Does Having a Healthy Diet Reduce Acne?

It has been said that cutting out junk and dairy from one’s diet can have a huge impact on acne. In this blog, we talk about how foods you consume can cause/control sebum production. 

Have you ever wanted to indulge in the juiciest cheeseburger, but the adults always reminded you that it would wreak havoc on your skin? Well, there is some truth to that sentence.

For ages, studies have been trying to find the connection between diet and acne. While diet alone cannot be the cause of acne, it can have a significant impact on your skin and acne. So, if you’ve sometimes witnessed a sudden surge of pimples on your skin, you may want to backtrack everything you ate out of the ordinary the day before. 

A diet high in glycemic index may increase the amount of pimples you get. With junk food being at the top of the chain when it comes to high-glycemic index foods, it would benefit your overall well-being too if you were to cut out white bread, corn flakes, fries, pastries and sugary drinks.

In contrast to this, eating the greens is always a good idea and you should include more fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, etc., in your diet. As a low-glycemic index diet keeps your blood sugar in check, it prevents acne that otherwise would have appeared on your skin due to the inflammation caused by a spike in blood sugar. 

One of the main ‘unofficial’ culprits often blamed for acne is cow's milk, due to some of the hormones it contains. Some studies suggest that if you consume milk on a daily-basis, you’re more likely to develop breakouts than those who don’t. However, by-products of milk like yoghurt and cheese have no evidence of causing breakouts. To substitute milk, you can include probiotic drinks, eggs and whole foods to your diet. 

There are replacement options for every food item. So, if you’re craving something sweet, try replacing your favourite dessert with dark chocolate; if you’re craving a light snack, try going for nuts and popcorn. Although some foods are harder to replace, like your morning cup of coffee, you can still try green tea or apples for a day and see how it makes you feel. 

All being said and done, the important thing is to stay away from highly-processed foods. Besides these foods, you should be wary of foods that act as allergens or triggers for you as they may lead to rashes. While it should be noted that a connection between diet and acne is still under a lot of research, it would do you good to have some mindful eating habits and observe if these things work for your skin. 

Along with a healthy diet, having a neat skincare routine to manage your acne too is a must. Following a 3-step routine where you cleanse, tone and moisturise to protect your skin, can help you tackle your pimple problem effectively. You may choose a face wash like AcneStar to clean your skin of the dirt before it clogs your pores. However, keep an eye on what you’re consuming and how it is affecting your acne from time to time to avoid breakouts.