In 2010, researchers surprised some people when they reported that diet could indeed, affect acne outbreaks. That year, an article in the scientific journal Skin Therapy Letter reported the results of a 27-study analysis—21 observational studies and 6 clinical trials.
Scientists found that cow’s milk intake increased acne prevalence and severity, and also found an association between a high-glycemic load diet and acne risk.
Foods that reduce breakouts
An earlier study published in 2007 showed similar results—Australian researchers found that young men between the ages of 15 and 25 with mild-to-moderate acne experienced dramatic improvement when they switched from eating the typical American diet (with white bread and highly processed breakfast cereals) to a healthier diet of whole grains, lean meat, and fruits and vegetables.
“The acne of the boys on the higher-protein, low-glycemic index diet improved dramatically,” said senior author Neil Mann, associate professor at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, “by more than 50 percent, which is more than what you see with topical acne solutions.”
Some people have long believed that diet affects acne, but only recently have researchers started to find evidence that this is true. If you’d like to try changing your eating habits to enjoy clearer skin, we’d encourage you to try it….you have nothing to lose!
What Not to Eat
Studies so far have focused mostly on the foods that make acne worse. Here are the five that come up most often as culprits in increasing breakouts. Avoid these for about a week, and see if you notice a difference.
Cow’s milk
The 2010 study found an association between cow’s milk and acne. Scientists aren’t yet sure why this may be, but there are several theories. Cow’s milk spikes blood sugar, which can increase inflammation (leading to pimples). It also increases insulin levels, which encourage the production of skin oils (sebum). A lot of the commercial milk we buy comes from pregnant cows, and thus contains other hormones that can trigger the production of sebum.
Milk also has growth hormones that can encourage the overgrowth of skin cells, potentially blocking pores. In 2005, researchers studied data from the famous Nurses Health Study II, and found that participants who drank more milk as teens had much higher rates of severe acne than those who had little or no milk as teens.
Sugar
You may have already suspected that sugar is related to breakouts. Some studies now suggest that there may be a link. This doesn’t mean that if you eat a cookie you’re going to get a pimple. It comes down to how much sugar you’re eating in a day—particularly at any one time.
If you consume a soda and a candy bar, for example, you’re likely spiking your blood sugar levels, and you could break out hours later. If you suspect sugar could be a culprit for you, try to cut back even by one sugary drink a day to notice a difference.
High-glycemic foods
These are foods that break down quickly in the body, triggering an insulin spike and raising blood sugar levels. They trigger hormonal fluctuations and inflammation—both of which encourage acne.
We’re talking foods like white bread, processed breakfast cereals, white rice, pretzels, potato chips, cookies and cakes, etc. Choose low glycemic-index foods instead, like vegetables, whole grains, sweet potatoes, and most fruits.
Junk food
For the same reasons stated above (hormonal fluctuations, blood sugar levels), acne causing junk foods are on the list to avoid if you’re trying to clear up your skin. Drinking lots of water and healthier food choices for a hormonal acne diet will help your body stay balanced.
Fast food
Greasy fast food creates inflammation in the body. Studies have already linked fast food to conditions like childhood asthma, strictly because of its ability to raise overall inflammation in the body. Inflammation leads to pimples, so if you’re going to a fast-food restaurant, choose the salad or the yogurt.
What About Chocolate?
Long suspected to trigger acne, chocolate has received a pass until just recently. One small study from the Netherlands published in 2013 found a connection between chocolate and skin changes leading to acne.
For the study, the scientists collected blood from seven healthy people before and after they ate 1.7 ounces of chocolate, each day, for four days.
the science behind it
Researchers then exposed the blood cells to bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes—which contribute to acne when they grow inside clogged pores—and to Staphylococcus aureus, another skin bacteria than can aggravate acne.
After eating the chocolate, the participants’ blood cells produced more interleukin-1b, which is a marker of inflammation, when exposed to Propionibacterium acnes. Eating chocolate also increased production of another immune system factor called interleukin 10 after exposure to Staphylococcus aureus. Interleukin 10 is thought to lower the body’s defenses against microorganisms, so higher levels could allow bacteria to infect pimples and worsen them.
see what works for your body
This suggests that chocolate could increase inflammation and encourage bacterial infection, making acne worse. This was an extremely small study, however, and more research is needed. Dark chocolate has health-promoting antioxidants, so depending on how much you eat per day, you may want to wait for more evidence.
In the meantime, to see if you may be sensitive to chocolate, try eliminating it for a week, by itself, and see if you notice a change in your skin.
What to Eat to reduce breakouts
Just cutting out the damaging foods listed above will likely lead to clearer skin—especially if you were regularly consuming them before. But what if you’re already eating healthy? Are there certain foods that could give you the edge against acne?
Research is in its earliest stages, but we do have some knowledge of particular foods that may help. Here are five of them:
Fish or flaxseed
The typical Western diet contains too many omega-6 fatty acids, which are tied to inflammation. Eating more omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in fatty fish, walnuts, flaxseed, and the like, can help tame inflammation and improve acne breakouts.
Green tea
Green tea is filled the antioxidants that can protect from environmental stressors. Drink more green tea throughout the day.
Oysters
Several studies have indicated that the mineral zinc may reduce the effects of acne. It’s best to get zinc from your food, however, as too much in supplements (more than 100 mg a day) can result in side effects.
Eat more oysters, toasted wheat germ (sprinkled on salads and steamed veggies), veal liver, roast beef, roasted pumpkin and squash seeds, and dried watermelon seeds.
Juicing
Eating more fruits and vegetables can naturally help clear up acne, and juicing is a great way to do so. Many contain beta-carotenes, which naturally help reduce skin oils, and all are naturally anti-inflammatory.
