Acne Correlates with Western Culture
Acne is far more common in westernized societies than non-westernized societies and among people having non-westernized culture. To find out root causes of acne, it is an interesting clue to research that why some people having westernized culture, do not have acne. In this regard, several studies and clinical trials have been done.
According to archives of dermatology, 2002; 138:1584-1590, epidemiological evidence suggests that the rate of acne incidence is considerably lower in non-westernized societies.
It was proved after a trial has been done. The trial involved Kitavan Islanders of Papua New Guinea and Ach� hunter-gatherers of Paraguay.
Observation:
Out of 1200 Kitavan Islanders (including 300 of age 15 to 25) not even a single person was observed to have developed acne from grade 1 to 4 and out of 115 Ach, over 543 days, no person was observed to have developed acne from grade 1 to 4.
Conclusion from the Observations:
Briefly saying, diet and environmental factors are the leading contributors to acne breakouts. The diet of Kitavan and Ach is totally different from the diet of people of westernized societies and anyone who adopted it.
Thus, it has been proved that western culture is itself is a leading contributor to acne and provides a platform for acne to drive on.
Now let us analyze how western culture correlates with acne and other skin disorders:
Culture:
Culture is a way of life for the entire society. It includes manners, language, dress, diet, morality, rituals, religion, law, customs, habits or lifestyle, art, music, industrialization. Thus, culture is society specific.
Western Culture:
Western culture has its own values, attributes and characteristics. Western culture is more civilized and creating a greatest difference with other cultures. Following are some attributes of western culture that create correlation with acne:
Diet:
Western diet mainly consists of meats, dairy products, beverages and eggs and cereals, margarine, sugar, oils, alcohol, coffee, tea etc. These all dietary substances except eggs have high glycemic indexes and are toxic if eaten excessively.
Industrialization:
Rapid proliferating industrialization in western world brought several environmental drawbacks. Environmental pollution is the foremost gift presented by industrialization. Air pollution may include toxic gases, radiations etc. Pollution has damaged ozone layer that filters harmful rays from sun coming to the earth. Studies show that unfiltered ultraviolet rays from sun, damages skin cells and cause skin cancer.
Therefore, above two western cultural attributes are quite different from the culture attributes of Papua New Guinea and Ach� hunter-gatherers of Paraguay. Their diet mainly consists of vegetables, fruits, fish, coconut and tubers. Although their diet provides 70% more energy as needed by a person and the estimated intake of carbohydrates is high, the glycemic indexes of carbohydrates were considerably lower.
On the other hand, western diet is not only rich in carbohydrates and dairy products, their glycemic indexes are also higher. High glycemic indexed carbohydrates produce acidity that results in stimulation of sebaceous glands.
Conclusion:
Acne is directly correlates with diet and rapid industrialization. It is evident that low glycemic indexed diet, vegetables, fruits and fish are favorable dietary substances for all unlike western diet.
