Do Apples Cure Acne?

Acne treatments target the main causes of acne, including excessive skin oiliness, the buildup of dead skin cells, clogged pores and bacteria that live on the skin. These treatments include topical remedies that contain benzoyl peroxide, retinoids or salicylic acid and oral medications such as the antibiotic tetracycline. However, these remedies simply keep acne at bay, they do not cure it --- and neither do apples. But apples may play a role in acne in a few ways.

Benefit of Apple's Antioxidants

Apples are a very good source of antioxidants called polyphenols. Antioxidants stabilize free radicals that damage cells and tissues and boost inflammatory proteins known as cytokines. This is good news for acne, as high insulin levels increase inflammation in your skin and kick oil glands into overdrive. The bacteria that cause acne, Propionibacterium acnes, also flourish in oily skin.

Benefit of Fiber in Apples

Apples are a rich source of dietary fiber, especially the insoluble fiber, pectin. One medium apple with the skin on contains about 4.4 g of fiber, according to HealthAlternatives2000.com. Fiber helps to keep your blood glucose and insulin levels stable. Insulin is another reason inflammation in your body can increase, causing acne to become worse.

Considerations

In some cases, apples may make acne worse, not better --- for instance, if you prefer to drink apple juice rather than eat apples. Commercially prepared apple juice is usually high in sugar, thereby driving up your insulin levels. However, drinking apple juice that contains fiber and no added sugar may prevent this problem. Also, food triggers for acne breakouts vary from person to person. The only way to see apples make a difference to your acne is to eliminate it from your diet for four to six months and see if your skin improves.

The Only Acne Cure

Isotretinoin, a synthetic form of vitamin A, is the only known cure for acne. It can successfully stop acne in 50 percent of people who take it, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Typically, you take isotretinoin orally for four to six months. However, due to the high levels of vitamin A in this medication, it can cause serious side effects such as high cholesterol levels, liver damage and fetal defects. Take it only under the guidance of a dermatologist.