Diet alone can’t cause or stop an acne outbreak. There are always many variables in the complex cycle behind acne, and it often varies between different people. However, certain foods can be one of the triggers that push you over into an outbreak. Here are some of the foods to avoid if you are prone to acne, and others that are helpful to promote clearer skin.
Foods to avoid:
Milk is one of the things to avoid with acne prone skin. No one knows exactly why it seems to cause more frequent outbreaks if you are prone, but some scientists believe it could be about the hormones in the cows.
Your acne prone skin is more likely to break out if your diet is filled with foods and drinks loaded in refined white sugar and/or refined grains. Some examples include soda, sugary juices, white bread, cereals, noodles, white rice and many cakes. The sugar and grains in these foods tend to get into your blood very quickly which causes a quick escalation of blood sugar. When your body is forced to make more insulin to bring down blood sugar, it can affect other hormones, send sugar to the cells and can increase oil production in your skin and help trigger an outbreak.
Fast food, especially in teens should be avoided as the greasy burgers and fries tend to cause outbreaks in young adults. It is not known why this happens and studies continue on what the exact cause is linked to. While some studies believe it has to do with the oils, those findings have not been conclusive in other studies.
Though dark chocolate has many benefits from heart health to lowering cholesterol, chocolate is not a friend of acne and whether consuming dark, milk or other varieties, it is definitely one of the foods to avoid when dealing with acne prone skin.
Meats and animal proteins can often trigger acne outbreaks in some people. The exact reason is not known but many think it is due to hormones in the animals.
Good foods for acne prone skin:
Studies show that foods rich in fiber can assistance those with acne prone skin. Oatmeal, beans, apples, and carrots are easy ways to add a bit of fiber to your diet.
Eating fish like salmon that is full of omega-3 fatty acids is a positive addition to your diet for many reasons, including if you are prone to acne outbreaks. Studies show omega-3s can lower inflammation in your body and skin layers, and that may help keep acne away. Omegas also help lower certain proteins in the body that are linked to acne.
Studies show that nuts like almonds and Brazil nuts have high amounts of antioxidants like vitamin e and selenium, and are good additions to your diet for acne prone skin. Beyond the endless other benefits of almonds, it is thought that the antioxidants in almonds might help with protecting against cellular damage and fight infections.
Whole grain foods that are high in complex carbs like whole wheat bread, quinoa, brown rice, and fruits and veggies like red and yellow peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, spinach and apricots; and some legumes like beans and peas are a smart addition to your diet when you are fighting acne outbreaks.
So while it is still unsure why many of these foods affect acne, the bottom line is clearly they can trigger and cause an outbreak. So if you know that some of the items above tend to give you a pimple, it’s best to avoid eating it and add some of the other safe foods we discussed. Being acne free will always boost your confidence and adjusting your diet to avoid these triggers is so worth it!