Food & Severe Acne

Living with severe acne can be frustrating and embarrassing. Swollen, inflamed pimples are also painful. Changing the food you eat to help control acne is safe and economical. The link between acne and diet is gaining scientific support. Unfortunately, not everyone with acne will benefit from dietary changes since it is not a factor in every case, according to physician James F. Balch, co-author of "Prescription for Drug Alternatives."

Enjoy Vegetables and Fish

If you like to skimp on these healthy foods in your diet, you may be making your acne worse. Vegetables are low in fat and calories and have minimal effect on insulin. Fish contains healthy omega-3 fatty acids that nourish the skin and suppress inflammation that plays a role in acne. A Korean study published in the "European Journal of Dermatology" in 2010 found that intake of fish and yellow, green leafy and cruciferous vegetables was much higher in participants without acne than those who had it.

Avoid High Glycemic Foods

In the Korean study, researchers also found that foods with a high-glycemic load can make acne worse. Foods with a high glycemic load cause insulin levels to rise rapidly --- and insulin increases inflammation and oil production in your skin --- both of which cause acne. To determine a food's glycemic load, multiply its glycemic index by the amount of carbohydrates it contains. Glycemic load is high if it is 20 or above, and medium if it is between 11 and 19.

Monitor Calorie Intake

Sometimes it's not just what you eat, but how much. Excess calories without enough exercise can make you overweight or obese. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, some overweight women with acne have excess insulin and hormone imbalances. However, when their insulin levels are corrected, hormonal balance is restored and acne improves.

Supplement with Guggul

This herb that is native to India has long been used to lower cholesterol levels. However, it can also be an effective treatment for stubborn or cystic acne. More recent studies on its effectiveness for acne are needed. However, in a small study published in the "Journal of Dermatology" in 1994, Indian researchers investigated the effects of taking gugulipid twice daily for three months by people with severe acne. The guggul group had similar improvements to those using tetracycline, a common antibiotic used to treat acne, including fewer inflammatory acne lesions. Results were even more dramatic for those with oily faces.

Considerations

If you notice that changing the food you eat does not improve your severe acne, consider other options. For instance, a dermatologist can recommend appropriate treatments, including over-the-counter topical remedies and oral medications such as the antibiotic tetracycline. For persistent, severe acne, your doctor may also recommend isotretinoin. However, this medication causes severe side effects, such as liver damage and fetal abnormalities, so make sure you discuss it thoroughly with your dermatologist.