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Acne is a common skin condition in which the pores and hair follicles become clogged.
Other factors contributing to acne include hormonal changes, age, medications, stress, and diet.
Certain foods may make acne worse.
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High-glycemic foodsthose that cause blood sugar levels to rise sharplymay worsen acne.
Sugar
While food does not causeacne, some foods can make it worse.
Inflammation in the skin raises the risk of acne.
Processed Foods
Processed foodsare foods that have been changed from their natural state.
The Western-style diet tends to be rich in processed foods with high calories, fat, and sugar.
Common examples of processed foods are fast food, packaged snacks, and soda.
Caffeine
Caffeineis a drug that stimulates the brain and nervous system.
It helps with fatigue and boosts alertness.
Coffee is a common drink that is rich in caffeine.
In addition to boosting alertness, caffeine increases the bodysstressresponse.
Stress may not cause acne, but it can worsen it.
The stress hormonecortisolcauses the skin to produce more oil, which can lead to clogged pores and acne.
It is unclear if consuming yogurt and cheese contributes to acne risk.
If you believe you have a dairy sensitivity, pay attention to dairy’s effects on your skin.
Talk with a healthcare provider if you notice that your skin inflammation or acne worsens when you eat dairy.
However, chocolate may affect skin cells and promote the growth of bacteria.
Bacteria growing on the skin can clog the pores and lead to acne.
Food Sensitivities
If your body is sensitive to certain foods, consuming those foods could cause acne.
Acne is an inflammatory condition.
It triggers when the skin pores are clogged and become inflamed.Food sensitivitiesare also linked with inflammation.
Being diagnosed with food sensitivity means that your immune system overreacts to a certain bang out of food.
This increases the amount of inflammation in the body, which may affect the skin.
How to Identify Your Triggers
It may be difficult to identify your acne triggers.
A healthcare provider may recommend eliminating a certain food group from your diet for a certain period.
If your skin seems to clear up, that food may be an acne trigger for you.
Food Swaps to Clear Acne
While some foods can worsen acne, others may improve it.
Foods with a low glycemic index do not spike blood sugar and insulin levels.
Probiotic-rich foods includekombucha,kefir, yogurt, and fermented foods like kimchi.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Healthy fats likeomega-3 fatty acidsdecrease inflammation and may lower the risk of acne.
Foods rich in omega-3s include mackerel, salmon, herring, sardines, and anchovies.
Plant-based sources include flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, andsoybeans.
Lean proteins include chicken breast, white meat turkey, beans, lentils, and egg whites.
Summary
Acne is a common skin condition brought on by clogged pores and hair follicles.
It is an inflammatory condition, and foods that promote inflammation in the body may worsen it.
While no food has been found to cause acne, certain groups can make it worse.
High-glycemic and processed foods like candy, soda, and fast food may worsen acne.
These foods cause blood sugar and insulin levels to spike.
This leads to excess inflammation and may cause the skin to produce more oil.
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