Acne is a persistent skin inflammation problem which most commonly affects the face, sometimes the shoulders, back, neck, chest, or upper arms too and results in patches and pimples. Although it can happen at any age, it frequently happens during puberty when the sebaceous glands are active. Although it is not harmful, it may leave skin scars. Acne can be caused due to multiple reasons such as
excessive production of oil (sebum), blocked hair follicles from oil and skin cells infection caused by bacteria. According to various studies, eating certain foods may exasperate acne. What are these worst foods for acne?
Following a particular dietary limitation can work in favour of those battling acne. Simrun Chopra, a well-known nutritionist and deep health coach, shared some dietary suggestions that can help you fight acne problems.
Check out her Instagram post!
Worst foods for acne:
1. Gluten
A diet that excludes eating anything with gluten is known as a gluten-free diet. A gluten-free diet can help you prevent acne if your skin is gluten-sensitive. Barley, rye, triticale and wheat contain gluten and so you have to avoid eating these grains. Some natural gluten-free items include vegetables and fruit, natural and unprocessed forms of beans, seeds, legumes and nuts, eggs and non-processed meats, seafood, and poultry. You can even ask your dietician to make a gluten-free diet routine for you.
2. Dairy
Artificial hormones are given to dairy cows, which affects how much milk they produce. According to researchers, consuming milk products may cause those hormones to disturb your hormone balance. This might result in acne.
As per another hypothesis, acne will always be made worse by the growth hormones included in milk. Thus, having dairy product can worsen the situation if you have acne.
3. Oily food
Large fatty acid intakes, like those found in an average Indian diet, are connected to higher rates of inflammation and acne. This may be due to the high levels of oils in the diet which are high in omega-6 fatty acids. This overabundance of fatty acids causes the body to become inflammatory, which may make acne worse.
“Watch your acne for a week, and see if you find a difference after avoiding these foods. If you do, then you need to do an elimination protocol to see which of the three was the culprit and what do you need to remove and what to add back. For most people, these three in moderation usually works,” Chopra says.
Keep the fried food away if you have acne! Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Foods that should be added to your diet if you have acne
1. A teaspoon of seed mix
Chopra recommends a teaspoon of a good seed mix which can give you a dose of vitamins and good fats.
2. Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids are a nutrient that can aid with acne treatment and are found in foods like fish oil, wild salmon, nuts, and seeds. A great source of omega-3 fatty acids is fish oil. Fatty acids can help with general skin health as well as specific skin issues like eczema and acne.
3. Consume 3 litres of water a day
Water aids in the removal of toxins and bacteria from the skin when treating bacterial acne, hence lowering the risk of pore clogging. It also helps in maintaining good skin by keeping it moisturized and promotes collagen formation and skin cell renewal.
Stay hydrated if you have to keep acne at bay. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
4. Yellow and orange fruits and vegetables
Yellow and orange fruits and vegetables can be good for acne because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is advised to have more yellow and orange fruits and vegetables such as carrots, apricots, and sweet potatoes etc.
