A number of factors can cause acne --- hormonal changes, allergy to cosmetics and a wrong choice in foods. Your body may respond to certain foods by producing excessive sebum, an oily substance which blocks pores and causes acne. These foods may vary from individual to individual, but avoiding them might reduce your risk of breakouts. Consult your doctor about your acne, and before beginning any new diet.
Avoid Oils and Fats
The American diet is, unfortunately, rich in oils and fats --- not all of them healthy. The Natural News website suggests that people in countries like Japan, Italy and Korea use healthier oils, like olive oil and fish oil, in their meals, which results in healthier-looking skin. Oils such as vegetable oils and those found in meats and lard are not easy to digest. They may also result in the increased production of the male hormone called androgen, which stimulates the production of sebum, resulting in clogged pores and acne. Drinking plenty of water and eliminating fried food and hydrogenated fats might help ease breakouts.
Avoid Sugars
Research published in 2007 in the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology" found that a diet rich in high-glycemic foods can lead to diabetes, hypoglycemia and acne. Acne occurs not due to the sugar itself, but due to blood sugar spikes, which stimulate acne-producing hormonal action. This, in turn, triggers increased production of sebum in the sweat glands. Pores become clogged with bacteria, which gives rise to acne. An anti-inflammatory diet calls for the regulation of blood sugar levels.
Avoid Dairy Products
Canadian dermatologist Dr. F.W. Danby sees a possible link between the hormones in cow's milk and acne, the Dairy Sensitivity Information website reports. Lactating cows are given certain hormones in efforts to increase their milk production. Among them is the androgen hormone, which can cause increased production of sebum and thus lead to acne. Further, sugars added to dairy products can have a stronger effect on acne-prone skin.
Include Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
When the digestive system is not working effectively, the body seeks to eliminate waste in other ways, including via the skin. This can result in clogged sweat pores, leading to acne. The fiber in fresh fruit and vegetables helps to keep the digestive system working smoothly. Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and antioxidants can reduced levels of androgen activity, the Sebum website explains, reducing sebum production and boosting your chances of clearer skin.
Drink Plenty Of Water
Our bodies are made up primarily of water, yet most people do not drink enough to replenish the amount lost each day. You lose water through heat, exercise and by dehydrating drinks like coffee and soda. The body needs a sufficient amount to help transport nutrients and to flush toxins from the digestive system rather than through the pores of the skin --- which results in acne. Your kidneys can eliminate excess hormones easily eliminated you're properly hydrated, health researcher Robert Kokosa tells the Buzzle website. Kokosa adds that water retention, caused when the body tries to conserve what little water it has, can also result in acne. Drinking enough water each day can treat these conditions.
References
- Health 911: Acne
- Natural News: For healthy, acne-free skin, just say no to fried food
- 4 Acne Cure: Effect of Fatty Foods on Acne
- "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology"; The effect of a high-protein, low glycemic-load diet versus a conventional, high glycemic-load diet on biochemical parameters associated with acne vulgaris; R.N. Smith et al.; August 2007
- Dairy Sensitivity Information: The Dairy Acne Connection
