If you have acne-prone skin, you know that you have to be extremely cautious about the skincare products you use as certain ingredients and formulas can exacerbate your breakouts. But, most acne sufferers don’t realize that they have to be cautious about the food they eat, too!
Just like your skincare products, certain foods contain ingredients that can trigger acne and cause your skin to breakout. Most people know to stay away from sweets and dairy for their waistlines, but these foods are also bad for people with acne-prone skin. “Where once we as dermatologists dismissed the idea of diet and pimples, there is now good evidence of a link between unrefined sugars, sweets, milk chocolate, and unrefined carbohydrates with increased incidence of acne breakout,” says London-based dermatologist Nicholas Lowe.
Not sure which foods to avoid to help prevent breakouts and acne flare-ups? Here are some of the worst things dermatologists say you can eat if you have acne-prone skin:
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Cheese
Cheese, and any product that contains milk, has been proven to cause acne. "Blockage of pores caused by hormone induced changes in your skin is a known cause of acne. Milk might contribute to acne, therefore, because milk contains hormones (androgens) that can act on your skin just like your natural hormones," according to The Derm Blog.
Spicy Foods
Spicy foods are known to contain acidic lycopene, which can be an irritant to some people with acne-prone skin. It throws off their skin's pH levels and triggers breakouts.
Chocolate
Chocolate, like dairy products, white bread and other baked goods, has a high glycaemic index, which increases the amount of insulin produced in our body and can cause acne. For chocolate, it's the caffeine, theobromine, and serotonin that increases insulin production, according to DermNet NZ.
French Fries
French fries are high in sodium and are considered to be a hyperglycemic food, which are known to cause acne. But, that's not the only reason why foods like french fries can be making you breakout. The oil and grease from the fries can clog your pores without you knowing while you're eating them. "If that oil’s not washed away from your skin, it can clog your pores and cause breakouts all around your mouth. Breakouts around the mouth are SO not fun and we all wanna avoid that at all costs," says Dr. Yoram Harth of MDacne.
Sushi
Sushi is considered to be a high glycemic food, which have been found to trigger an inflammatory response in the body and trigger acne, because they contain white rice. "The glycemic index of sushi rice (or white rice) is rather high. For instance, a 1/2 cup serving of cooked white rice has a glycemic index rating of 17 (20 and above is considered a high glycemic food," according to Active Beat.
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