How to Get Rid of Blackheads and Sebaceous Filaments - Dr. Berg

Summary

This video script delves into distinguishing between blackheads and sebaceous filaments, clarifying misconceptions and offering a holistic approach to treatment. It emphasizes the importance of addressing the root cause—overproduction of sebum due to hormonal imbalances, particularly androgens. The script suggests a dietary regimen rich in vitamin A (found in foods like cod liver oil and egg yolks), vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc to regulate sebum production. It also advises reducing carbohydrates and sugars to lower insulin levels, thereby controlling androgens. The video aims to provide a permanent solution to skin issues by tackling the underlying imbalances rather than just treating symptoms.

Takeaways

• 🧐 The video discusses methods to permanently eliminate blockheads and sebaceous filaments, aiming to clarify the difference between the two.
• 🔍 Common treatments like tapes, creams, and lotions are examined, but the focus is on addressing the root cause of these skin issues.
• 👃 The script explains that sebaceous filaments are not the same as blackheads, and that blackheads form when pore contents oxidize due to exposure.
• 🌱 The video suggests that overproduction of sebum is often due to hormonal factors, such as androgens, which can be influenced by factors like puberty and pregnancy.
• 🥕 Vitamin A, specifically retinol, is highlighted as a nutrient that can help regulate sebum production, with recommendations to consume foods rich in this vitamin.
• 🐟 Cod liver oil is presented as a natural source of vitamin A (retinol), vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids, which can collectively help reduce sebum.
• 🚫 The consumption of seed oils high in omega-6 fatty acids is discouraged due to their potential to decrease omega-3 levels, which are beneficial for skin health.
• 🍚 A diet high in carbohydrates and sugars is linked to increased insulin levels, which in turn can raise androgen levels and exacerbate skin issues.
• 🕒 Intermittent fasting is mentioned as a method to help decrease sebum production by lowering insulin levels.
• 🦐 Zinc deficiency is identified as a contributor to increased oil gland activity, with shellfish and red meat suggested as good sources of zinc.
• 🛡️ The video concludes with a holistic approach to skin health, advocating for dietary changes and nutrient intake to address the underlying causes of skin problems rather than just treating symptoms.

Q & A

What is the main difference between blackheads and whiteheads?

Blackheads are differentiated from whiteheads because there's a little plug on top of the pore that keeps the material, the fats and oils and bacteria from oxidizing. Without this plug, the material is exposed to oxygen and oxidizes, turning darker.

Why do people often confuse sebaceous filaments with blackheads?

Sebaceous filaments are often confused with blackheads because they both appear as small, thread-like structures on the skin. However, sebaceous filaments are not clogged pores but rather normal skin structures filled with sebum, while blackheads are clogged pores that have oxidized.

What is the role of androgens in the development of blackheads and sebaceous filaments?

Androgens are hormones that can cause the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, leading to the formation of blackheads and sebaceous filaments. This is particularly common during puberty, pregnancy, and other life stages where hormonal changes occur.

How can vitamin A help in reducing blackheads and sebaceous filaments?

Vitamin A, specifically in its active form known as retinol, can help regulate the production of sebum and thus reduce the occurrence of blackheads and sebaceous filaments. It can be found in foods like cod liver oil, egg yolks, and fish.

What is the significance of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids in managing sebum production?

Both vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids help in reducing sebum production. A deficiency in these nutrients can lead to overproduction of sebum, which can contribute to the formation of blackheads and sebaceous filaments.

Why is cod liver oil recommended for managing skin issues like blackheads?

Cod liver oil is recommended because it contains not only the active form of vitamin A (retinol) but also vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which are beneficial in reducing sebum production and managing skin issues.

How do excessive amounts of seed oils affect sebum production?

Excessive consumption of seed oils, such as soy oil, canola, and corn oil, which are high in omega-6 fatty acids, can indirectly decrease omega-3 fatty acids. This imbalance can lead to increased sebum production and contribute to skin issues.

