The Acne Diet: What You Can Eat To Prevent Acne

Treating acne can be a consuming process. Since it cannot be eradicated overnight, patience and perseverance are something you cannot do away with. Acne is a condition pertaining to the skin. It occurs due to the clogging of pores with oil and dead skin. Acne causes pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. The good news is that acne is directly related to what you eat. Having said that, the desired alteration in diet can help tackle acne. The most common surfaces in your body for acne are the face, neck, shoulders, and back.

 What actually causes this condition we know as “acne”?

Our skin is covered with small holes or pores that are connectors to the oil glands. When these oil glands produce sebum (an oily liquid), it is sent to the skin’s surface through the follicle. The oil brings the dead skin cells to the surface. When the pores clog up with these dead skin cells or the oil produced by the glands, acne occurs. Bacteria also add to the formation of acne.

The most usual time when acne occurs is during puberty. As in this phase, the hormones produce excess oil, the chances of acne occurring in your body are much higher. The three sub-conditions of acne are listed below:

• Pimples: These are bumps that appear on your skin when the pore walls allow bacteria, dead skin, and oil to get inside them. Pimples usually have pus inside them as a result of the body’s resistance.

• Blackheads: These occur when a pore remains open even after it gets clogged. These are tiny dark spots.

• Whiteheads: These occur when clogged pores close yet stick on the skin’s surface. These are white in colour and are hard in texture.

Can alteration in diet help fight acne?

 Your diet is directly linked to your body’s well-being. There are food items that increase the blood sugar level quicker than other items and as a response to this; your body releases the insulin hormone. When you have insulin in an excess quantity in your blood, the oil glands tend to produce more oil. This enhances the chances of getting acne. Food items like white rice, white bread, pasta, sugar, high-glycemic carbohydrates, saturated fats, dairy products etc. are known to increase blood sugar levels. Another item that deteriorates acne is chocolate.

What can you include in your diet to prevent skin issues like acne?

Consuming low-glycemic food products is advised. Since these are composed of complex carbohydrates, they drastically reduce the scope of having acne. Some of these food items are-

• Legumes
• Whole grains
• Raw fruits
• Raw or unprocessed vegetables

Food items that are high in zinc, antioxidants, vitamin A, and vitamin E are great options to have healthy skin. Below are some items you can consider adding to your diet to reduce the chances of developing acne:

• Fruits like apricots, carrots, and sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Blueberries
• Dark green leafy vegetables
• Brown Rice
• Quinoa
• Nuts
• Whole-wheat bread
• Beans
• Lentils
• Turkey
• Salmon and similar fatty fish

If you have any allergies to any kind of food products, it is always suggested that you consult your doctor while altering your diet.

How do these food products help?

There are studies that recommend a low-glycemic diet for people suffering from acne. Since the prescribed food products are low in sugar, they evidently improve acne. Studies that have taken both women and men into consideration report that low-glycemic, high-protein diets have shown significant improvement of acne in a short span of time.

Adding food products that are rich in zinc also helps in this regard. These products include-

• Cashews
• Pumpkin seeds
• Turkey
• Quinoa
• Beef
• Crabs
• Oysters

Since zinc is known to contribute to skin development, regulate hormones and metabolism, it is a great source to fight acne. Studies have found out that people whose zinc intake wasn’t at par were more prone to acne.

Consumption of products that are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Omega-3s can also be good additions to your diet. If you are planning on taking supplements, then consulting your doctor is highly recommended. Sources like eggs and fishes have Omega-3s. These together with antioxidants reduce inflammation and thus cease the scope of developing acne. Studies have also found that people whose intake of omega-3 and antioxidant supplements were at par drastically improved their acne. Since acne can also cause mental discomfort, altering your diet can bring about an incredible change in your life. It is important that these conditions are addressed in every possible manner to have a healthy lifestyle. Diet is an important part of our existence and the right approach to treating conditions like acne should never be devoid of dietary changes.

Besides keeping your diet in check, you can try some beauty care products to get rid of acne. Carmesi’s acne spot corrector is one of the sought after products in the market. Check it out here.