Tune in to our radio show on your local public radio station, or sign up for the podcast and listen at your leisure. Here’s what it’s about:
We often imagine that acne is inevitable for adolescents because of the surge of hormones at puberty. Although that may contribute to skin problems, there are societies in which teenagers don’t get pimples. What is the explanation?
A surprising amount of evidence points to the typical American diet as the culprit behind skin problems. Not only teens but also many adults suffer from skin blemishes and inflammation. Research now suggests that a diet rich in easily-digested carbohydrates and sugars (soft drinks, potato chips, pizza, cookies, bread and lots more favorites) contributes to inflammation throughout the body, including the skin. Lowering the glycemic load can help us avoid complexion problems from acne to wrinkles and brown spots.
Guest: Patricia Farris, MD, FAAD, is a clinical assistant professor at Tulane University. She is a board certified dermatologist and authority on anti-aging skin care. She is editor and contributor to the textbook Cosmeceuticals in Cosmetic Practice. She is also co-author of the book, The Sugar Detox, with the website thesugardetoxbook.com
Dr. Farris is known for her interest in the emerging field of nutricosmetics, which explores the role of nutrition and nutritional supplements in skin aging. She is co-chair of the American Academy of Dermatology’s working group on complementary and alternative medicine and a member of the Academic Society for Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds. Her practice is in Old Metairie, LA. You can also find her on Twitter. The photograph of Dr. Farris was taken by Oscar Rajo.
The podcast of this program will be available the Monday after the broadcast date. The show can be streamed online from this site and podcasts can be downloaded for free for four weeks after the date of broadcast. After that time has passed, digital downloads are available for $2.99. CDs may be purchased at any time after broadcast for $9.99.
