Title: Madrid’s Magical Effect: Healing Acne Beyond Borders
Introduction:
Acne, a common skin condition affecting individuals worldwide, can be a source of distress and discomfort. It manifests in various forms, from occasional breakouts to persistent acne that seems resistant to treatment. The factors contributing to acne are multifaceted, ranging from genetics and hormones to environmental and lifestyle factors. Curiously, there are instances when a temporary change in surroundings may trigger a noticeable improvement in acne symptoms. One such occurrence is the miraculous disappearance of acne upon moving to Madrid. This article aims to explore the potential reasons behind this phenomenon, providing a comprehensive analysis of the factors that might contribute to this positive outcome.
The Move to Madrid:
Moving to a different continent is a significant life change. The impact of such a transition on an individual’s body and mind should not be underestimated. Physical and emotional stress are known contributors to acne, and moving can undoubtedly introduce both. Whether it be the excitement of a new adventure or the challenges of relocating, the mind-body connection may play a substantial role in the improvement of acne symptoms.
1. Climate and Environmental Factors:
a) Weather conditions: Madrid boasts a semi-arid climate characterized by long, hot summers and relatively mild winters. This climate could potentially influence the skin’s sebum production, a common trigger for acne outbreaks. The connection between temperature and acne is complex, but the dry heat of Madrid may help regulate sebum production, reducing the likelihood of clogged pores and breakouts.
b) Pollution levels: Environmental pollution, particularly in urban areas, can exacerbate acne symptoms due to increased exposure to toxins and free radicals. In comparison to many major cities in the United States, Madrid enjoys relatively lower pollution levels. The cleaner air quality may have a cleansing effect on the skin, helping to alleviate acne symptoms.
2. Dietary Habits and Culinary Culture:
a) Mediterranean diet: Spain, renowned for its Mediterranean diet, emphasizes fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, and healthy fats like olive oil. This cuisine is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to improved skin health. The switch to a Mediterranean-inspired diet upon moving to Madrid might have contributed to the reduction in acne symptoms.
b) Reduced processed food intake: The United States often faces criticism for its high consumption of processed foods, laden with refined sugars, artificial additives, and unhealthy trans fats. A move to Madrid introduces an opportunity for a dietary reset, as the local food culture is centered around fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Detoxifying the body from processed foods and consuming healthier alternatives might have resulted in the observed improvement in acne.
3. Lifestyle Changes:
a) Reduced stress levels: Moving to a new country can bring a sense of euphoria and adventure while simultaneously establishing a break from daily stressors and routines. Stress is a known contributor to acne, as it triggers hormonal imbalances and exacerbates inflammation. The change in lifestyle, pace, and perspective that accompanies moving to Madrid may have led to reduced stress levels, ultimately positively impacting acne symptoms.
b) Increased physical activity: Exploring a new city often involves walking, cycling, and engaging in more physical activities. Regular exercise improves blood circulation and promotes a healthy metabolism, factors that can contribute to clearer skin. Increased physical activity, whether intentional or incidental, may have played a role in the observed improvement in acne symptoms.
Conclusion:
The extraordinary and rapid improvement in your acne upon moving to Madrid is indeed intriguing. Although the phenomenon may not be fully explained by any single factor, a combination of climate, environmental factors, dietary habits, and lifestyle changes likely contributed to this transformative outcome. The drier heat of Madrid potentially regulates sebum production, while the city’s lower pollution levels contribute to cleaner air quality. The incorporation of a Mediterranean diet and the switch to locally sourced, fresh ingredients, combined with reduced stress levels and an increase in physical activity, may have synergistically improved your skin health. As you continue to enjoy your newfound acne-free state, it is important to maintain these positive changes, allowing your skin to thrive in its new Madrid home.
Change in diet?
Mine cleared right up when I stopped drinking milk.
I guess it depends where you are coming from.
When i moved from the US to France, I lost a bunch of weight without really changing how I eat (food is healthier I guess) but started getting sick and having respiratory problems like never before (lower air quality). Moved back to the US 7 years later, gained weight but hardly ever sick 🤷♂️
Depends on where you are coming from. As far as I know EU has the most stringent food quality regulations in the world, especially people from the US seem to feel the difference upon moving/travelling to the EU.
Could be this, if not it is probably still dietary related but not per se on the food quality end of the spectrum, but more diet in general. Have you eaten differently since in Madrid?
Change in water.
Water you bathe or shower in.
Change in bath / shower products.
Depends on what’s changed in your daily life. Food? Water? Frequency of bathing? Humidity, heat? Laundry detergent? Clothing? UV exposure?
It could be caused by your diet, stress levels and other factors.
Something you were eating that was causing an inflammatory response most likely. Sugary products, seed oils, some form of carbs you no longer eat? Great that it’s cleared!
Could be the milk.
Read up on A1 and A2 milk.
I don’t think anyone has mentioned how much of a difference humidity makes!
Madrid has very dry air.
