Although there is controversy in the medical field over whether specific foods can cause acne, there is plenty of common sense that tells us that what we eat is sure to affect our skin.
Though some doctors say there is little evidence from scientific research to support the theory that there is a relationship between acne and diet, just ask any teenager though and they will tell you that certain foods cause their skin to break out!
Controversy or Common Sense?
The reality is, that teenagers in indigenous and traditional cultures that do not have access to refined and processed foods do NOT get acne.
That in itself suggests that there is a relationship between diet and acne. If you are serious about getting rid of your acne, I highly recommend that you modify your diet and eliminate foods that cause acne.
This can bring you HUGE positive results if you can be consistent AND also respectfully listen to your body's signals.
Eliminating foods that cause acne is especially important if you have sensitive skin and can't handle the intensity of traditional Benozyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid treatments.
Those acne treatments are 'band aids' which certainly have their place in cases of severe acne, but which do not address the root of the problem.
Since acne is a signal that your body is out of balance, if you can create more health and balance in your body naturally, your acne problems will get better!
What Causes Acne?
Acne is an inflammatory condition in the body which seems to be aggravated by hormonal fluctuations in the body. That is why so many teenagers, pregnant women and menopausal women get acne.
Acne is also thought to be aggravated by stress, and by food allergies.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, acne is a digestive issue related to a build up of heat in specific energy pathways of the body.
As you can see there is often a deeper underlying cause that goes beyond eating the foods that cause acne.
Acne is on the rise and the average age of people who get acne has been going up. Nowadays, even adults are getting acne!
What Are the Foods That Cause Acne?
These are some of the foods that cause acne that have been reported by both teenagers and adults.
A word of caution here ... we each have a beautiful and unique body with unique nutritional needs. It is important to develop a relationship with your body and to take some time to learn what foods YOUR body reacts well too, and which cause acne problems.
Excess Carbohydrates - too many carbohydrates raises our blood sugar and affects our hormonal balance, which can cause acne outbreaks. Some people have had a good result by eating a lower carbohydrate diet. Carbohydrates produce insulin, which causes an increase in testosterone (for both men and women) which can imbalance the hormones.
Sugar - Sugar is a refine carbohydrate which wreaks havoc on our insulin levels and can be a real problem for acne.
Saturated and hydrogenated fats are more difficult for the body to process. Use olive oil instead. Also, if you eat foods that are high in fat, be sure to wipe your face so the excess fats do not get on your face! your face!
Processed foods - these are some of the most common foods that cause acne. They contain a host of things that are bad for your health, including an excess of salt and sugar, hydrogenated oils, wheat flour. They are also lacking in fiber and in the enzymes, vitamins and minerals that you would find in food that is fresh, an in it's natural state.
Chocolate - Many teenagers find they break out after eating a chocolate candy bar. Some people find that this kind of high sugar milk chocolate causes acne outbreaks, but that a low sugar dark chocolate does not.
Caffeine - some people have noticed their acne outbreaks are connected with caffeine. This could be because the caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands which affect the hormonal balance of our bodies.
Dairy products - some people notice that dairy is one of the foods that cause acne. This may be because of the hormones that cattle are fed, so you may want to try eating organic dairy products to see if that helps the situation. Yogurt seems to be the exception, perhaps because the friendly bacteria help to support digestion.
Shellfish - some people have noticed they break out when eating shellfish. Shellfish is very high in iodine which may be too much for sensitive acne prone skin. Iodized salt also can also contribute to acne outbreaks.
Wheat and gluten products - as yummy and delicious as wheat products are, they tend to create more inflammation in the body than other types of grains. When I was a teenager I went on a wheat free diet and my acne cleared up completely! If you have a really bad case of acne and need some serious intervention, I HIGHLY recommend giving up wheat for two weeks and seeing how you feel and how your face looks!
As an adult I started eating wheat again with no problems, but a few years ago I had a bad fall and could not get the swelling and the pain in my ankle to go away. I decided to try the wheat free diet and my pain is almost completely gone now!
Red Meat - Some people notice they get acne outbreaks when they eat beef. This may be from the high saturated fat content of most red meats, or it could be from the hormones and antibiotics that cattle are given. If you must eat red meat, try lean, organic red meat and see if this helps.
Nuts - some people say nuts are one of the foods that cause acne. I never had a problem eating nuts, but each of us is different. Nuts have important omega 3 fatty acids which are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and which can benefit anyone with an inflammatory problem like acne.
As you can see, each of these foods tends to be the type of food that might easily cause a food allergy. Some medical professionals believe that acne is not a hormonal imbalance but is related to food allergies. Perhaps it is a bit of both.
Discovering Foods That Cause Acne - Keep a Journal
Keep a record of what you eat each day, and of how your face and skin reacts. You can even create an online journal for free here at our Sensitive Natural Beauty Journal page.
