Diet and Acne Reston

Often times, people are quick to assume that their acne is due to external factors like makeup, skincare products, pollution, or other environmental irritants. While all of these things can undoubtedly contribute to breakouts, it’s also important to consider internal culprits like a poor diet.

Continue reading to find out why your diet is an important factor in acne trouble and steps that you can take to treat acne from the inside out.

What Causes Acne?

Oil production is the source of all acne breakouts. This is especially true when excess oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells come together to clog pores and produce inflammation.

Why Your Diet is an Important Factor in Acne Trouble

There are several reasons why your diet is an important factor in acne trouble. To start, certain foods are known to increase blood sugar, which leads to increased insulin levels. This chain of events culminates with oil glands increasing sebum production and putting you at greater risk for acne.

Some foods that can cause insulin to skyrocket include pasta, white rice, white bread, and sugar.

At the same time, other foods, that you may regularly consume, can stimulate the release of oil-boosting hormones and increase inflammation. These include high-glycemic carbohydrates, dairy, saturated fats, and trans fats.

Dietary Modifications that Can Help Your Skin

Now that you know why your diet is an important factor in acne trouble, you can take steps to limit your consumption of offending foods. Additionally, you can increase intake of foods that are chock full of acne-fighting vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

More specifically, try some skin-enhancing foods such as pumpkin seeds, cashews, beef, turkey, and quinoa that are high in zinc.

Also, make an effort to routinely incorporate fish and eggs, which are rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, into your diet. They have been shown reduce inflammation in the body and acne.

Additionally, you may consider eating more foods containing vitamins A and E to better manage your acne.

Learn More About the Link Between Diet and Acne

If you would like additional information about the link between diet and acne, please contact our office today to schedule a comprehensive consultation with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Morgana Colombo.