Even with the best skincare routines and procedures, there is always the constant threat of acne. It always seems to strike at the most inopportune moment. This makes it very annoying and a flare-up can be a huge knock to your confidence when you need it most.
We all want to look our best at all times, so how do we prevent acne from forming? The first step is to understand what causes it in the first place. The truth is that there are many things that can contribute to a flare-up of acne these include sebum and keratin, certain types of bacteria, hormones, blocked pores and more.
One potential cause of your acne woes that you have probably overlooked is your diet. There are certain foods that can trigger a major acne outbreak! If you want to help your body to stop your acne, you should look to cut out certain foods.
Below are the six worst foods for acne:
1. Junk food (burgers & fries)
Unsurprisingly, the least nutritional foods are also the worst foods for acne. Acne is much more common in those who eat a western style diet that is calorie heavy, with lots of fat and refined sugars. It’s not just burgers and fries, it’s all fast food that is the problem. A recent study conducted amongst teenagers showed that those who ate fast food regularly had over a 15% greater chance of developing acne.
In addition to fast food being linked to acne, it is also terrible for your health. If you are serious about looking good and feeling good, then you should make sure that you do all that you can to eat a healthy balanced diet at all times.
2. Refined carbohydrates (soft drinks)
Soft drinks are another obvious choice as the worst foods for acne. Eating carbohydrates cause an increase in blood sugar levels and as a result, the production of insulin. Carbohydrates are commonly found in bread, pasta, white rice, sugary drinks, sweeteners and more.
Insulin causes androgen hormones in your body to become more active. This, in turn, causes skin cells to grow at a much more rapid rate which leads to more acne. Diets that have less sugar in them, or low-glycemic diets, are actually linked to less ance. So, once again, the healthy diet triumphs again when it comes to reducing your acne problems.
3. Ice cream
Okay, so it’s not just ice cream. It’s all dairy products that can cause an increase in acne. This is more of a common like in teenagers. In a recent study the link between a dairy-heavy diet and acne, it was found that teenagers had a much greater chance of developing acne if they ingested a lot of dairy.
There are a few theories as to why this is. The main one is that drinking milk or eating ice cream will cause your insulin levels to spike which carries with it the same effects as refined carbohydrates. Another is that there are certain hormones in cow’s milk that can cause increases sebum production.
4. Omega 6
This is where we get a little technical. Omega 6 fatty acids may be something that you haven’t heard of before. However, it does ring a bell? Omega 3 oils are what you are probably aware of. They may sound similar but they have very different effects on your body.
Diets containing large amounts of omega-6 fatty acids, like the typical Western diet, have been linked to increased levels of inflammation and acne. A top tip to help with ance is to take omega 3 supplements. These can help a great deal to reduce inflammation and calm your skin down.
5. Chocolate
This food should really fall under the refined sugars tab, but it deserves a special mention. This is because you are far more likely to overindulge with chocolate than with any other snack. You can find that your insulin levels are spiking all over the place as you regularly have a candy bar here and a candy bar there.
6. Protein powders
Supplements can often be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you want to keep your protein levels up and boost your calorie intake. On the other, you want to limit the amino acids that cause skin cells to grow and increase acne. The simple fact is that you can’t have both.
This is not to say that the moment you start drinking whey protein powders every day that you will suddenly develop acne. As with any supplement intake, you will need to try it and see how your body reacts. If you decide that the benefits are worth any side effects, then keep going. Many people take this form of supplements and never get acne.
As we just mentioned, every body is different. You should try to keep an eye on what you have eaten recently when you have a flare up of acne. When you are aware of the worst foods for acne, this can help you to understand how your body reacts to certain foods. Over time, you can adjust your diet to keep you away from these foods and supplements.