by Dr. Masina Wright
We cannot have a newsletter highlighting skincare without a conversation about acne. IBISWorld, the largest publisher of US industry research, stated in 2011 that the OTC (over the counter) industry for acne treatment manufacturing was forecasted to rise at an annual rate of 3.2% to $2.6 billion through 2014. Proactive, a celebrity-sponsored acne management program is generating $1 billion of that on its own. And yet, as people who suffer from acne know, achieving cure is much harder than it looks.
Enter Chromium, a simple trace mineral. Chromium is an important cofactor in the metabolism of glucose and proper maintenance of the insulin response. For this reason it can be an important supplement for hypoglycemia and Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. It is also beneficial for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome(PCOS) which often has an impaired insulin response. Acne is sometimes called “diabetes of the skin” as it has been linked to high carbohydrate diets and disturbed skin glucose tolerance. Supplementing with chromium while increasing protein and vegetable intake can be helpful for acne management.
The average American diet is chromium deficient. This trace mineral has been depleted from our soil and lost in food processing. Foods that contain chromium include broccoli, grape juice, potato and turkey. Supplemental chromium is sold in two forms: chromium picolinate and chromium polynicotinate (sometimes called chromium GTF for Glucose Tolerance Factor.) Chromium GTF is grown on a yeast medium, so that form is best avoided by people allergic to or avoiding yeast. The established therapeutic dosage for most chromium supplements is 200mcg.
Find more information on chromium here.
*These statements have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
About the Author
Dr. Masina Wright
