Impure skin and acne – signs of silent inflammation?

No matter how well you care for your skin, everyone gets a blackhead or a small pimple from time to time. Even if pimples are annoying and are perceived as a nuisance, they are not a cause for concern. But what if entire areas of skin are repeatedly attacked by several of these pests? We explain what role stress and silent inflammation play in this and how the right diet can help the body to get rid of the pimples.

A single pimple is not a sign of silent inflammation in the body.

How do pimples and blackheads form?

Our skin is covered with countless sebaceous glands. Most of them are located at the roots of the hair, which are distributed all over the body. The sebum that these glands produce keeps skin and hair supple, makes them water-repellent and provides the slightly acidic environment that forms the basis for our skin microbiome. This in turn serves as a protective shield against pathogens. If the skin above the sebaceous glands becomes too hard, the glands can become blocked. A blackhead is formed. If this is slightly under the skin, the blackhead appears as a papule, a whitish, translucent bump. However, if a plug forms directly at the gland outlet, it discolors in the air and the typical black blackhead appears. Due to the increasing pressure in the closed glands and the bacteria trapped in them, blackheads tend to become inflamed. A pimple appears with clearly visible redness and embedded pus.

Causes of excessive sebum production

The development of pimples is often associated with poor hygiene. However, this assumption is incorrect. In fact, washing too often with unsuitable cleaning products can encourage the development of pimples, as the skin dries out and becomes more susceptible to inflammation. There is also no clear evidence to date that certain foods can cause the formation of pimples. However, foods that contain a lot of sugar should be avoided because they cause blood sugar levels to rise quickly. This in turn leads to increased insulin secretion, and high insulin levels can lead to increased sebum production. The question of the cause of pimples is therefore usually also the question of what triggers excessive sebum production. Typical triggers, in addition to increased insulin levels, are:

• Hormones, especially an increase in testosterone with the onset of puberty or in the second part of the menstrual cycle
• Medications, such as some psychotropic drugs and cortisone-containing preparations
• UV radiation, especially in combination with oily cosmetics
• Psychological stress, stress
• infections as well as acute and silent inflammations

What do silent inflammations have to do with pimples?

Most people will have noticed that stressful life situations are often accompanied by irritated skin and stress pimples. Colds are also often announced by suddenly appearing pimples, even before the nose starts running. This is because severe psychological stress as well as acute inflammation alert the immune system and prepares it to defend against a dangerous situation. This happens through the release of various hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. This provides additional energy to escape the stressful situation. Regions acutely affected by inflammation receive more blood flow so that they can be better supplied with antibodies. Blood flow to the skin, on the other hand, is reduced to prevent further pathogens from penetrating. At the same time, the stress hormone cortisol stimulates sebum production to prevent the skin from drying out. This makes the skin look more impure and creates an ideal breeding ground for blackheads and pimples. While acute inflammations can usually be identified by the five typical symptoms of redness, warmth, swelling, pain and limited function, silent inflammations go unnoticed at first glance. They are more likely to manifest themselves through symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disorders or susceptibility to infections. However, since silent inflammations put the immune system on permanent alert and release inflammatory hormones, impure skin with large areas of pimples can also be an indication of silent inflammation.

The removal of pimples should be left to cosmetic or medical professionals.

What can I do about pimples?

There is basically no reason to worry about individual spots, as everyone gets them. However, people who naturally tend to have oily skin get spots more easily. The skin should only be cleaned twice a day with a pH-neutral product to maintain the natural protective function. Simple peelings counteract the build-up of dead skin cells and can therefore improve the complexion. Another simple tip: keep your hands away from your face! Numerous foreign bacteria quickly collect on your hands. Therefore, if possible, you should only touch your face with freshly washed hands. If you do get a blackhead or a pimple, keep your hands away! If you press on pimples yourself, there is a risk of working the bacteria and thus the inflammation deeper into the skin. Pimples should only be treated by beauticians or dermatologists. Especially if pimples appear over a large area, it is advisable to go to a dermatologist to get to the bottom of the exact cause. A blood test can show whether the cause of the pimples is inflammation. Even if there is no clear evidence of a connection between diet and the formation of pimples, eating fruit and vegetables seems to improve the appearance of the skin. If silent inflammation is suspected as the cause of the pimples, an anti-inflammatory diet can help the body to get the inflammation under control. Since pimples are small inflammations, a supportive anti-inflammatory diet is also recommended for skin problems that occur over a large area. Anti-inflammatory diets are based on the principles of Mediterranean cuisine and are characterized above all by fresh, regional and seasonal products. Meat and animal fats are only used in small quantities or are replaced by fish and vegetable oils. This creates a more favorable ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in the diet.