Do this for at least two weeks. What did you learn? This is one of the best ways to figure which are the foods that cause acne for you.
Recommended Acne Diet
An acne diet can help clear your skin AND also increase your health and well being. A good acne diet has four main components.
- Eliminate processed foods and food that cause acne
- Low carbohydrate and adequate protein
- High in natural vitamins from vegetables and fruits
- Lots and lots of pure water!
- A good acne diet includes:
- Lots of fresh veggies and fruits
- Dark purple and red foods like berries
- Lots of salads and fresh, raw green foods
- Legumes and beans
- Organic lean meats and fish
- Whole grains
- Organic cold pressed olive oil instead of saturated fats
- Fish oil
- Organic Eggs (for those who are not allergic)
- Nuts (for those who can tolerate them)
- Green tea instead of coffee
You may want to avoid a lot of spicy foods and garlic which produce more heat in the body, but some people have found the spice turmeric to be helpful in treating acne, because of its potent anti-inflammatory properties.
Acne Diet Supplements
Sometimes eating a health diet and avoiding foods that cause acne isn't quite enough to give your body all the nutrition it needs. We live in stressful times, and stress causes our bodies to need more vitamins and minerals.
Additionally, the amount of toxins in the environment and in our foods and personal care products puts an extra stress on our bodies.
There is growing concern about the widespread use of plastics and how the chemicals in some plastics leak into our food and water and cause disruption of our hormonal systems. This creates even more stress for those of us with sensitive acne prone skin.
Here are some of the acne diet supplements you may find useful in helping your skin to heal and to become radiant and clear.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids, which are anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. The most potent forms are in fish oil, however most fish oils are contaminated with pollutants.
The purer forms of fish oil are often extremely expensive! The best quality and MOST affordable fish oil I've found is the Xtend Life Omega 3 and even better, you won't get that fishy aftertaste with it. I use these products myself, they are excellent.
Digestive enzymes to assist in the digestion of fats and to clear inflammation from the body.
Acidophilus to keep digestion healthy.
Zinc with Copperr to promote skin healing and regeneration.
Home Remedy for Acne
An overlooked home remedy for acne is simply to exercise regularly. Regular exercise improves circulation, balances out insulin production which helps to prevent hormonal imbalances that can cause acne.
Another very simple home remedy for acne is to use simple kitchen ingredients to exfoliate your skin and to keep it free from bacteria.
Lemon Juice and Water Home Acne Treatment for Exfoliation
This home acne treatment is simple, inexpensive, and if used daily can help clear and rejuvenate your skin.
use fresh squeezed lemon juice diluted with equal amount of pure water. Let the lemon juice dry for 10 minutes and rinse with cool water. Your face will sting or mildly burn.
Honey Facial Mask to Prevent infection
This home remedy for acne is helpful when used daily to kill germs and prevent infection/
Apply raw honey to you face and leave it for five minutes and rinse.
If you can't find raw honey, you might see if Tea Tree Oil will work for your sensitive skin.
Tea tree oil is a powerful antibacterial, and in some cases will work as well as Benzoyl Peroxide in clearing up acne outbreaks and preventing new ones. Test first on the inside of your arm before using tea tree oil on your face.
(We definitely do NOT recommend Benzoyl Peroxide acne treatments for sensitive skin!)
Tea tree oil and other essential oils are powerful natural medicines, which may be very helpful for your acne, however you DO need to go slowly when you have sensitive skin.
A Simple Homemade Acne Treatment That Works
We've been seeing some fantastic results with this very simple four step hypoallergenic acne sensitive skin treatment that uses three gentle hypoallergenic products. This is an extremely affordable AND effective method that is guaranteed to work within two weeks.
Natural Herbal and Homeopathic Treatments for Acne
When dietary changes and home remedies are not enough, it is still possible to find safe, natural and effective acne treatments through herbal and homeopathic remedies for acne.
Look for natural acne treatments that are created by natural health professionals, and that are based on scientific research, and that come with a money back guarantee so you can try them without risk.
Every person's body is unique and so you may need to try a few to see what works best for you. Homeopathic remedies are a good choice for people with sensitive skin, as they don't have side effects. I recommend these natural skin care remedies for acne which are gentle enough for sensitive skin, and effective enough to produce real results.
Foods That Cause Acne - A Complete Home Acne Treatment Program
One of the best ways to permanently overcome acne is to remove all of the causes of acne from your daily life, including the foods that cause acne.
The benefit of this approach is that you develop new daily life habits so that your acne will not return, and you no longer need to use harsh creams with toxic chemicals to get rid of acne.
The best natural acne treatment program I've found is Acne No More which provides over 233 pages of expert information that is designed to eliminate the root cause of acne. This program also includes free counseling with a certified nutritionist and is one of the best values I've found for acne sensitive skin treatment
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