Dark, leafy greens also help clear impurities from the body, which can encourage acne. Dark-colored berries contain phytonutrients good for skin when eaten.
Probiotics
These have been found to reduce inflammation in the gut, which may help reduce acne. According to a 2011 study, intestinal microflora may affect inflammation throughout the body, which in turn, can affect acne breakouts. Since pre and probiotics can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, scientists believe they may help reduce acne breakouts.
“There appears to be more than enough supportive evidence to suggest that gut microbes, and the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract itself, are contributing factors in the acne process,” the scientists wrote. To get more probiotics in your diet, try yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, dark chocolate, microalgae, miso soup, pickles, tempeh, kimchi, and kombucha tea.
Of course, there are many factors that contribute to acne, and diet is just one of them. Along with eating cleanly and avoiding acne triggers, there are many other factors that can contribute to your situation.
Sources
Ferdowsian Hr, Levin S, “Does diet really affect acne?” Skin Therapy Lett, 2010 Mar;15(3):1-2,5, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20361171.
Adebamowo CA, et al., “High school dietary dairy intake and teenage acne,” J Am Acad Dermatol, 2005 Feb;52(2):207-14, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15692464.
Myung Im, et al., “Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Suppresses IGF-I-Induced Lipogenesis and Cytokine Expression in SZ95 Sebocytes,” Journal of Investigative Dermatology December 2012; 132:2700-2708, http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v132/n12/full/jid2012202a.html.
Yoon JY, et al., “Epigallocatechin-3-gallate improves acne in humans by modulating intracellular molecular targets and inhibiting P. acnes,” J Invest Dermatol. 2013 Feb;133(2):429-40, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23096708?dopt=Abstract.
“Acne,” University of Maryland Medical Center, http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/acne.
Whitney P Bowe and Alan C Logan, “Acne vulgaris, probiotics and the gut-brain-skin axis—back to the future?” Gut Pathog, January 31, 2011; 3(1): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3038963/.
Just one caution on juicing: Be careful not to overdo the juicing, because juicing removes the fruit or vegetable fiber by leaving the pulp out. You need this fiber in order to help digest the benefits of fruit and balance how much fruit or veggie sugar ( fructose ) goes directly into the bloodstream. If too much sugar enters the bloodstream too often, it will hang out in the bloodstream, spike insulin and may lead to diabetes over time. This exact thing happened to my husband when he was juicing every morning ( 8 oz. glass of fruit juice ) and coincidentally had his glucose tested for a physical. When the glucose came back extraordinarily high, the physician asked my husband about any dietary changes and we found the juicing to be the culprit. My husband decreased his juicing to only 2x per week and this lowered glucose to a safe range. So, be careful with how frequently you juice.
High sugar is just plain bad… and such a tricky thing with juices.. I totally agree. Better to eat the fruit whole if possible. I threw my juicer away about 20 years ago as it was just a waste of space for me.
I have had to cut out the following both alone and foods that contain: eggs, dairy, coffee, soya, nuts, seeds, artificial sweeteners, meat, fish. Struggled my whole life. Figured it out at 33.
Go get yourselves calendula oil and spread it on 2-3 times a day like a moisturizer. It’s a natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide, and it actually works (about 80% as well as BP). Leaves your skin a bit oily but feels good and won’t bleach your clothes/towels. Forget tea tree and all the rest. Calendula is the best kept acne secret. I finally found it and I’m never going back. Try it out and spread the word!
Hey, I have been suffering from acne last 5 years tried all the things but does not suit for me. so , I just want to try this as well the oil u mention is same as castor oil or?? or where we can find this one
I eliminated dairy, soy, refined sugars, gluten, processed foods, and all junk food. I drink plenty of water infused with mint tea and kombucha every day, Iam eating only grass fed, organic, pasture raised, wild caught etc. type of foods (whole foods only). Raw honey or stevia as my sweetener (which is rare). eating berries, seeds and sprouted nuts, seeds, regularly taking cod liver oil, magnesium, zinc, bone broth, collagen powder, probiotics and prebiotics. After over a month, I finally saw a bit of results. But still breaking out regularly, My face is still full of pimples. I’m nearly 40 years old and my face is still inflamed! This is depressing. Hearing about a lot of people seeing results from same diet as me and here I am still so frustrated. All the research I’ve done shows that all that I am doing is right. I’m going to keep on having faith as I do feel better, sleep better and my digestive system is functioning much better – no bloat or constipation, plenty of energy, etc. but I may have to resort to accutane which is so disheartening 🙁
Try calendula oil for a topical. Like you, diet changes weren’t enough for me. I’ve been dependent on benzoyl peroxide my whole life (but hated it), and then finally found calendula oil. It’s amazing but hardly anyone seems to know about it.
I didn’t find out that I had a wheat allergy (not celiac disease, though) when I was in my early sixties. It took several months for my breakouts to almost completely subside. It would be worthwhile to see an allergist to rule out a particular food allergy. 🙂
You can get a test that tests you for 80 of the most common food allergies all at once in a blood test. My skin improved a lot when I cut out all of the foods I was intolerant to (dairy, eggs, sesame seeds, mushrooms, barley…etc.) My skin still isn’t perfect, but a lot better! I got my test done through a Natural Path doctor, but I think you can get blood drawn and send it to the testing company in a designated box right from there. They will send you a paper that shows you your level of intolerance or allergy to all of the foods tested. Your intolerances can change over time too, as they may go away when you don’t eat the food for a long period of time, and new ones may develop. I am going to get retested every few years to keep my skin clear!
