5 foods that may be causing your acne

Acne? Here are foods that may be causing it!

Acne flares up when you least expect it. Whether you've to go to an important job interview, a much-awaited date, or anything, acne is the least thing you want to see on your face.

While we often blame cosmetics and pollution for damaging our skin, we forget to watch our plates. Acne mainly comes from the inside. So, the food we consume can be an easy culprit for pesky pimples. 

Here are the top five common acne-causing foods that are best to avoid!

Cow’s Milk

Cow’s milk has be proven time and again with several studies to be a consistent cause of acne. If we had to put them on a spectrum, skim milk would be no.1, followed by 2% and then whole milk. Counter inuitive right? In one study, women who drank skim milk were found to be 44% more likely to have acne than those who drank whole milk. The same was shown to be true for people of all ages and genders. 

While there is no direct studies done to show cheese and yogurt to cause acne,  yogurt ice cream and other foods rich in sugar can certainly cause breakouts. More on his below. 

Foods Rich in Omega-6 Fats

Consuming food rich in omega-6 fatty acids can increase skin inflammation and acne levels. For example, Western diets contain excessive corn and soy oils, which are rich in omega-6 fats. Few foods, like walnuts and fish, contain omega-3 fats. 

This imbalance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids creates inflammation, often worsening acne severity.

Sugar

High glycemic index foods (food high in sugar content or that raise your blood sugar fast) can cause blood sugar levels and hence insulin to spike. This spike can cause inflammation, leading to skin breakouts. As a result, our body produces more sebum, a naturally-occurring oily substance in our skin. But excessive sebum production can lead to acne and other skin problems.

So if you have a sweet tooth and can resist your late night dose of ice cream, this may be contributing to your acne woes. Fortunately there are many low sugar alternatives to most things now. Halo top ice cream is one option that has grown in popularity for its low sugar, and dairy free products. 

Gluten

While white rice, chips, white bread, pizza and other gluten (yes pizza too) rich foods are delicious and make life that much better,  they are bad for our skin particularly if you suffer from acne. There's no research that has shown gluten to be the direct cause however, gluten rich foods correlate to a high glycemic index, which cause inflammation and trigger acne-promoting hormones in our bodies. 

While a small amount of these foods might not cause a breakout, eating them frequently in large quantities can.

Keep that in mind the next time you're consider a large late night pizza. 

Spicy Foods

Spicy foods contain acidic lycopene that can irritate your skin and cause a imbalance in  pH levels in our body. This triggers skin to breakout. So, consider cutting the consumption of spicy foods to avoid and eliminate acne.

While watching your diet can work from the inside, a simple morning skincare routine can protect your skin from outside. 

Noticed a breakout? Try out fast acne treatments like high-frequency therapy or an acne defender serum that help reduce existing acne and prevent future breakouts by reducing inflammation and killing acne causing bacteria.

To find more skincare guidance, check out our Facebook group.