The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-08-19
THE DIET IN ACNE

Acne is the funny name we give to the com mon blackheads and pimples of youth. A few young persons seem to escape this putative af- fiction altogether. But most normal boys and girls are more or less troubled with blackheads and pimples, and the condition is physolog- ical rather than athoogical--except in the harassed mind of the victim. I truly believe a reasonable amount of acne is good for boy or girl at this age provided the youth does not take 1t seriously. It tends to prevent excess of vanity from spelling fine person. But thanks to the ignorance of the educated an unmerited stigma attaches to this innocent acne of youth, a stigma nourished by the implications Of evil gossip.
 years) the sebaceous glands of the skin become more active and probably increase in size ana in numbers, more sebum or oil is secreted py these glands because there Is more skin to be kept oiled, soft, smooth and free from irrlta- tion Due to our artificial mode of life, espe- cially wearing unnecessary clothing. avoiding sunlight excessive use of soap and other agents for removing the mire or grime Of civilization. and our unhygienic habit of overheating our dried out some of the thousands of sebaceous gland ducts that open on the surface in the well of the hair shaft or what untutored folk call pores (though these openings never apsorp or take in anything) become cogged. dilated (blackheads) and then infected and infamed (pimples). and that's acne vulgaris ,,
 Contrary to the popular notion this condition is not due to uncleanliness or neglect Of bath ing washing. Young persons who discover worse by too much vain scrubbing.. So far as the health of the skin is concerned, when In doubt never bathe wash
 Some old medical authority" conceived fancy that maybe too much fried stuff or greasy food, too much fat, had something to do with acne. Even today one still nnds cer- tain of comical brass specialists solemnly cutting such things out of the diet of gullible
 individuals with Another silly idea that finds support from some of these same latter day skin specialists is that too much candy or sw eets causes aggravates acne. These quaint traditions sheer hokum. There Is no reason whatever to imagine that the character or oa n Of with acne. In actual practice 1t IS striking observation that acne patients who do conf1ne themselves to restricted diet rarely show any benefit and often succeed in making their trou- ble rather worse, for by undernourishment they are unable to develop sufficient i'm munity to the common pus-producing germs which cause the inflammation or suppuration. The wisely advised acne patient will NOT pass up his or her fair share of fried foods, oils, fatty meats, gravy, butter milk. cream, pastries or sweets. This is not just my view of the sub- ject but the consensus of good medical opinion of today. Try and controvert it.
 What, Think Cor Nothinr?
 My daughter 42 years of age Is inclined to be
 yerx yerr iren nerv1os fosc. ana o ers sef p L. S B
 | You mentioned iron for pale weak women
 Do you think my granddaughters, aged IF. | (W. H. S.)
 was much interested in your recommends. l tion of iron for anemia. I wonder if you think | 1t would help my gums. (A. B. FL
 l Answer-Avast, avast, I gave all the infor l nation can give in the article or articles pub | lished. I never think for less than $5. Int medicine recommended is an old standard med | icine. Put one ounce of iron-and ammonium | citrate in 4-oun: % bottle, and fill the bottl' | with water. Take teaspoonful after foot thrice daily for two or three months. If thu | taste is disagreeable, you may take instead re | duced iron, in capsules. From one to two cap l sules after meals three times day for two o | three months Each capsule should contain 7A grains of iron. If a druggist tells you thes | doses are too large, he betrays his inexperienc | in modern practice. Neither iron preparation | will harrs the teeth or cause constipation. Boti are harmless in any case Never mind what may think--try the medicine and see whethe 1t helps Fiddle -faddling will never do any good