5 Myths About Acne and Diet That We Can Stop Believing, According to Science
Acne is an
You might have wondered what you could do to stop the red bumps from popping up.
Many factors
The best treatment for a variety of conditions depends on a number of factors, and sometimes it requires working with a healthcare professional.
Many of the suggested ways to heal yourAcne are not backed by science.
The article breaks down 5 myths about the skin condition.
If you experience adult acne, you’re not alone.
Acne
For many people, acne peaks during puberty, but it can continue throughout adulthood, when it’s colloquially known as
Some
Adult acne can be
The treatment for teen and adult skin problems varies depending on severity and the cause. It is a good idea to work with a healthcare professional to find the best treatment for you.
“You don’t have to give up chocolate to avoid getting acne.”
There is conflicting research on whether chocolate causes or worsens the problem ofAcne is at best, conflicting
One small study of college students found that consuming chocolate had a greater association with acne than consuming jelly beans did, but that doesn’t prove that chocolate causes acne.
Another
That’s especially true because
For one thing, because chocolate contains ingredients such as sugar and milk, which
“Most studies evaluating links between diet andAcne are small and researchers cannot control the participants’ environments, such as other foods they eat, medications they take, or behaviors they engage in that could contribute to theirAcne is related to diet and other factors.”
However,
Older research suggests that foods with a high glycemic index (GI) — which cause your blood sugar to spike quickly after you eat them — could contribute to acne. But most studies about the role of GI in acne development are small, and the findings
There also appears to be a
There is no evidence to support the hypothesis that chocolate causes acne. If you notice an increase in your skin problems after eating chocolate, you should switch to dark chocolate, which is lower in added sugar.
There has long been controversy about whether eating dairy causes acne, and research is still emerging.
“It’s suggested that certain types of dairy may contribute to acne. This is likely due to dairy increasing insulin secretion and IGF-1 levels, which can lead to increased levels of androgen hormones and sebum production,” Jillian Greaves, MPH, RD, LDN, an integrative and functional dietitian, told Healthline.
There are many studies that show the relationship between the amount of fat in dairy and the appearance of skin. The studies have yielded differing conclusions.
The increased redness is a question of whether the dairy is to blame or if it is something else.
The analysis suggested a connection between skim milk and the skin condition.
Another meta-analysis of observational studies suggested a relationship between acne and all types of milk but not cheese or yogurt.
There is not enough data to suggest a cause-and-effect relationship, even though observational studies suggest a correlation.
Many studies on dairy and the effects of it on the skin rely on people recalling what they have eaten and on subjective assessments of how bad the skin is.
So, while dairy may be problematic for some people, the link isn’t as straightforward as people often make it out to be. We need more high quality research into the potential relationship between dairy and acne.
If you notice that your skin gets worse after you eat milk or chocolate, you may want to work with a registered dietitian to remove those foods from your diet for a short time and see if it improves.
If eating oily foods causes the problem ofAcne, then eating oily foods should increase the problem.
It’s not that simple, but the myth persists. In
There has been no research to show that greasy or fried foods cause or make it worse.
Certain foods can amplify underlying dynamics like blood sugar issues, inflammation, or gut imbalances that are driving the development of acne, according to Greaves.
Diets that include a lot of fried or greasy foods
If fried foods are a large part of your diet, you may unintentionally eat them in place of healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats
You are likely better off focusing on adding nutritious foods to your diet than on trying to completely eliminate favorite foods. (Check out these 12 sources of omega-3s for inspiration.)
If you eat greasy foods with your hands and then touch your face, the oil from your food may cause your skin to be damaged. You should wash your hands before touching your face.
The internet may try to convince you that going without wheat is not a bad thing, but it is unlikely to clear skin for most people.
Celiac disease, an autoimmune condition that requires following a strict gluten-free diet,
There is no evidence that giving up the wheat will clear up the skin condition of people without the disease.
A gluten-free diet can be difficult to follow, and doing so unnecessarily could increase stress. Since stress
Stress and deficiency of vitamins can make the condition worse, said Greaves.
Plus, avoiding gluten without a medical reason
So, if you want to promote clear skin, skip the fad diets and focus on establishing a balanced eating pattern that includes all the foods and food groups you enjoy.
A piece of advice from a registered dietitian
Some foods may not have a direct effect on your skin, but there are other factors to consider.
According to Healthline, balanced blood sugar is associated with the condition ofAcne. To balance blood sugar, eat consistent meals every 3–5 hours throughout the day and include a balance of healthy fats, fiber-rich starches, and non-starchy vegetables at meals.
Learn more about building a balanced plate here, directly from Healthline’s RDs.
Most people have some form of skin disease at some point in their lives. There is not enough research to back up the claims of possible causes ofAcne, but there are some myths that are true.
There are weak connections between milk and chocolate, but there are more important relationships that need more research.
There is no evidence that there is a connection between greasy foods and the problem ofAcne.
Research shows that diet and skin conditions are related, but overall diet and patterns matter more than individual foods. Follow a pattern that includes all the food groups and foods you enjoy.
“If traditional treatments aren’t helping, consider working with a dermatologist or registered dietitian to explore potential diet-related issues. They may suggest temporarily eliminating foods that you think are causing your skin problems.”