Diet and acne

Treatments for acne

There are many ways to treat acne. Most dermatologists strongly push the use of medications- from topical solutions to oral antibiotics to harsh oral medications such as Accutane.

However, some sufferers find that many of these treatments do not always clear the acne. Others find that many of these treatments cause major side effects. For example, oral antibiotics prescribed for acne can cause vertigo. If this happens, the patient is then forced to stop taking the drug. Regardless, long-term antibiotic use is not recommended.

There are some things you can do that will help minimize the acne without having the negative side effects on your body. Here is a short outline of some of the foods that should be eaten and avoided if you have acne. Some find that by simply shifting their diet, the find an improvement in all kinds of acne (from moderate to severe):

Diet and Acne

Diet is key. Given that the skin is the body’s first defense, and largest organ, our skin clearly reflects what we eat. Thus, it is important to maintain a "healthful diet." A healthy diet includes plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, low- fat proteins, and healthy carbohydrates.

Foods to Eat

• Leafy greens- broccoli, spinach(in moderation only), kale(not good for acne.. should review), chard, beet greens- as well as a broad range of other non-starchy vegetables.
• Vegetables high in beta carotene- such as carrots
• Whole grains: such as brown rice, whole wheat breads (caution with wheat- see below), quinoa, cornmeal, etc.
• Low-fat proteins such as low mercury fishes, organic tofu, shellfish, lean chicken and meats, gamey meats
• Fruits in moderation- minimizing highly citric fruits such as oranges: while nearly all fruit is great for the body given high content of vitamins such as C; it is important to resist the urge to over-do fruits. See below. Good fruits include papaya, mango, banana, plums, tangerines and others.

Foods to Avoid

• Sugars: stay away from all refined sugars. This is the fastest way to send pimples to susceptible skin; it is not a myth! Sugar upsets the natural PH and bacterial balance in the gut which leads to many systemic disturbances starting with the skin.
• Too much fruit. Too much citrus can also upset the PH balance in the intestines. This is likely to lead to an imbalance in the body which often impacts the skin. Most fruits are also really high in sugar, and while, clearly better for the body than un-natural sugars, can still have the same reaction when consumed in excess. It is especially good to avoid too many fruit juices which are more concentrated than the whole fruit.
• Dairy. Caution with dairy products; if eaten it is best to stick with those with low-lactose and high natural acidophilus content (such as in some natural yogurts.) Some find that dairy can exacerbate acne; and many theories hold that acne can be linked to dairy allergies.
• High fat foods. Fat is hard for the body to breakdown and this often shows up in the skin. Many fatty foods cause an excess of oil in the skin- this is especially true with heavily fried foods such as French fries. High fat animal meats can also be disruptive to the skin- it is best to avoid fatty red meats and stick with the leaner versions.
• Wheat. Some find that acne can be triggered by wheat allergies. In general, Americans have a diet heavily weighted with wheat. Too much wheat can cause certain bacterial over-growth in the intestines leading to candidiasis.
• Caffeine. Caffeine can be dehydrating and disruptive to the skin. Many find that when they refrain from drinking coffee regularly, their acne improves.
• Alcohol. Alcohol acts as a sugar in the body and upsets the PH balance in the gut which then impacts the skin. If you are suffering from severe acne, you may want to try to give up all alcohol and caffeine for 3-4 weeks and see if you notice a difference.

For the most part, eating healthfully with natural, wholesome, whole grain and organic foods will positively impact most health ailments. However, given the sensitivity of our skin, you may notice a tremendous difference in simply changing your diet. Note that changing the diet takes focus and dedication. However, stick with it if you can- not only will your skin get better, but you will start to feel better all over!

Changing what you eat is one natural way to improve acne, some find that combining this with supplements and acne make the biggest difference. And even improve the state of the acne more than prescription medications.

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