Can poor diet affect acne? If you have problems with acne, chances are you’ve heard to go on a special “acne diet” to eliminate problems with zits and blemishes.
But do the foods you eat and your regular diet actually cause acne?
The scientific answer is currently, “no.”, but there is indirect evidence.
However, there are several doctors and dermatologists who believe that, while there is no direct connection between diet and acne, there is (possibly) an indirect connection between what you eat and how you break out.
This could be for several reasons, among them hormone production and vitamin deficiency.
Obviously, you are looking for the causes of pimples or acne, but if you want to get rid of pimples fast, you can also have a look at some natural quick ways.
The Anti-Acne Diet Craze
There are many doctors and nutritionists that state eating a low calorie, high-fiber diet rich in antioxidants is the way to go if you have problems with acne.
However, this is pretty much a safe bet for anyone with health problems of any kind.
But while there is currently no empirical evidence to support that any diet will help clear up acne or make acne worse, there is quite a bit of anecdotal evidence that supports this.
Common Villains to Acne
If you’re experiencing frequent breakouts and want to give diet moderation a try in order to control acne flare ups and breakouts, it’s important to keep a diary or journal of everything you eat.
Along with that, this journal should also track potential interfering factors, such as stress, menstrual cycles (for females), and current acne treatments.
Through the process of elimination, you can learn your acne triggers. Once you’ve learned those triggers, you can learn to avoid them.
Can Poor Diet Affect Acne by Using Dairy Products?
Among the most often accused of triggers for breakouts, dairy hits the #1 slot. Cream cheese, sour cream, milk, aged cheeses come from animals that are pregnant.
They secrete hormones into the milk (whether or not they have been treated with hormones is immaterial), and those hormones are appropriated by your body.
Your body will react to those hormones, producing its own, and possibly throwing your natural balance off kilter, causing acne breakouts.
Can Poor Diet Affect Acne Due to Chocolate?
There is actually no connection between chocolate and breakouts with the exception of chocolate that relies on dairy for its production.
If you’ve eliminated dairy from your diet, but still eat chocolate, check the ingredients. It may have milk in it.
Switch to a dark chocolate that doesn’t use dairy, and see if those flare ups clear out.
Calories and Poor Diet
Many acne diet regimens that destroy breakouts are low-calorie diets. This may be why acne diets are so successful, as there is a possible connection between weight loss and fewer breakouts.
Higher caloric intake often means an increased production of androgen — androgen is known to produce oily skin, and oily skin means more clogged pores.
However, if you are having severe acne problems and are overweight, consider losing weight and keeping track in your acne journal.
Beyond Poor Diet
But before you toss out your favorite candy bar for good, take a look at what mitigating factors that might be influencing a breakout:
Are your eating habits notoriously bad? Aside from the occasional candy bar or cookie, do you get a variety of foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains?
Until research can prove a direct connection between what you eat and acne flare ups, it’s best to monitor yourself, know what triggers your breakouts, and then act to control them.
Keeping a food journal and acne tracker (along with a stress tracker) can help you identify possible triggers of your flare ups, and learn to successfully control them.
So, can poor diet affect acne? Anecdotal evidence suggests that it does.
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