Overview

Fifty million people are suffering from acne in every country. Acne can easily manage and all you need to do is avoid the foods that cause acne. Apart from foods, extreme changes in hormones also contribute to acne. Skin pores can cause acne and it is associated with

  • Dead skin cells
  • Oil
  • Bacteria

Women struggle more with acne than men. Acne mostly affects people who experience significant changes in hormone levels. Pregnant women also experience acne.

One shouldn’t use products which are related to pore-clogging, as these products are not ideal for many people and often result in acne. Following are the medications can cause acne are

  • Corticosteroids
  • Anabolic steroids

The above steroids can bring a lot of changes to your body as well as to the hormones. That is why acne affects teens only. Acne appears in the following areas of the body and it includes

  • Face
  • Around the neck
  • Shoulders
  • Chest
  • Upper back

Cystic lesions, blackheads, nodules, whiteheads, pustules, and inflamed pimples on the skin are the most common forms of acne as per medical experts.

What are the foods that cause acne?

Person food habits can have a serious effect on acne. A well-balanced diet and avoiding certain foods that cause acne is the best way to prevent the problem. Diet is important because certain foods in your diet can increase the levels of blood sugar and people get acne as a result. Foods that contain unhealthy substances can increase the risk of acne. It includes

  • Trans fats
  • Saturated fats
  • Carbs
  • Sugar

The following are the foods that cause acne and also rich in the above unhealthy substances. These foods include

  • Refined Grains and sugars
  • Dairy products
  • Fast or junk foods
  • Omega-6 Fat Foods
  • Chocolate
  • Whey protein powder
  • Energy Drinks
  • Dried Fruit
  • Juice
  • Sushi
  • Caffeine and alcohol
  • Alcoholic cocktails

Let’s discuss the above foods that cause acne in detail:

Refined Grains and sugars

Research shows that people with acne are more prone to eat refined carbs when compared to people with less acne. Following are the main sources of refined carbs and it includes

  • White flour
  • Breakfast cereals
  • White rice
  • Sweets
  • Pastries
  • Pasta
  • Sodas
  • Snacks

Another study revealed that people who consume sugary foods are more likely to develop acne when compared to the people who ate cakes and pastries. The risks of these foods are often associated with a person’s insulin and blood sugar levels.

Refined carbs can absorb rapidly into the bloodstream, and increase the levels of blood sugar in the affected body. It results in the rise of insulin in the body and it raises the production of sebum.

Dairy Products

There is a strong link between dairy products and acne in teen people. Research shows that adults who drink milk daily are more prone to develop acne. Dairy foods that cause acne are

  • Skim milk
  • Butter
  • Ice cream
  • Frozen desserts

Not all dairy products can cause acne but the studies revealed that dairy foods can raise the levels of insulin in the body and it completely depends on its effect on blood sugar. Amino acids found in dairy products can stimulate insulin-like growth factors that can help your skin to produce more acne on your body. More research needed to determine to prove the effects of dairy products on acne.

Fast or junk foods

People who eat junk foods have an increased risk of developing acne. These junk food items include

  • French fries
  • Milkshakes
  • Burgers
  • Sodas
  • Hot dogs
  • Nuggets

Research shows that consuming foods that are rich in fat can increase the risk of developing acne in teens and adult people. People who frequently consume burgers or sausages are more likely to develop acne. More research is needed to determine why junk foods can contribute to the cause of acne.

Omega-6 Fat Foods

People who maintain omega-6 fatty acids in their diet are more likely to develop acne along with inflammation. It is because these foods contain corn and soy oils in large quantities that contributes to the cause of acne in women. Omega-6 fatty foods that cause acne is

  • Fish
  • Walnuts

People should maintain balance while adding omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in their diet as unbalance may result in inflammation and can increase the severity of acne.

Chocolate

People assume that chocolate can contribute to acne but more research is needed to prove this point. Research shows that chocolate stimulates the acne-causing bacteria but it is still unclear.

Whey Protein Powder

whey protien

This dietary supplement is rich in amino acids like

  • Leucine
  • Glutamine

The above amino acids can divide the skin cells and make it grow rapidly, and this fast formation can cause acne on the skin. Research shows that there is a strong connection between male athletes who consume whey protein and develop acne. The main objective of amino acids is to increase the levels of insulin in the body which in turn leads to the formation of acne.

Energy drinks

People who consume energy drinks regularly have an increased risk of developing acne in their life. Energy drinks contain lots of sugar and it raises the levels of blood glucose in the body. Commonly, sugary foods cause acne and people should avoid sugary foods as much as they can by keeping this point in mind.

Researchers not yet given clarity to the people and more research is needed to determine that sugary foods cause acne.

Dried Fruit

Fruits are healthy but do you know that dried fruits can damage your skin by producing acne on the skin. Dried fruits are high on the glycaemic index due to the refined carbs and it increases the levels of insulin abruptly in the body. It can raise the production of oil in the body which in turn leads to the formation of acne.

Juice

Consuming fruit juices are good for health and there is no doubt in that. But most fruits are high in sugar with no fiber can trigger the condition of acne by raising the levels of blood sugar in your body and that leads to the formation of sebum. It can also cause inflammation. Due to this reason, juice added to the list of foods that cause acne.

Sushi

People know that sushi can help persons to get rid of acne with its acne-causing potential. If it is good then definitely there will be bad. This traditional Japanese sushi has white rice that is rich in carbohydrates and it can raise the levels of glucose in the body. As a result, it increases the production of sebum and inflammation.

Caffeine and Alcohol

Research shows that coffee negatively affects a person’s sensitivity to insulin. It means the levels of blood sugar in your body always stay high than normal after you have a cup of coffee.

caffeine and alcohol

It results in inflammation and increases the severity of acne. Kitavan people diet is the best way to reduce the risk of acne and the diet includes the

  • Reduce intake of coffee
  • Minimal consumption of alcohol
  • Limit the intake of sugar
  • Minimal intake of dairy products
  • Reduce intake of oils

Alcoholic cocktails

Alcoholic cocktails loaded with sugar and can also dehydrate your skin. The alcoholic cocktails include

  • Margaritas
  • Mojitos
  • Cosmopolitan
  • Negroni
  • Moscow mule

Above-mixed drinks can increase the levels of inflammation and blood sugar suddenly and leads to skin breakouts.

Conclusion

Acne is common in teens and young adults. But having too much acne can have a serious effect on the mental health of anyone. Avoid the above-mentioned foods in your diet and reduce the risk of acne.

References

  1. https://jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(17)30334-9/fulltext
  2. https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(16)01485-7/fulltext
  3. https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(12)00164-8/fulltext
  4. https://jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(12)01923-5/fulltext
  5. https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-511X-6-25

 

Categorized in:

Skin Care,

Last Update: June 8, 2020