Is Intermittent Fasting Good For Acne?

Intermittent fasting is a pattern of eating that cycles between periods of not eating (fasting) and eating. It has gained popularity among the paleo/primal community as a way to ‘hack your body’, and it’s touted to have almost miraculous health benefits. In this post I want to talk about intermittent fasting for acne. We’ll go … Read more

Study: Low Carb The Best Diet For Acne?

Few of us the in West would change the comforts of modern civilization to the nomadic existence of Eskimos. Yet they have something most of us glamor, no acne – or, I should say, had. When Canadian Eskimos started moving into towns and permanent settlements many notes changes in their health. Another condition has become … Read more

Carbs Vs. Fat For Hormonal Acne

The net is full of misinformation about hormonal acne, everything from useless supplements to dubious cleanses. However, science consistently shows that dietary changes can significantly reduce the hormones known to cause acne. Proper dietary changes, that it. One choice that can make a real difference is whether you fill your plate with carbohydrates or fat. … Read more

Study: Beat Hormonal Acne With Big Breakfast And Small Dinner

Recently published study shows over 50% of women with adult acne have hormonal abnormalities. Brazilian researchers measured androgen (male sex hormone) levels of 835 over 15-year old women with acne. They found that 54.56% had hyperandrogenism (higher than normal androgen level). The hormones most commonly elevated were dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). OK, it’s … Read more

Research Uncovers The Mastermind Molecule Behind Acne – What It Is And How To Turn It Down

Research has uncovered the mastermind molecule behind acne. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTor) regulates all aspects of acne, including sebum production, cell growth and skin inflammation. It can read the levels of various hormones and nutrients and regulate cell growth and sebum production based on these signals.

In this post I’ll explain the mTor pathway and how it contributes to acne. What’s more important, understanding the mTor pathway and how it’s activated opens up new ways to reduce acne, something we’ll also look at.

What is mTor

Let’s start with a brief explanation of what mTor is. mTor is an abbreviation of mammalian target of rapamycin, a protein that regulates cell growth, cell division and cell survival.

mTor can activate (or turn on) mechanism that promote cell growth, and over-activation of the mTor pathway (medical term for a chain of events where one protein activates the next, ultimately leading to some effect in the body) can lead to excessive cell growth. That’s why mTor has been implicated in some cancers, and why mTor inhibitors are currently being tested as anti-cancer drugs.

Excessively cell growth is also a problem in acne, and that’s why researchers are investigating the role mTor plays in acne and the potential of treating acne by inhibiting the mTor pathway. Let’s look at what scientists have learned so far.

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More Evidence For Topical Treatment Of Oily Skin

Oily skin is a hassle for most acne patients. Studies show acne-prone skin produces 3 times more sebum than healthy skin. This creates ideal conditions for clogged pores and acne causing bacteria. Luckily for all of us with greasy skin, research is starting to deliver results. In earlier posts I’ve talked about topical treatments that … Read more