Humidity can lead to clogged pores, increased sebum production and makes bacteria thrive.
Did you come from a humid part of the USA?
How long did the change take to be noticeable? Do you primarily cook at home? Eat out? Snack? Cook well balanced meals? Did you move to or from a hot/cold climate? Humid/dry? Has there been a change in lifestyle? Are you getting more sun?
There are so many factors that play into this. Most likely is the climate, water, and decreased sugar intake are doing your skin favors.
Could be diminished stress?
Stress has the potential to cause acne to flare.
humidity
Did you move from somewhere humid to somewhere dry?
You changed bedsheets
A lot of products in the US are full of chemicals that are banned in the EU. Plus, food here contains a lot less sugar. Maybe your body wasn’t adjusting well to something like that.
• Environmental changes can also include the washing powder you use. ( Non-Bio isrecommended and no use of fabric softener)
• Soaps, shower gels etc you use all have an affect on some skin conditions. ( Try to get the non-scented, alcohol free brands)
• Diet is a big one, as others have said.
• Drinking plenty of water is a cliche, but it’s true it helps clear your skin.
• Exercise can help some conditions, and irritate others.
• I expect to be shot down for this one, but in my experience, the quality and availability of fresh product in the EU is better in general than in the US. The regulations within the EU also make a difference. How it’s grown, what pesticides can be used. What counts as legitimate bread is even protected ( Ireland vs Subway )
• Don’t know where you’re based in US, but a damp vs hot dry climate change could also be a factor.
It could be all of the above and then some. Glad it cleared up for you!
American processed food definitely seems to worsen acne and gastric issues.
el sol de españa hace milagros 🙏
Probably the food quality. I know people who moved from Ireland to the US and the food caused them loads of issues.
Food in the US is full of additives, conservation agents, pesticides, hormones and a lot of other toxic components.
I would assume you will find a lot less of these in Europe which could explain the drastic change.
If you’re spending more time in the sun or in salt water, that could be killing the bacteria that are causing your acne.
The food.
I’m from France and moved to California. I’ve been living in California for 20 years now, and each time, I go visit the family in France, my skin looks better n I easily lose weight without even trying . But, when I’m back to California, n start eating again the food … I start getting pimples, skin doesn’t look great, n I’m super bloated. It is all from the food, even if u eat healthy.
I’m also from the countryside in France, and I have always eaten products from the farmland. No hormones , GMO, ….
Change in humidity + change in diet. Madrid is dry, and foods contain less sugar.
Better quality food.
How has your diet changed?
This happened to me when I lived in France for a few months. Everything in the EU is far better than the us, where I lived the water was hard and made my hair brittle and skin dry and gave awful acne. It’s also a matter of diet. Food in the US is poisonous compared to the EU, I ended up loosing 50lbs while eating the same although I was walking a lot more to class and work.
I am European but live in the US. Let’s start with the food. Here in the US it tastes like sh..t compare to European food. The fruit and the vegetables taste and smell great unlike here. The meat tastes totally different than here. Here I can’t eat chicken at all because I get hives and my face itches like crazy. I tried all different stores , organic and not but all give me the hives. Maybe they are loaded with steroids? Antibiotics or other sh..t? I don’t know. It doesn’t happen in Europe ….In Europe I do not gain weight even though I eat a lot over there because everything is delicious (and healthy). Here in the US I have to limit my portions because I gain weight like crazy. So yes I believe that it is because food. And maybe the air quality is different?
Being an ocean away from Trump.
A lot of talk.abput sugar and US bread. So many defending it like it’s not true. Everything in the US is filled with extra sugar and salt. About 12 years ago when Líder (Walmart Chile) arrived to my county everyone was going crazy for the Great Value brand products, then people started to notice the sugar and salt content. A national.bramd frozen pizza has 5 times less salt and 6 times less calories than the Great Value brand. That’s just an example. The same for regular Coke, the US coke has 3.4 times the calories/ sugar more than a regular coke here. Why?
I’m not seeing this in the top comments so I just needed to say: THE SUN! 🌞 (also change in humidity levels)
My wife has plaque psoriasis, and when she went to Spain on a foreign exchange program in High School, it also cleared up.
Different climate better food fewer allergens.
Perhaps lower stress.
Diet… very few chemicals or preservatives, far less high fructose corn syrup
Probably because your diet stopped including all the horrible shit that the FDA allows companies to put in US food.
One example is compare the ingredients list for McDonalds French Fries in Europe to the US it’s shocking what the US adds to something as simple as fried potatoes with a bit of salt.
Definitely the food. I moved from the US to Germany & I lost weight + my skin looked amazing. Returned to US and I’m fat again and my skin looks like crap.
Are you swimming in the ocean regularly? saltwater does wonders for the skin.
Acne could be purging chemicals from what you ingest and the UK bans a number of chemicals we find in American food.
Probably the same reason USAmerican expats usually experience improvements in their gut health after moving to Europe. Less weird shit in the food over there.