Try Epiduo gel
I suffered with chronic cystic acne for most of my adult life. One day, after eating a wheel of brie with my husband the night before, I grew a huge cyst in the middle of my forehead…like a third eye. Then it struck me – dairy. Gave up dairy, and just like that, clear skin.
Humans are meant to drink milk until we stop breast feeding. Cows milk is meant for calves, not humans, though many can tolerate it (or maybe some other issue will come up down the road, like the colon cancer my father died from….he really loved dairy and meat).
I’m sure there are other triggers, but I think the first culprit to rule out is dairy.
I also gave up dairy and noticed a huge change. I never really struggled with acne and then in my early 30s started to have breakouts on my shoulders and back and neck. I work out a lot and typically eat very healthy but I would still have a lot of dairy in the form of way protein shakes, nonfat Greek yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese, generally 3 to 5 servings per day. I read through my research of why this was happening that dairy and all the hormones that includes could be the culprit so I decided to give it up . I switched to plant-based protein powder for meeting my higher protein means and after about a week everything cleared up and I’ve even done several test to see if when I eat a day with dairy what happens after and it always leads to a breakout. As stated above, humans do not need the milk of another animal. We don’t need cows milk just like we don’t need the milk of a giraffe or a mouse or a cat. Eating dairy is especially harmful and throws our bodies off-balance as it is filled with hormones. If course our bodies are going to negatively react to it abd create inflammation and hormonal acne among other things. Give it a try and give up all dairy and see if it helps. It works for me and I will never go back !
Dairy is difficult to give up. Start out slow by substituting products like almond milk. The dairy really does cause hormonal imbalances and skin issues such as acne. Good luck!
Will mint green tea work just aa well as normal green tea?
Yes, of course. The most beautiful girl I went on a date with recently drank lots of mint tea. Her skin was superb (and she knew it).
No it won’t! Green tea really helps a lot, you need to be drinking about three cups a day. Mint tea is ok but will not have same positive impact on your acne.
Hii,
My skin was almost clear, but suddenly since last six months I’m getting acne regularly during my fertile days and period days.. two acnes monthly?.. nothing is working.. any home remedies for that??
hi
my acne is not bad but I get breakouts on my chin and below my nose above my lips. I am allergic to peroxide and have tried multiple natural remedies but they have not worked. I cannot bring myself to go vegan like many Youtube clips have stated and changing my diet is a big thing for me as I find it hard to resist the temptation of sugar, etc. is there anything else I could try??
Chin acne is most likely due to hormonal fluctuations; Dairy is a huge culprit of hormone related acne, and I highly suggest eliminating this from your diet if possible as well as drinking 4 to 6 glasses of distilled water DAILY. Also considering how often you touch your own chin and upper lip area as these parts of the face are extremely susceptible to being clogged by hand-to-face contact bacteria. Be persistent!
I have acne in the exact same areas as you, and also was super hesitant to cut out my favorite temptations from my diet. But I needed to try changing my eating habits because literally nothing else was working. For the past 2 weeks, I have drastically changed my diet, and WOW, my skin has never been this clear. I cut out milk, sweets, and I make my own detox green smoothie every morning for breakfast. My skin is clearing up so much, and I would highly recommend turning down those tasty sweets because the reward is such a good feeling!
Please,What fruits do you use to make your smoothies?
What about fruits like banana, apple because they are high in sugar ? And what other food to avoid for harmonal acne because I have tried to eliminate make food from my diet but I end of breaking out I would really appreciate if some could help me please;-)
they’re actually natural sugar called fructose. Its really the one sugar we should be processing in our bodies. I think many people still break out after diet changes due to inflammation in your body, which causes breakouts sometimes or headaches. Its our body’s way of telling us that we are still doing something wrong. Stay away fro GMOs too.
I’d anyone out there feels hopeless about their skin—please look into a high carb low fat vegan diet. I suffered from puberty until fairly recently with deep cystic and painful acne.
My skin and my life have never been as vibrant as they are now.
My daughter (12) eats a vegan diet and has acne that is getting worse by the day. Dermatology visits aren’t helping at all. What foods helped you clear up?
Hey
Like Nicole mentioned, a high carb low fat diet is really a good idea to fight acne. I myself is following a high carb low fat diet and majorly eating fruits whole day.
I wonder if she has tried high carb low fat diet yet.
Try cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower etc.) and foods with bright orange/red colors to get Vitamin A. Also, flax seeds and walnuts are good for omega-3’s.
“Vegan” does not necessarily mean healthy. There are plenty of pre-packaged processed “vegan” food items: Oreos, Twizzlers, Fritos, Boca burgers, those “un-chicken” patties, etc. are all vegan AND total crap.
“Whole food plant-based” is a much better way to think about it.
If you want to eliminate your acne, you must eliminate all the pre-packaged, processed CRAP (Caffeine, Refined Sugar, Alcohol, Processed foods (which includes all oils!)
After 25 years with chronic cystic acne, a WFPB oil-free diet has been my saving grace. <3
I usually break out with dairy/milk consumption. I recently heard about A2 milk which lacks the A1 protein that is suspected to cause inflammation. I drank a liter over a few days and was relieved that my acne didn’t flare up. Just wondering if anyone else has heard of this and what they’ve experienced.
I’m the same way. I drank milk all the time when I was a kid, but around my teenage years decided to stop as I eventually linked it to acne. The only time I drink milk now is in the occasional latte if I’m really craving one, and like clockwork I’ll break-out about 4 hours later. I can’t say much for alternatives to milk, but I’d recommend just giving it up. Cheese has a milder effect on my acne, but I’ve just decided to deal with that and moderate my intake. If you cut out all dairy from your diet, you’ll most likely see an improvement.
