The link between acne and sugar intake is controversial. For decades, the American Academy of Dermatology has maintained that diet has no influence on skin. However, in recent years, this belief has been questioned. According to a study published in "Current Opinion in Pediatrics" in 2005, "nutritional studies have reevaluated a possible role for diet and lifestyle factors in acne development." Among other things, high sugar intake may exacerbate acne.
Acne and Hormones
The idea that sugar may cause acne ultimately comes down to hormones. Pimples develop when glands inside the skin's pores start over-producing sebum, an oil-like substance. Pores clog, bacteria builds up and pimples form.
According to an article by Christian Nordqvist, published in 2009 in "Medical News Today," male-like hormones called androgens increase the production of sebum. When your androgen levels increase, you are more likely to develop acne.
Sugar and Hormones
According to the book "The Clear Skin Diet," by Dr. Alan Logan of Harvard Medical School's Mind-Body Medical Institute and nutritionist Valori Treloar, when you eat foods with a low glycemic index--foods rich in sugar and simple starches--blood levels of the hormone insulin immediately spike. One of the downstream effects of insulin is that it also increases blood levels of androgens, including testosterone. As a result, the authors conclude that sugar can cause acne.
Research
A randomized control trial published in 2007 in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" by Robyn N. Smith, Neil J. Mann, Anna Braue, Henna Mäkeläinen and George A. Varigos, found that males who ate diets rich in foods with a high glycemic index developed more acne than patients who ate diets with an overall low glycemic index. And a pilot study published in 2008 in "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research," by the same authors, found that young men who ate high-sugar (high-glycemic load) diets had increased levels of sex hormones in their blood, which they concluded suggests "these diets may aggravate potential factors involved in acne development."
Other Foods to Avoid
According to a study published in 2005 in the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology," by Clement A. Adebamowo, Donna Spiegelman, William Danby, Lindsay Frazier, Walter C. Willett and Michelle D. Holmes, dairy products may also exacerbate acne. The authors of "The Clear Skin Diet" argue that dairy products made from pregnant cows contain hormones the human body can convert into testosterone. This testosterone then may increase acne risk.
Foods That May Improve Acne
People who want to get rid of acne may want to consume diets rich in fiber, fruits and vegetables, yogurt and omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in nuts and in cold-water fish, including salmon and mackerel, according to "The Clear Skin Diet."
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