What is the connection between carbohydrates, sugars, and androgen levels?

Consuming too many carbohydrates and sugars can increase insulin levels, which in turn can increase androgen levels. This hormonal change can lead to overproduction of sebum and the development of blackheads and acne.

How can intermittent fasting help in reducing sebum production?

Intermittent fasting can help decrease insulin levels, which in turn can reduce androgen levels and sebum production. This dietary approach can be beneficial in managing skin issues related to excess sebum.

Why is zinc important for skin health, and what can cause zinc deficiency?

Zinc is important for skin health as it helps regulate the oil glands and prevent excessive sebum production. Zinc deficiency can be caused by consuming too many carbohydrates and sugars, high stress levels, or a diet high in phytic acid found in cereals and grains.

What is the overall strategy suggested in the script for managing blackheads, whiteheads, and sebaceous filaments?

The script suggests managing these skin issues by addressing the underlying causes through diet and nutrients, such as reducing carbohydrates and sugars, balancing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and ensuring adequate intake of vitamins A, D, and zinc. This approach aims to correct the imbalances causing excessive sebum production without relying on topical treatments.

Outlines

00:00

🧏‍♂️ Understanding and Treating Blackheads and Sebaceous Filaments

This paragraph discusses the difference between blackheads and sebaceous filaments, which are often confused. Blackheads are caused by a plug in the pore that prevents oxidation of the material inside, turning it black when exposed to oxygen. Sebaceous filaments, on the other hand, are a natural part of the skin's oil-producing glands and are not a sign of dirt or poor hygiene. The paragraph emphasizes that traditional treatments like tapes and creams only address the symptoms and not the underlying cause, which is an overproduction of sebum due to hormonal factors like androgens. The speaker suggests looking at dietary and lifestyle changes to address the root cause, including the role of vitamin A, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids in reducing sebum production.

05:01

🍽️ Dietary Solutions for Reducing Sebum and Acne

The second paragraph delves into dietary strategies to reduce sebum production and acne. It highlights the importance of reducing carbohydrate and sugar intake to lower insulin levels, which in turn decreases androgen production. The speaker also mentions the benefits of intermittent fasting for skin health. Additionally, the paragraph discusses the role of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, advocating for a decrease in omega-6 rich seed oils and an increase in omega-3 intake. The speaker points out that excessive consumption of cereals and grains high in phytic acid can lead to zinc deficiency, which can exacerbate sebum production. The paragraph concludes with a recommendation to consume zinc-rich foods like shellfish and red meat to support skin health and reduce acne.

Keywords

💡Blockheads

Blockheads refer to a skin condition where there is an accumulation of sebum, dead skin cells, and sometimes bacteria within the hair follicles. In the video, the term is used to describe a problem that the speaker aims to address, emphasizing the importance of understanding the underlying causes to treat it effectively.

💡Sebaceous Filaments

Sebaceous filaments are natural, thread-like structures in the skin that are part of the sebaceous glands. They are responsible for producing sebum, an oily substance that lubricates and protects the skin. The video clarifies the difference between sebaceous filaments and blockheads, noting that the former is a normal part of skin function, while the latter is a condition that can be treated.

💡Follicles

Follicles are the small sacs in the skin that contain hair and the sebaceous glands. The video explains that these are often mistakenly thought to be hairs themselves, but they are actually the structures that hold oil and sometimes hair. Understanding follicles is crucial for comprehending how blockheads and sebaceous filaments form.

💡Blackheads

Blackheads are a type of acne that occurs when a pore becomes clogged with sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria, and then oxidizes, turning black. The video distinguishes blackheads from whiteheads by explaining that blackheads have a plug that exposes the material to oxygen, leading to oxidation and the characteristic dark color.

💡Whiteheads

Whiteheads, also known as closed comedones, are a form of acne where the pore is clogged but remains closed, preventing oxidation and keeping the material white. The video mentions whiteheads as a precursor to acne, often occurring during puberty, and contrasts them with blackheads.

