Acne is one of the common skin condition faced by many people across the globe. There are varied reasons for acne, like blocked pores, inflammation, and acne-causing bacteria. But do you know the food you intake also play a crucial role in the development of acne? The relation between acne and diet is not popular; nevertheless, you cannot ignore the fact that the food you put in your stomach impacts your skin. Now if you are thinking about what foods cause acne? Or how diet affects the skin? Then relax we have got it covered for you. We have also bought you a list of foods that causes acne.
How Diet or Specific Foods Causes Acne?
Acne develops when the skin pores get clogged by bacteria, dead cells or both of them. Production of too much sebum also leads to the development of acne. Specific foods increase the levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) certain studies suggest that IGF-1 contributes to the production of sebum, which in turn worsen the acne symptoms. Here are some foods to avoid acne.
- Fast Food
Fast food falls first in the list of foods that cause acne. Western-style foods rich in refined carbohydrates, fats, and calories are strongly related to acne. Fast food items such as sodas, french fries, milkshakes, nuggets, and burgers are the main items of the western diet, and they increase the risk of acne. Consuming fast foods on a regular basis increases the risk of acne symptoms. If you are tired of acne, then it would be better to include acne in the list of foods to avoid for acne.
- Sugars and Refined Grains
Foods containing refined carbohydrates are likely to cause acne. Below mentioned are some of the foods loaded with refined carbohydrates.
- Sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas
- Food items made with white flour like pasta
- Cereals, bread or cereals made with white flour
- Sweeteners such as maple syrup or cane sugar
- Rice noodles
- White rice
Refined carbohydrates develop an adverse effect on insulin levels and blood sugar, which in turn increases the risk of acne symptoms. Overall, consuming a higher amount of refined carbohydrates might increase insulin and blood sugar level and play a significant role in the development of acne.
- Chocolate
Chocolates are considered as one of the primary foods that cause acne. The reasons why chocolate increases the risk of acne are still unclear. Nevertheless, consuming foods rich in sugar or fat increases the production of sebum and promotes inflammatory responses, which can result in acne. Chocolate cannot directly be held responsible for causing acne, but it surely falls in the category of foods rich in fats and sugar.
- Dairy Products
Dairy products are one of the answers to the question of what foods cause acne? Various studies have associated the link between dairy products and acne symptoms in teenagers. Milk contributes to raising the levels of insulin in the body, which affect blood sugar and worsens the severity of acne.
- Foods Loaded with Omega-6 Fats
Foods containing a higher amount of omega-6 fatty acids like Western diets are associated with an increase in levels of acne and inflammation. Imbalance in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids leads the body to an inflammatory state, which in turn worsens the severity of acne. Diets containing a higher amount of omega-6 and a lower amount of omega-3 fatty acids are pro-inflammatory and contribute to the severity of acne.
What To Eat to Avoid Acne
The above-mentioned foods contribute to acne; nevertheless, there are certain foods that you can consume to keep your skin clear and avoid acne. Some of the foods to prevent acne include-
- Zinc and Vitamin A, D, E
- Probiotics
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Mediterranean-style diets
Certain foods are associated with causing acne or increasing acne symptoms. Therefore, it is essential to include healthy foods in order to avoid acne and manage clear and glowing skin. It is not necessary to prevent the acne-causing foods, instead consume them in appropriate quantity with other foods rich in nutrients. If you are tired of acne scars, then go through our post home remedies to get rid of old acne scars.
