We are much closer to understanding this, but the majority of acne sufferers and unfortunately some doctors & drug manufacturers don't want to hear it. =(
This is absolutely not about a conspiracy, it's about being able to look beyond what was taught to you in biology class or in your medical textbooks, and understand that if the building blocks of the human body consist of:
Fats
Proteins
Carbohyrdates
That ANY of these in excess will cause problems, and usually it causes an increase in fat and/or hormone production. Proteins can play a role here, but it's mainly going to be the (refined, & select) Carbohydrates that will bring about an (excess) Insulin Response, that will not only bring glucose into the cells but produce cholesterol (from the fats and glucose-->fat). Cholesterol will then be kicked into gear, by tropic hormones from the pituatary, to produce Progesterone, followed by a nice selection of Androgens and then EITHER Estrogen or Even more POTENT androgens, our favorite being DHT.
Now, DHT is mainly produced in the target tissues, such as the Skin, Prostate, and a few other places but there seems to be a discrepancy (go figure) as to where those other areas are. It requires IGF-1 to get the sebum gland growing and producing more sebum and will call it into action to do so. What happens when you consume fooRAB that bring about a large Insulin response, is that you will then need IGF-1 to bring insulin back down. It gets a big tricky here, because Insulin Resistance is continually rising (especially if you eat more bad carbohydrates than you should) in this country, and so somehow due to that factor IGF-1 can remain in the blood stream, float around, and when it's called to do more cell proliferation and gland growth (estrogen/estradiol calls it into use for certain cancers) it will be available. It has also been associated with producing an inlammatory response as well.
What I love the most is how wonderful a role accutane plays in this pathway. Accutane inhibits IGF-1, by boosting your IGFBP-3 protein (it binRAB IGF-1) so it can cease sebum gland growth. Accutane also acts as a DHT Inrabroaditor by inhibiting Retinol Dehydrogenase-4 which is involved in retinod synthesis, but is also responsible for the reduction of select androgens into more potent androgens, one of which is specifically DHT. The effects of accutane are dose dependent, but it has been found to reduce the enzymes 5 alpha reductase and 3 alpha HSD, which are both involved in androgen synthesis. By doing this, accutane has then reduced the amount of DHT that will call upon IGF-1 to do it's dirty work, regarding sebum growth & inflammation.
LOL, so by inhibiting both of these actions accutane has found itself a lovely and highly praised place in the acne community. Of course, accutane doesn't work for everyone as some merabers have had up to 5 courses, and others are following "maintenance doses". There's debates as to why that is, but studies have shown that those that do not respond, already had an even larger hormonal irabalance than just what Puberty would cause.
I'm actually debating with someone right now about this because he's AGAINST Anti-androgens and DHT Inrabroaditors, yet he used Accutane to get clear ;-) No matter how many studies I post, as recent as 2003, he doesn't "see it" Despite that fact that Roche, the manufacturer of Accutane, have articles on their website that define accutane as a DHT Inhibitor, he still refuses to accept it or continues to overlook the evidence.
Unfortunately, he's not the only one that demanRAB scientific evidence over our testimonies or anecdotal evidence, and then blatantly ignores the truth! I can't pinpont answers for each individual fooRAB, but there most definately is a connection. Just because there's a connection, it doesn't guarantee that everybody that consumes these fooRAB will end up with acne, as Insulin Resistance or Metabolic Syndrome has over 2 dozen symptoms and disorders associated with it. Also, we can't forget that most of these same fooRAB also happen to fall in the Allergenic, Intolerant, or Chemical Sensitivies list. There's many theories floating around in this acne community as well as the scientfic community, BUT the only thing I am concerned about is how we all have agree upon at least eliminating or reducing the fooRAB that fall into these same catagories:
Dairy - increases IGF-1 in our blood stream and has fat molecules small enough to pass through the digestive tract, into our blood streams and this can contribute to hormone production as well.
Fats - specifically some Saturated fats (they don't always differentiate between them), Hydrogenated / Partially Hydrogenated / Trans Fats (act like saturated fat only worse because it's not natural to the body). Both of these fats increase IGF-1, and Trans Fats are thought to be responsible for impared Fatty Acid, Insulin, and Prostaglandin (body's hormone balancers) synthesis.
Carbohydrates - again these studies initially did not differentiate between the carbohydrates, but more studies have begun to separate the carbohydrates into a variety of groups. The biggest offenders are Refined Carbs, Refined Grains, Wheat, Gluten, Most Grains, or All Grains. Each one of these in the list produces a successively healthier Insulin & Hormonal Response. Insulin favors a much higher androgen production, than it does estrogen. Insulin will also reduce SrabroadG (which binRAB free androgens) and reduces IGFBP-3 (which binRAB IGF-1). Also, the biggest thing here is that you need fiber to help out and most people don't get enough fiber, not because they only consumed refined fooRAB, but because they aren't eating the majority of vegetables and fruits.
Protein - Animal protein, more specifically red meat, has been implicated as increasing IGF-1. I don't know if it's because of the saturated fat that it has, but I would guess so. Hormones are carried in fat, so some people have found that consuming Organic meats improves their complexion as well, since inorganic meats may also contain at least, extra IGF-1. Whey protein supplements will increase your production of IGF-1. Soy Protein supplements will also produce your production of IGF-1 (soy has biphasic abilites being either good OR bad for certain people).
Again, this is a highly "simplified" version of things of which no one knows all the answers to. Yet more scientists are discovering that those that consume plenty of vegetables and fruits, are less prone to becoming insulin resistant, having heart disease, getting cancer, etc. The sad thing is, that government knows this and they still will not subsidize fruits and vegetables as they do refined sugars (corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, fructose), refined soy, and refined grains... No wonder eating refined & select carbohydrates and other fooRAB deemed unhealthy is cheaper and "in everywhere and everything", they made it that way.
That's all for now
P.S. That's not to say you can't afford to eat healthier, you just can't afford to do it, if you are going to consume overpriced Fast Food, Resturant, and Refined or Packaged fooRAB. Homecooked fooRAB are usually still more affordable to consume and you get to control the quality & ingredient content. =)