Wheat Products - Acne

Wheat products (wheat flour, bread, pasta, pastries, wheat cereals, nutrition bars and other foods listing wheat or flour as an ingredient) cause a sudden increase in blood sugar called hyperglycemia.  This results in the production of insulin, causing insulin-induced skin inflammation within the follicles.  It stimulates cellular growth, resulting in cellular debris that block the follicles and promote acne infections.  Other chemicals (insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3) also become involved and cellular growth becomes uncontrolled.  It is likely there is something else that is unique about wheat that is involved in this inflammation, since hyperglycemina from other agents does not promote chronic acne.

There is speculation that candidiasis (Candidia albicans yeast infection) may be involved in this process.  It can become pathogenic (causing a disease or promoting a disease such as acne) if a favorable environment exists or the person's weakened defenses allow the organisms to proliferate, such as the skin's weakened immune functions as caused by chronic moderate to severe acne. The use of antibiotics can promote this condition.

Some people, probably due to heredity, seem to be particularly reactive to the chemistry caused by wheat products resulting in skin inflammation and a degree of skin immune dysfunction.  Celiac Disease is a genetic digestive disease. In people with Celiac Disease, eating certain types of protein fractions, commonly called gluten, sets off an autoimmune response that causes damage to the small intestine and can affect the skin. This, in turn, causes the small intestine to lose its ability to absorb the nutrients found in food, leading to malnutrition and a variety of other complications. Moderate acne to severe acne also causes skin immune dysfunction.  These are factors that promote acne and can promote candidiasis, but wheat-induced inflammation is also involved with chronic ovarian cysts, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel issues and a number of other medical conditions.  Wheat has recently been linked to attention deficit disorder. 

Identifying Wheat-Induced Acne:
This group of people has usually tried multiple forms of prescriptive and non-prescriptive acne treatments without success.  They may have considered their acne as untreatable.  Whiteheads are usually not involved and the skin is usually normal, combination or oily (as opposed to being dry).  It is wise to read the section on Acne & Essential Fatty Acids to determine which of these two factors (wheat inflammation or linoleic acid deficiency) may be promoting the acne.

BiON Success:
BiON acne products correct the chemical imbalances caused by moderate acne to severe acne to help return normal functions to the skin.  They block inflammatory agents (histamine, interleukins 1, 6 & 8, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and assist the skin's immune processes to function in a normal, protective manner.  The cleansers help remove yeast fungi from the skin.  In most cases, BiON acne products successfully control wheat-induced acne.  If not, diet modification in combination with the product almost always achieve control of wheat-induced acne. 

Skin care professionals, such as estheticians, dermatologists and plastic surgeons, who carry BiON products can obtain additional specific information from the BiON office regarding wheat avoidance.  Contact your local BiON facility for more information.  

Wheat Reaction Observations by a BiON Customer:
One BiON customer followed the treatment and somewhat reduced wheat from his diet. After four weeks his acne was reduced by 60%.  He decided to test the validity of wheat-induced acne to see if wheat was actually promoting his acne and preventing complete control. He ate a very, very large bowl of wheat cereal and made the following observations.
1.  After 4 hours, he observed a significant increase in skin oil production.
2.  After 8 hours, the existing acne infections became redder and more inflamed looking.
3.  He experienced 2 new infections on the third day.
4.  The skin returned to normal on the fifth day.
He concluded that wheat was promoting his acne and the impact of wheat upon the skin lasts approximately five days.

Wheat inducted acne, from Celiac Disease or other factors, can be improved using both BiON acne treatment products, and controlling the intake of wheat and wheat products in the diet.  The local BiON esthetician, dermatologist or plastic surgeon can offer additional information and guidelines on wheat induced acne.