I’ve heard of A2 milk solving many problems of A1, but have no idea where to get it in general. Where were you able to find it?
Honestly, I’ve only had almost-perfect skin when I was using a harsh prescription cream (would never do that again), and at times when I have been overall healthy (mind, diet, lifestyle habits). Meaning, I have never noticed a significant difference related to products or food. I went on an elimination diet a few years ago, and was eating so cleanly– no processed foods whatsoever, no gluten, no refined sugars, no meat/dairy. This lasted 3 weeks, and I did not notice much of a difference with my face. Obviously everyone is different, and I’ve realized my main problem is stress. I mean, it could be a lot worse if I ate horribly (I am vegan– not that I noticed much of a difference when I changed my diet– not that it was that bad before), but unfortunately I am one of those people that can’t get an easy fix. Fixing your state of mind, and how you respond to stress, is probably the hardest thing to do. But I’m working on it.
Hey Victoria so happy I saw this. I don’t have severe acne, but recently have been breaking out on my cheeks. All I drink is water and if I want a little fizz I drink La Croix. I stoped drinking milk, and drink almond milk completely stoped eating cheese and yogurt. Haven’t gotten rid of these pesky pimples that pop up on my cheeks. I’ve even drank fish oil pills to help, but no change and I finished a 200 count bottle. I see a lot of people are talking about taking zinc to help reduce breakouts thinking about trying that.
It’s really important to eat a low GI diet and make sure you are getting adequate amount of zinc and magnesium. A low GI diet and high protein has been showed to have a massive impact. Maybe you need to increase your protein percentages daily to ensure adequate levels.
A few weeks ago, I made a drastic change to my diet to see if it would affect my acne. I replaced all my beverages with water or natural green-tea (no sugar!), I cut out ALL junk food and sugary foods, I went gluten-free and dairy-free, I included more fruits and veggies, and I ate low-glycemic foods. I was also taking zinc supplements, so you should research the effects of zinc for acne if you are looking to try a new remedy. With all of these combined, my [severe, cystic] acne cleared up in 2-3 weeks. Unfortunately, I had to stop because I had exams coming up and could not maintain the strict lifestyle. I truly believe acne can be cured by diet; the over-the-counter products can definitely help to reduce acne, but I do not think it will get rid of it forever. To everyone who is still struggling, including myself for the time being, please give this a try.
Claudia – I agree. Thank God for Google! After much research – I avoid gluten, nightshades, dairy, & sweets as much as I can I eat alot of greek yogurt – this got rid of my severe cystic acne in 2 months.
Pls. – everyone needs to pass this great tip along!!! Unfortunately – some Dermatologists dont have a clue.
Addendum to my 1st reply above: I also started drinking all-decaffinated green, ginger, and chamomile teas every single day.
I don’t think the decaf versions of green tea are as effective but I could be wrong
No they do not. I cut out diary and it helped me. Particularly Whey protein.
Derms i talked to either said it’s all in my head or “yes diet can help but not likely to help”
Thanks Claudia 🙂 I will give this a go
Hi Claudia,
What do you mean by Greek yogurt? Does that not count as dairy? And why do you think did it help you?
Best wishes,
Julia
Two weeks ago I too replaced all my beverages with unsweetened fizzy waters and tea. I also have been dairy free and my face has looked better than it ever has!
I had the same problem with severe cystic acne. I cut gluten out of my diet at my doctor’s recommendation for another condition and at the same time cut out almost all dairy, processed foods including processed sugars and started juicing organic vegetables and fruits. My acne went away. I fell of the wagon for a few days because of stressors in my life and my acne came right back. I don’t know which one was the culprit (or maybe it was a combination) but it was definitely diet related. I hope you’re able do go back to the diet that was working for you!
Yes, I cut out gluten and have seen a major improvement. Still have work to do though. Next step is dairy. Thanks!
Water! For many years, i did not drink enough water – maybe max of a glass or 2 in an entire day. Had acne breakouts almost wvery other day. Also had alot of folliculitis breakouts. I made a change and started drinking the 1 gallon per day. I felt my skin clear up. I did not react to certain foods as much. Now all i have to do is cut them out totally. But, my point – Drink alot of water; basically flushes out all oils / toxins from your digestive system/ urinary tract.
i have chronic gi issues, so I’ve already been avoiding all gluten, dairy, and grains except for a small amount of white rice. However, sugar was the one thing that i could never bring myself to give up. I finally stopped eating all forms of sugar except what’s naturally found in fruits and veggies, and the difference is seriously amazing! My cystic acne has cleared, and my menstrual cramps and migraines have improved too. Dermatologists should really start with diet before prescribing antibiotics
I do believe and know from experience how significant is what food we enter to our body, and how we feel, think and look.
Cow’s milk is my number one break-out food. Thanks for the tips on the other foods!! It’s hard to avoid all these foods living on the road, always traveling. But I’m trying it out and find it very helpful ?
Very good article. I definitely love this site. Stick with it!
I have struggled with acne since I was 13 years old. My derm doc put me on antibiotics for many years, changing when one no longer was effective. I’m now antibiotic resistant. When accutane came out, I signed up for it, and took an extra month. I now have hip joint pain, my oil glands in my lower eyelids do not function due to the accutane. When I turned 61, I went on an anti-inflammatory diet for my type 2 diabetes, and in 3 days my cystic acne totally disappeared! The ONLY time I have any acne breakouts is if I get gluten in something I have eaten at a restaurant unknowingly. At least now I know what has caused it after all these years! I have found a doctor who has me on probiotics to fix my gut after all these years of antibiotics. Thank you Lord Jesus!
