What Foods to Avoid With Sensitive Acne Prone Skin

A nutritious diet is an essential component of preventing acne. While foods do not cause acne, the fats, sugars and refined flours found in certain foods can contribute to the skin cell damage, hormone imbalances and inflammation that lead to breakouts. According to the Healthy-Skincare website, sensitive skin is even more susceptible to the potentially damaging effects of a poor diet and requires careful monitoring of what you eat. If your sensitive skin is acne prone, avoiding certain foods can help minimize the frequency and severity of your condition.

Saturated Fats

You should avoid saturated fats as much as possible if your skin is sensitive and you struggle with acne. In his article "Cure Acne Naturally," written for the Cure Guide website, Randall Neustaedter, OMD, warns that saturated fats cause skin tissue breakdown and inflammation, which can exacerbate acne. This is true even for people with normal and oily skin types; inflammation may be even more severe if your skin is sensitive. Furthermore, dairy products and red meats contain extra hormones, which can upset your body's hormonal balance and lead to breakouts. Limit your intake of foods such as whole milk, cheese, butter, red meat and margarine. Choose low-fat or non-fat dairy products instead and leaner meats such as chicken, turkey or fish.

Caffeine

To improve the condition of your complexion, you should steer clear of caffeine as much as possible. "Caffeine increases the levels of stress hormones in the body and can aggravate acne," says Holistichealthtools.com. In addition to caffeine, sodas also contain high levels of sugar, which can cause inflammation. If you cannot commit to cutting caffeinated beverages out of your diet entirely, you should at least try to minimize your intake of sodas, coffees and teas and compensate for your intake by drinking more water. Water is the best drink for people who are trying to control acne.

Vegetable Oil

Like saturated fats, certain omega-6 fats in vegetable oils can also cause inflammation, says Cure Guide. Limit your use of vegetable oils such as corn oil, safflower oil, soybean oil and cottonseed oil. Furthermore, try to avoid consuming fried foods. The oils used for deep frying can be harmful to the skin and lead to increased breakouts. Instead, opt for olive oil when cooking or as a dressing.

Refined Carbohydrates

According to Holistichealthtools.com, while refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, rice, flour and sugar do not cause acne, they do stimulate insulin production in the body, as well as production of an "insulin-like growth factor called IGF-1." The increased insulin and IGF-1 triggers a release of male hormones, which in turn leads to increased sebum excretion through the skin. If the excess build up of sebum causes the skin pores to become blocked, bacteria could begin to grow, and the result is the formation of a pimple. To better manage your acne, limit the amount of refined carbohydrates you consume. Fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts are better snack options than cookies, chips and candy for sensitive acne-prone skin.

References

• Cure Acne Naturally
• Everyday Things To Keep Acne Away
• Healthy-Skincare: Sensitive Skin Care