💡Sebum

Sebum is an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. It helps to keep the skin moisturized and protected. The video discusses how an overproduction of sebum can lead to the formation of blockheads and other skin issues, emphasizing the need to balance sebum production.

💡Androgens

Androgens are a group of hormones that include testosterone and are responsible for the development of male characteristics. The video explains that androgens can stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, which can lead to skin problems like acne. The speaker suggests that regulating androgen levels is key to addressing these issues.

💡Vitamin A (Retinol)

Vitamin A, specifically in its active form known as retinol, is essential for skin health and can help regulate sebum production. The video suggests that using creams with retinol or consuming foods rich in retinol can help treat skin conditions like blockheads by addressing the root cause rather than just the symptoms.

💡Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that can help reduce inflammation and sebum production. The video mentions that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in cod liver oil, can contribute to healthier skin by balancing sebum levels and reducing the occurrence of skin issues.

💡Carbohydrates and Sugars

The video discusses how a diet high in carbohydrates and sugars can increase insulin levels, which in turn can raise androgen levels and lead to increased sebum production. The speaker suggests reducing carbohydrate and sugar intake and possibly adopting intermittent fasting to help control sebum production and prevent skin problems.

💡Zinc

Zinc is a mineral that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, including skin health. A deficiency in zinc can lead to increased oil gland activity and more sebum production. The video recommends consuming zinc-rich foods like shellfish and oysters to help regulate sebum and prevent skin conditions.

Highlights

Clarification between blockheads and sebaceous filaments.

Explanation of typical treatments for blockheads and sebaceous filaments using tapes, creams, and lotions.

Description of the process of removing filaments from skin pores.

Difference between blackheads and whiteheads, and their relation to acne.

The role of follicles in skin and their misconception as hairs.

Importance of not scrubbing the skin excessively to avoid inflammation and redness.

The origin of sebaceous filaments and blackheads due to overproduction of sebum.

The impact of androgens on sebum production and acne during puberty and other life stages.

Vitamin A (retinol) as a key nutrient to regulate sebum production.

Sources of retinol, including cod liver oil, egg yolks, and fish.

The role of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids in reducing sebum.

Cod liver oil as a rich source of vitamin A, D, and omega-3.

The negative effects of excessive seed oils (omega-6) on sebum balance.

The connection between high carbohydrate and sugar intake, insulin levels, and androgen production.

Recommendations for reducing insulin levels through diet and intermittent fasting.

The importance of zinc for oil gland regulation and its deficiency causes.

Food sources of zinc and the impact of carbs, sugars, and stress on zinc levels.

A holistic approach to treating acne by addressing the underlying imbalances through diet and nutrients.

Avoidance of topical treatments to prevent skin sterilization and friendly bacteria loss.

Long-term prevention of acne and related skin issues by addressing the root cause.

