate. (Most of its weight is water.)

So, even though watermelon has a high glycemic index, it won’t make you fat, because the total number of carbs it has will not have much impact on your total insulin release. (Keeping insulin low is one of the keys to staying lean.)

Naturally occurring low-glycemic foods cure acne. But they also prevent chronic disease. So, even if you don’t have acne, Dr. Cordain’s diet is an excellent guide for fat loss and chronic disease prevention.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1. Cordain L. The Dietary Cure for Acne. Paleo Diet Enterprises. 2006.

In my own practice, hundreds of teenagers – and many adults too – have come to me for answers after seeing every dermatologist in town. My solution? A better diet.

If you could only see the look on parents’ faces when I suggest that diet will cure their child’s acne… They act as if I should have my medical license revoked. But when they see the results months later, they practically fall over themselves with gratitude.

Today, I’ll share new evidence that diet has an undeniable link to acne. My friend and colleague, Dr. Loren Cordain, just released The Dietary Cure for Acne. This remarkable program is getting rave reviews and producing reliable results for those suffering from acne.

If you’re a long-term reader, you’ll remember my articles about the “caveman diet.” Dr. Cordain was one of the first to show that our ancient ancestors ate more fat and protein – and fewer carbs – than we do today.

After researching the connection between diet and acne, Dr. Cordain discovered that anyone – including you – can eliminate acne by avoiding processed and refined foods and eating more lean meats, seafood, fruits and vegetables.

Dr. Cordain found new evidence in the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes. Living in far-flung locales like Paraguay and Papua New Guinea, these cultures still follow their traditional diets, which haven’t changed for centuries.

In 2002, Dr. Cordain’s team of researchers studied the Kitavan people who live on remote islands off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Their sample included 300 teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 25.

Their findings were startling. Not a single case of acne! Later, his colleagues examined 115 hunter-gatherers living in a remote jungle in Paraguay. This time, they followed their subjects for 2 years, periodically checking for signs of acne. Not a single case!

Compare that to American teenagers: 79 to 95 percent of US teens between the ages of 16 and 18 have acne.

Coincidence? Not by a long shot… This is not the first time researchers have seen the effect of diet and acne on native populations. From the late 1940s through the early 1970s, Dr. Otto Schaefer was a frontier physician. He treated the Inuit (Eskimo) people in some of the most remote villages and outposts on Earth.

When he started his practice, the Inuit were still following their native diets. This consisted of wild animals obtained from hunting and fishing, along with a few wild plants gathered during the summer.

But as the Western diet encroached upon their old traditions, their health began to decline. In 1971, Dr. Schaefer noted that the locals were starting to talk about the changes they noticed in the complexions of the teenage Inuit. Acne was everywhere. Yet the medical establishment still maintained that diet had nothing to do with these dramatic changes.

So what are Americans eating that causes such trouble? As Dr. Cordain points out, over 70 percent of the energy we get in our diets comes from refined sugars, grains, vegetable oils and dairy. And that’s downright dangerous…

The same foods causing acne are the same ones that promote obesity, heart disease and cancer. Sound familiar?

Landmark Study Supports – and Proves – the Dietary Acne Cure

In November of 2005, Dr. Cordain met with Dr. Neil Mann from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. Two years earlier, Dr. Mann had launched his own study based on Dr. Cordain’s work. Now Dr. Mann was ready to share the results.

Dr. Mann worked with 43 acne patients for 2 years. Using diet alone, he was able to improve and in many cases, reverse the acne of his patients.

A high protein, low glycemic load diet was the key. Glycemic load is the number of grams of carbs you’ll find in a serving of a particular food. (Glycemic index is how quickly the food will spike your blood sugar.)

To give you a better idea of how this works, let’s look at watermelon. It has a relatively high glycemic index, meaning that it breaks down into sugars rather quickly. But its glycemic load is very low. So the total number of carbs it has will not have an impact on your insulin levels. (Keeping insulin low is one of the keys of weight loss and a long life.)

Low glycemic foods prevent acne. But they also prevent chronic disease. So even if you don’t have acne, Dr. Cordain’s diet is perfect for weight loss and disease prevention. Use it for a lifestyle that’s full of energy and free of disease.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD