Does Diet Play a Role in Acne?

It has been a subject of great debate if diet plays a role in acne. Now it's becoming clear that diet or food items may not directly cause acne, but the chemicals released during the metabolism of certain food items directly influence factors causing acne, and thus worsen the condition of pre-existing acne or trigger off on set of acne.

Acne is caused by extra sebum production which is stimulated by the male hormone testosterone. Meat contains hormones and hormone-like substances which can affect the hormonal balance in body. There have been cases reported by beauticians that women who regularly eat meat are more likely to suffer from acne, which is probably caused by the steroids and hormones present in meat.

In 90% of acne patients, acne is caused by consuming foods that can cause acne whereas in the rest of 10% patients, it is partly caused by hormones.

Acne develops because of the clogging of hair follicle on the skin. This clogging takes place when excessive sebum is produced and it accumulates within the pore. Mixed with the dead cells from the wall of follicle, this sebum creates a plug which closes the pore, and this overstuffed pore is then attacked by bacteria living in the skin. This results in inflammation and infection.

To prevent acne, the cause of this skin disorder is attacked- that is to unclog the pore, reduce formation of sebum, kill bacteria and lessen the inflammation. Western diets, which contain high-fat content and dairy products, causes acne to spread, whereas in the countries or regions thriving on the traditional low fat, high-starch diet based on vegetables and fruits show little or no acne in people.

Acne is also affected by food which is hard to digest or that results in a sluggish digestive process. A sluggish digestive system gives rise to all sorts of skin disorders. It is necessary for people affected by acne to take care of their diet and consume as much plant-based, fiber-rich food as they can because it will not burden their digestive system and make metabolism easy. Acne-affected people should drink lots of water, have daily servings of colorful fruits and vegetables (which replenish different nutrients in body), have a tablespoon of cold-pressed seed oil daily, eat oily fish three times a week (to compensate essential fatty acids), eat plenty of whole grain, root vegetables, lentils and beans, and avoid alcohol and caffeine as much as possible.

A healthy diet helps the body in maintaining healthy skin. Although there is no direct relationship between adult acne and diet, certain diet considerations can help the body's immune system and directly affect acne treatment. A healthy diet is rich in fiber, salads, whole wheat bread, bran, or multi-grain foods which keep digestive systems moving fast. Eating different kinds of fruit daily provides body with antioxidants which help rid the body of acne. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water every day helps skin rid toxins and transport nutrients to skin.

For many years, people believed that certain foods like chocolates and french fries worsened acne conditions. Then dermatologists opposed this view, saying that diet had no role in acne. In 2003, a study proved that diet does play an

important role in acne infection and that Western diets may be the root cause of 79% to 95% American teenagers having acne. The study was published in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology and it centered around village people's dietary habits on Kitava Island, Papua New Guinea. In more than 1,200 people studied, no acne was found. The study included 300 teenagers and young adults from 15-25 years old.

The people of Kitava Island are physically active and eat a low-fat, high carbohydrate diet (almost 70%) of mostly roots, fruits and vegetables. This diet keeps their insulin level low.

Diets rich in fat or diets lacking any fat at all are both bad for acne conditions, as both conditions alter sebum production processes greatly. Some fat in your diet is necessary for the vitamins' absorption. But high fat content increases oil levels in and on the skin (sebum), which increases bacterial growth. Also, the rich Western diet increases sex hormones, which explain precocious puberty in boys and girls. Excess male hormones are well-known to cause and worsen acne by increasing sebum production.

Acne is also promoted by the lack of antioxidants and plant-derived nutrients. These are essential in keeping the skin healthy. High fat diets cause poor blood circulation, making skin susceptible to acne.

People suffering from acne should avoid sugar and sugary foods such as soft drinks, jams, many cereals, biscuits and cakes. They should refrain from eating food containing white flour such as bread, pasta, biscuits and pastries. Chemical additives in canned food are also harmful for acne conditions. Fried, fatty and processed food should be avoided to save the skin and digestive system from toxins getting produced during metabolism. Acne patients should not smoke at all.

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