I had terrible acne last year and was very stressed about it! Then i realized the stress was actually making it worse and I had to calm down!
I am a vegetarian and I stopped consuming dairy completely, and began consuming 1 carrot every day with a handful of almonds and walnuts.
But I consumed cottage cheese( paneer) and the acne was back! Its the same when I consume ice- cream
So excited to start! I have been obsessing about washing my face with all these products and creams but never really took my horrible diet into account. I am on the highest refined carbohydrate diet you could imagine, white rice literally every single night. Off of all that immediately and introducing a wide variety of all the foods mentions in the article. Can’t wait to see the results!!
Ah! I had cow’s milk for two consecutive days, and now, my face… I regret this. I’m gonna take care of my diet very well from now, literally. 🙁
Thanks for the valuable information! 🙁
Cutting dairy from my diet has cleared my forehead completely. I also get Botox for wrinkles but have seen a dramatic improvement on my skin since Botox blocks sweat glands
I cut out certain foods from my diet that were on the avoid list for eat right for your blood type and the clogged pores on my jaw line upper arms and shoulders, completely disappeared.
I’m in the b blood group and I stopped eating chicken and corn or maize.
Occasionally when I do eat chicken or maize, I get those clogged pores back. So I know it’s the food.
I am eastern Orthodox and for lent I go completely vegan for around 40 days, and similarly fast every wedensday and friday. I had started getting clogged pores pretty moderately for about 6 months prior to easter, which was a complete first for me. I was 20 at this age, having this issue for the first time in my life. I had also completely stopped fasting though, as I always had since I was a child. For this Easter fast, I got so fed up that I decided to try fasting again. I had been to a doctor and she suggested this really expensive skin care routine that only dried and cracked my face and further aggravated everything. She even suggested I go gluten free, which i could never do. Two weeks into my veganism for the fast, my face had never been so free of clogged pores, and I was eating very primitively, cheap cereal for breakfast, and always toast with avocado. Fast ended last week and here I am back where I started. I’m convinced its the dairy, as on days that I have low dairy intake I dont feel my face flaring, but if I eat raviolli or something, I’ll just feel my face flaring and tingling during class.
I’ve been eating white rice my whole life. And its really impossible for me to get rid of it si nce asians are more into eating white rice. Im suffering from acnes since im 12 and im already 17 like how can i lose them? I’ve tried more than 5 different kinds of remedies just to get rid of them but it gets worst day by day. Please help.
Were into it, white rice 3x a day ?
How are you now?
I try to eat a vegan diet. I drink a large pot of green tea every morning. I find I have to add some chicken about once monthly. I use organic meats. I try to get produce at local farmers’ market. My supplement intake varies according to my body issues. My main problem is a pathegenic systemic case of Candida. I cannot move my bowels without several helpings of Dave’s organic wholegrain bread. Greens are the most important food I know of. Fruit for me is ‘iffy’ because of the yeast. I probably shouldn’t but I do eat a lot of tofu. I ought to drink a gallon of water a day, but then I wouldn’t be able to go out anywhere. Hope this is helpful. Your not alone!
hi i’ve had acne for over a year now and i have tried so many acne masks and treatments, it’s cost me a fortune! but nothing seems to be working. as i’m only 13 i don’t really want to change my diet as i’m underweight and don’t want to loose any more weight. can anyone recommend any treatments or something that will help. thank you x
Hi Liv,
I’m sorry to hear that you’re experiencing this. Changing your diet doesn’t have to mean cutting out foods that help you gain weight! In fact, sometimes working with a healthier diet can help you to gain weight and clear up your skin. We would suggest seeing a nutritionist and/or a holistic practitioner to get on the right track with your diet!
I need help with pimples on my chest area.
Hi!
I had a mild acne in my teens but now in my 40s?
I love baguette. Could it be the cause?
A bit sweet everyday.
Also, if you do eat yogurt eat it sparingly, It can cause cystic acne due to hormones.
I’ve had acne since becoming a teen, and I’m 33 now. I’ve tried supplements that were supposed to help, but it made things worse. It has always been an annoyance for me. I’ve been incorporating juicing (I use raw veggies and fruits in my juicer) into my diet for a few months now. Sometimes I skip a week, sometimes I drink just one juice a day, and sometimes I go on a juice kick and have mostly juice & smoothies for a week. I have very much noticed clearer skin! I literally have 0 acne on my face right now, and it’s been 2 weeks since I had any kind of breakout. I love juicing and adding more veggies and fruits into my life!! They are nature’s pharmacy 🙂
I’ve had acne since a teen to my early 30’s as well. I’m still in my early 30’s, fyi. I totally agree on diet changes. I don’t juice/blend things often because of fatigue or laziness; but I noticed that whenever I consume more fruits and veggies (whether whole or blended), my skin thanks me. Something as simple as an apple a day or a smoothie 3x/wk. I believe my acne lies solely in the lack of fresh or direct vitamins (not in pill form). Sadly, I haven’t yet achieved full consistency with that.
Hello guys. I recently turned 22 years old. I’ve been suffering from acne since the past 5-6 years. But it’s getting worse from the past 2 years. I get pimples, cystic acne, boils on my face and my scalp too is affected by pimples. The very next day when I wash my hair that I get my scalp oily and stinky. Well I’m more worried about my face. Consulted many dermatologists. The prescribed pills affect as long as I take those. I feel pathetic about myself on looking in the mirror. I’m thinking that maybe diet is a problem. I workout too for an hour everyday. Sweat out. Yet it all doesn’t help in reducing the acne. Somebody please help.