Transcripts

today we're going to talk about how to

permanently get rid of Blockheads and

this other thing called spaceous

filaments which actually a lot of people

have a confusion between these two and

that's what I'm going to clarify today

so there's so many treatments out there

uh using various tapes uh creams lotions

today we're going to talk about how to

look deeper inside and correct the

imbalance that's causing this problem

but first let's look at a typical

treatment as you can see in this uh

video

this is what people do and they're

applying it to their nose and then

they're removing these little tiny

filaments from the different pores in

their skin the actual little pores are

called follicles sometimes people think

follicles are hairs no they're the

little sack that hold the oil and

sometimes the hair so as you can see

you're literally ripping out the

material inside these tiny little

Caverns they're not getting rid of

blackheads it's completely different

blackheads are differentiated from white

heads because there's a little plug on

top of the pore that keeps the material

the fats and oils and bacteria from

oxidizing so if we don't have a plug on

top of this pore it's going to be

exposed to oxygen and then we're going

to oxidize that material and that

material is going to turn darker just

like if you were to bite it into an

apple and have it oxidized and turn

brown so that's what a black head is

okay and a black head and a white head

is kind of a precursor to acne and it

most commonly happens during puberty of

course I had it really bad I wish I

would have known the information in this

video back then because I thought it was

dirty in there and I had to clean it and

I would be scrubbing my skin for hours

and you know what that just created more

inflammation and more redness so that's

not the way to do it now as far as these

sebaceous filaments go uh you can get

them removed through various ways

whether it's going to be a tape or a

certain type of lotion or compound but

they come right back so the big question

is what's really behind these problems

and how can we resolve it permanently

well for that I have another viw here

and you can see sebaceous filament and

blackheads come from the body producing

too much sebum so the real problem is we

have a gland that is overproducing and

the question is why well it's because of

this right here this hormone called

androgens this is why during puberty

people have more incidents of these

problems right but it can also happen at

different points of your life uh as well

as during pregnancy so how do we

regulate androgens that's the big

question to help reduce and balance out

sebum which is the oil gland well the

first one is vitamin A okay now with

vitamin A there's certain creams that

people rub on their skin to help get rid

of blackheads and sebaceous filaments

but that's kind of treating the symptom

why don't we just fix it by taking more

vitamin A now you might say well I'm

eating a lot of carrots well you might

be but that's the precursor called beta

carotene you need the actual active form

of vitamin A which is retinol to really

make sure it works okay so the question

is what foods are high in retinol I'm

getting to that let's go to the next one

vitamin D vitamin D also helps reduce

sebum and omega-3 fatty acids also help

reduce seum so take a while guess what

substance has all three of these great

nutrients well if you guess cod liver

oil you are correct it's the cod liver

oil that has not just the active form of

vitamin A retinol but also vitamin D and

omega-3 in fact cver oil has the most

vitamin A but you can also get your

vitamin A from other Foods as well like

egg yolks and fish and sardines and

there's a whole list of things that you

can get it from there's more to the

story okay you also have high levels of

seed oil that's omega-6 fatty acids it

just so happens when you consume too

much of that you actually indirectly

decrease the omega-3 fatty acids so my

viewpoint is out of all the things that

are creating this problem with too much

uh sebum it's excessive amounts of seed

oils I'm talking about the soy oil the

canola the corn oil in most of our foods

and so we must increase omega-3 and

decrease omega-6 fatty acids all right

there's more to the story you see this

right here it's called carbohydrates and

sugars when you have too many

carbohydrates and sugars guess what you

increase insulin and when you increase

insulin you increase androgens this is

why women who have polycystic ovarian

syndrome which is too much androgens

have way too much insulin and the way to

correct this is simply reducing your

insulin levels you're going to have to

lower your carbs and sugars and you're

also going to have to decrease the

frequency of how many times you eat

intermittent fasting helps decrease the

sebum as well and boy I wish I would

have known that in school because I was

the king of snacking I would have so

many different meals through the day and

snacking at night I didn't know that

increases insulin which then increases

androgens and gives me more

acne again what we're trying to do is

we're trying to get rid of the

underlying imbalance using mainly diet

with some nutrients so that way we don't

have to put all these topical things in

her skin and create the sterilization

effect get rid of all the good friendly

bacteria on the skin create more redness

and more aggravation to your skin but

there's one more thing to talk about and

that is this right here zinc a

deficiency of zinc will increase the oil

gland and then give you more sebum so

you want to make sure you have enough

zinc where do you get zinc well

shellfish oysters things like that but

you can also get it from red meat but

the more likely cause of a zinc

deficiency is you're consuming too many

carbs and sugars okay or going through

too much stress that can deplete zinc as

well when you consume a lot of cereal or

grains especially whole grains which is

high in phytic acid that's going to pull

the zinc out too so that could be

another reason why you might be

deficient in zinc but now you have the

plan to not only get rid of blackheads

white heads acne sebaceous filaments but

you're making sure that these things

don't come back because you're getting

rid of the deeper cause and if you

haven't seen my other video on

blackheads I'm going to put it up right

here it was very very popular and it's a

very cool

video