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Is Sunbathing Good for Acne?Be it frivolous or wishful, for years people have used the sun as an acne antidote. Some young men can even recount the days when there moms forced them to go to the tanning salon just to get rid of body acne. And, ironically- at least anecdotally- sunbathing did help alleviate acne outbreaks.While medical associations may relegate sunbathing to the list of acne myths, a recent report out of San Diego has lent credence to the healing power of the sun. A study by researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine revealed that fluctuations in Vitamin D3 levels control the body’s immune response and influence wounded skin’s ability to heal. Like wounds, acne lesions are characterized by inflammation, redness and swelling. Collectively these traits force the skin to expand and create wounds. Richard L. Gallo, MD, PhD, who serves as professor of medicine and chief of UCSD’s Division of Dermatology, helped direct this study. Gallo explains, “Our study shows that skin wounds need vitamin D3 to protect against infection and begin the normal repair process.” Gallo added, “A deficiency in active D3 may compromise the body’s innate immune system which works to resist infection, making a patient more vulnerable to microbes.” The sun is a low-cost and excellent source of vitamin D which may explain why sunbathing seems to help clear up acne faster. But the Gallo’s finding further expands the sun’s ability to treat acne. Besides inflammation, excessive quantities of bacteria that reproduce in the pore and irritate the skin also characterize acne lesions. Gallo’s lab discovered that an antimicrobial peptide called “cathelicidin” is produced by wounds and is necessary to fight infections like bacterial overpopulations. Gallo also mentions that recently, several studies have begun to link vitamin D to cathelicidin. This vitamin D research has centered on white blood cells called macrophages that work to destroy invading bacterial microbes. Gallo explains that macrophages have toll-like receptors that recognize the invaders and when the receptors sense the presence of bacteria, they trigger cathelicidin production. Gallo’s team has now discovered that injury stimulates skin cells called “keratinocytes”, which surround the wound, to increase the production of vitamin D3 and that this in turn increases the expression of genes that detect microbes. These genes, together with active vitamin D3 lead to more cathelicidin. Gallo points out that in both mice and humans, a deficiency in cathelicidin allows infections to develop more readily. A full account of Gallo’s findings will appear in the March issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. In the mean time, sun worshippers may fill a little more justified by getting a moderate dose of sunshine, or vitamin D, to help bolster their immune system and dissipate unwanted acne lesions. Naweko Nicole Dial San-Joyz founded Noixia, a San Diego based research firm dedicated to helping people intelligently, safely and affordably enhance their image by offering custom skin solutions to people with acne scars on the face and body. San-Joyz She has appeared on radio stations, in newspapers and on TV shows across the United States promoting beauty through health consciousness. Anyone seeking to enhance their image and remove acne scarring can find custom, clinically proven solutions at Noixia.com. |
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