Just wanted to share my experience in case any one is skeptical. I have struggled with acne for about a year and since my first breakout I have tried various name brand acne treatments and creams. My acne only got worse. Recently I became so fed up with my acne and my appearance that I literally could not look in the mirror. I have begun to cut out all sugary foods and fast foods from my diet and instead eat fruit, vegetables, grass fed beef and fish as well a green tea and walnuts among other things as well. My acne has become less inflamed and swollen and is even clearing up all together in some spots. I have only been following this new diet for 5 days so far. Diet is so important and will change not only your acne but alot of other aspects of your health as well.
good luck to all of you!
Ofcourse food can cause acne and it depends totally on you that which type of food you eating. There are several food which cause acne to grow more
I honestly thought this was a myth myself until I lost my job and was too broke and poor to eat much of anything at all. My face was clearer than it had ever been in 20 years for the whole duration until I got another job.
I have a lot of small tiny bumps on my face.Maybe it’s genetic.They are on my entire face (on cheeks,forehead,nose,between my eyebrows,Literally Everywhere!) They are most on the cheeks and my forehead.Can anyone Please help me with this?
Those sound maybe like Milia? If you squeeze them does small stringy stuff come out? (though the say not to squeeze)
Sir/Mam I am facing a difficult problem that is acne and oily face please suggest one method which can cure both problems.
These are some great tips . Thanks for sharing with us.
I suggest you look at your cosmetics. Oils will make me brake out as well as many sinthethic ingredients in conventional cosmetics. Take flax seed oil, use a high quality probiotic like vsl#3. Be patient it may take about 3 months to see results.
Please what foods are best to prevent and cause pimples? ??
Changing your pillow case at least weekly really helps
Really Nice
Hi! I managed to help my skin out by cutting out white rice and breads, oily/fried foods, lollies, chocolate, dairy and basically anything that I have heard of or found triggered clogged pores.
I recommend eating…
-pleanty of raw vegetables
-2-3 fruits per day
-only whole grain breads and brown rice instead of white
-lots of water! I drink 2L per day
-a few green teas a day (2-4 is what I have)
I’m going to see if cutting out eggs does anything for my skin because I’ve heard that the hormones in them can make acne worse.
I also only wash my face with warm water not hot! HOT water is very irritating to sensitive skin prone to clogged pores as it can dry it out causing it to produce extra sebum oil resulting in blocked pores.
What should I do to get rid of pimples?
I stoped eating candy and sugars fried foods and eggs for 6 weeks my skin cleared and i only had to deal with the red marks from the clogged pores for 6months after that
Huge impruvment
I suggest try to figure out what is causing the clogged pores instaed of usesing creams and cleaning the skin that only makes things wearst
Does this also work on the rest of your body, not just your face? Because I’ve been having spots on my back, chest and other places
How to overcome from the pimples acne and black hair and white hairs and red spots
Can we get Our skin back from the holes on face
I have oily skin with acne and acne scarring. Is there any product that can help? Would becoming a vegan help improve my skin?
Hi Luna,
Everyone is so unique that it’s hard to say. Some people do have success with a vegan diet and some don’t. The only way to know for sure is to try it and see how you feel and watch how your skin changes.
Hello my name is Ahmed i am 15 years old I have a pimples on my face for a long time I tried a lot of home treatment to remove pimples from my face but it’s fail and I have still pimples on my face and as well as I have a pimped on my back which are very painful for me I can’t sit properly even do I am not understanding that what should I do please give me a home treatment to remove pimples from my face and my back as soon as possible give me a easy home treatment
Wow, that’s amazing. I like drinking green tea. I also have to suffer from breakouts. Now thanks to your article, I know the benefits of green tea and certainly I will drink green tea frequently to prevent breakouts. Yesterday I also read an article about foods causing acne breakouts. Besides the foods that you mentioned, you can find more at http://effectiveremedies.com/foods-that-cause-acne-breakouts/. Thanks so much!
Hey great article!! Thanks for sharing with us, I usually used Zeroblem a product of Solvaderm Brand, this Serum is also very good, I have been this since last 2 month, and I really recover a lot.
I noticed a lot of people said they went full on vegan to clear their acne. I suggest just trying dairy to start. That cleared up my cystic acne completely. I have been dairy free for a year and a half now. The only time I get a cystic pimple is when I give in and eat dairy. Most of the time I don’t miss it though! Do avoid soy too… It gives me smaller pimples around my chin. Almond milk tastes much better anyway! Just a note, it did take about 3 weeks to a month before all of my cysts went away. In fact it got worse before it got better as I went through the purging stage. So don’t give up!
Thank you for this awesome article! 😀 good luck everyone????????take care of your skin, it’s your largest organ????
At last, someone agrees that solid chocolate causes acne! I am 63 yrs. Old, went to Dermatologists my whole life and no one ever suggested this.I quit eating choc. On my own.No acne breakouts.I can have choc. Flavored pudding, ice crean, etc. But no sold handy bars.So happy someone agrees with me!!
I’ve suffered with acne since puberty and over the years I’ve been eating antioxidant fruits like grapefruit and orange, I’m recently getting into modeling and it has helped me a lot, fruits rich in antioxidants help clear acne and reduce inflammation on the face, drinking about 8-12 glasses of water helps flush out acne causing bacteria and reduces toxin buildup in the body.
I’m 14 and Green tea i drink it everyday and it has worked wonder’s
What kind of green tea do you drink? Is any green tea good?
Great post! I really do notice how diet impacts my skin.. After becoming vegan my skin got better (nice bonus hehe). And the last few weeks I ate very healthy, no processed foods, a lot of vegetables and fruits, and my skin became so clear! I finally got rid of the acne on my forehead! But during the weekend I was with family and we ate a lot of cookies, and monday morning I woke up with a huge break-out… 🙁 So now I’m on the healthy track again and hopefully my skin will clear soon!
What can i use for acne scars i have alot ???
Hi Charlotte,
For evening out the appearance of your skin tone, we suggest working with our Citrus Stem Cell Serum!
Drink Green Tea
I used to have horrible acne off and on, but there was a season in my life where it got so out of control, I didn’t know what to do. Then I realized it was because of the milk I was consuming. I have never been much of a milk drinker, but it was in my iced coffees(which I had just about every morning). I decided to stop drinking iced coffee for two weeks and my face was flawless. Another thing I added to my diet was fermented cod liver oil. This not only cleared *all* my acne, I was also able to get pregnant(had been trying for 3 years). A combination of the two, plus a healthier diet changed my skin 🙂 This was a great article, btw.
Great post! As a dermatologist we are always looking to find ways for our patients to make a real lifestyle change that will actually affect their skin. I highlighted some of the scientific studies behind acne and food in my blogpost here: http://www.teawithmd.com/2016/02/the-true-link-between-food-and-acne/
Enjoy!
XO
Joyce
http://www.teawithMD.com
A dermatologist’s guide to health & beauty
Hello mame.i have acnes from last 3 years.now they have 90% gone.but now the marks and the large pores are the only problem.so can you plz help me to cure them???plz
Hi Durga,
To help even the appearance of your skin tone, we suggest our Citrus Stem Cell Serum!
I have tea tree and rosemary oils
With almond coconut olive and castor oil and vitamin e
I have normal to oily acne prone skin. Have scares too
What you suggest with these available oils
Hi! I have a question that I have had for some time and would love to get a clear answer!
In relation to cows milk…I understand how and why milk can increase acne especially in teens. Does WHOLE RAW organic cows milk have the same effect??? We have been drinking raw milk for years. Both of my kids have acne prone skin. Especially my 14 year old son. He drinks so much milk and I hate to tell him not to drink it because he is 6 feet tall and 130 lbs. Thin as a rail! I am trying to get as many calories into him as possible, and this is an easy way to add those extra need calories without giving him junk.
We haven’t noticed a change in his skin much when he cuts it out. We see the biggest change in his skin when he cuts out the potato chips and sugar!
Hi Nadine,
Thanks for your question. There isn’t exactly a clear answer for your question, unfortunately. For many people raw milk doesn’t have the same effect on the skin as pasteurized milk but everyone’s skin is very, very different. Some people do break out with the extra lipids in their body and other people don’t. If your son isn’t noticing a difference in his breakouts when he cuts out the milk, it’s certainly possible that it isn’t the cause of the breakouts.
I am 15 myself now and I really haven’t noticed a difference in my acne drinking milk, I would suggest to keep it at a moderation as milk does contain acne producing hormones and can interrupt the hormones in the body, as he grows up, his hormones levels will go down and he won’t break out as much as he use to, I’ve noticed it myself actually over the years
I had really bad acne all over my face and got headaches from constipation. Whenever I whent completly vegan, (with no prosessed foods) drank alot of water and cleaned out my colon I had clear skin. I did this for about 2months (try 3months for best results) then whent to the beach(and whent in the ocean) for two days wearing a thick layer of zinc oxide on my face (its goes on white not clear) as sunscrean, reaplying every hour and a half. After the two days my skin looked FLAWLESS. Recommend this to anyone who suffers from acne like I have.
Another thing to consider is removing soy from your diet. I’ve read that soy acts like synthetic estrogen in the body, causing a hormonal disruption.
Uh it’s so annoying how this is just fine with talking about animal testing (during the green tea section). I am surprised nobody has said anything! You should not take advice from people who tested products on a completely different creature. I’m not saying it might not work, I’m just discussed with the casualty of writing about this cruel thing!
*Disgusted
Weather Animal tested or not, this advice is true and effective.
I am just about acne free after six months of cystic acne! After two months I caved and went to the doctor for antibiotics. A month later (I had a six month prescription) I threw them away because they were doing absolutely nothing but giving me side effects. I was taking doxycycline 200mg a day. I had stomach aches and headaches like crazy. I started researching lots. Shortly after that I started the total elimination diet where I avoided dairy, gluten, eggs, soy, refined sugar, citrus fruit, nightshade veggies, alcohol, beans, nuts and coffee. I noticed major improvement in a week. First things I introduced were dairy and gluten and not long after I broke out again. So no more dairy and gluten for me. But my skin still wasn’t great. I wasn’t breaking out very much but the zits were still coming. I have long suspected a zinc deficiency (I have been vegetarian for 5 years) so I picked up some zinc from the health store and also some turmeric. I took zinc daily and applied turmeric on my face almost daily as well as drinking turmeric milk daily as well. MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR IMPROVEMENT. Like seriously three days later I had almost no zits??? I also picked up some curcumin tablets and have been taking those daily as well. I am left with a fair bit of scarring but I take that over acne any day. At this very moment I have maybe 5 zits and they are mostly from eating dairy gluten and sugar and also not drinking turmeric milk on the daily as I fell off the wagon a bit. I hope this helps somebody out there with acne that feels like they are about to give up!!!
Hi. My 13 year old son started getting acne on his forehead initially about a year ago. Then about six months ago he was breaking out all over his face. Dermatologists said that he would have to take antibiotics and Roacutan as they said he had severe nodular acne. After discussing it together we decided to take a Holistic and natural approach. He changed his diet completely – cutting out processed food and white grains, cows milk and any foods high in sugar content. He now eats whole grains, vegetables and fruit, drinks a lot of water (2 to 3 litres a day). This new diet is coupled with bio peelings and a new revolutionary product we found in the Canary Islands (where we live) which is tablets containing Omega 5 and pomegranate, cream and face wash. Pomegranate is a godsend regulating sebum production from the inside. It also has many other benefits for the health. We are now seeing the results after only 6 weeks. His forehead is clear already and he no longer breaks out as frequently as before and his skin is no longer greasy and the inflammation has subsided significantly. He is getting better every day. I hope this can help other youngsters out there to take a more natural approach to acne and not revert to medicine which does not cure your acne at the source.
Thanks for the info!
Can the pomegranate and Omega 5 tablets be purchased online? I would love to try something OTHER than the stupid antibiotic (Bactrim) that the doctor has given my son! My son is 14 and has been struggling badly with acne…see my post below. 🙂
Why acini produce
This sucks. I’ve lost 15 lbs in 6 months because of cutting down foods that trigger acne, and i was alredy skinny. Now im 6′ 3” tall with 143 lbs, and i look like skeleton.
hi i have acne from 5 years n in last 2 years it was removed with medecine but now again i have acne my skin doctor told that it willl remove after 2 or 3 4 years but it was not
Hi Jasmine,
Thanks for sharing! Clogged pores are certainly a complicated beast that can crop up for a whole slew of reasons. If you’re dealing with consistent clogged pores, we would suggest working with a holistic practitioner to see what changes they can help you make in your life to help your skin!
We also suggest searching through our blog for our article series about the causes of clogged pores, it might surprise you!
I really need help. I can’t remember when my skin was last completely clear. I’m almost 20 years old and I’ve been suffering from unclear skin since I was 13. I got random pimples and blackheads, you name it. It’s been bothering me for years and I’ve tried prescriptions from dermatologists. I’ve tried soaps and creams and even pills.
And I’m just so fed up. And I don’t need anymore advertisement on products that won’t work. I just want a clear face.
If anyone could help me with that here, I’d be very grateful.
Thank you for sharing 🙂
Oily Skin is very complicated and can be caused by a lot of different things – from internal issues like hormones, stress and diet to external factors like air pollution or using the wrong products for your skin. We certainly understand the frustration and we would love to help you out but we think it’s important to examine your clogged pores from all the angles and know that you’re really not alone in your struggle. A holistic practitioner could be helpful for you to regain your body’s natural inclination towards clear skin by helping your body come into balance.
Ha I like first on the list of donts:
Cows Milk
Ends list by saying choose yogurt instead at a fast food restaurant.
haha
Doesn’t make sense.
But I do agree, Ive always stayed away from cows milk.
And I went Gluten free for a year and that did nothing really to help my skin for anyone whos curious. But there is also alot of other factors..
One of them being stress, at the least, being a highschool- now college student..
Im going to try a whole foods diet soon hopefully….
Im hopeing that’ll help this. because I dont see how to just eliminate stress…
– ill try making time for yoga or something of that sort….
Hi ! Am sufferIng with pimples since 4 years , also with bad breakouts !Could you please suggest me some diet to prevent pimples on my face !
I’ve been suffering from acne since five years. I am nineteen now. And acne really lowers my confidence and self esteem. I can’t even look straight on face of the new people I meet. I’ve tried so so many things but no nothing worked.
Maybe I should totally devote myself to be a vegan now.
Hi Anjila,
Trying out some different diets might be a good way to help your clogged pores. Eating more raw fruits and veggies and eliminating processed foods is a great start. Being completely vegan might be the right choice for you, but it’s definitely not the only answer and not right for everyone. Give yourself permission to make small changes over time and notice differences. Drink lots of water and get lots of sleep. Remember to wash your pillow cases and wipe down your cell phone. The littlest things can make huge changes!
Hope this helps!
wait a sec..! can we eat atlest 1 or 2 sweets like chikki n all ?
and at home we eat white rice n if I say to stop it dey all will laugh?
it’s the milk in the chocolate that I find that makes me break out now at 66 years of age, also any time I eat at a fast food restaurant I believe it’s the unstable oils that they use because I can not use their dressings. I had in my twenties severe acne, in my thirties I was on Accutane for six month at the end of that year it finally cleared up of course I had terrible scarred skin not so much the pitted but lost of collagen underneath the skin. I wish I knew what I know now so much bread, cereal, crackers so many carbs I must have eaten my rations of carbs for the rest of my life I blew my pancreas. Of course I became diabetic even though I was not fat, at 50 just like my Dad who was very thin. Sorry too much information…
I hv small tiny bumps i.e white in color onma face nd olso pimples not too many but whn one pimpl get rid thn another goes up.. M taking alote of med but no result after a few months dey goes up on ma face again.. Nw m not taking any med can any one suggest hw i get ma clear skinback
I have found that applying 100% lemon juice to the infected areas clears them up over night, or reduces the swelling! Lemon juice works for me, I don’t know about other skin types. Just try it. Clean your face thoroughly with soap and warm water (warm water opens pores), apply the lemon juice before bed, leave it over night, and wash with warm water and soap in the morning.
Ive been experiencing acne too! And i really hate when new breakouts come out! if only no new pimple coming my face will be clear out using turmeric with yougurt and honey!
i have acne on my face from last 3 years i spent lot of money on medicines and doctors nothing helped me can anyone can suggest how can i remove my acne with diet i know any other option any home remedy
Hello… that advice was very helpful. Although i have heard coconut oil is great for your skin and helps clear up pimples along with acne scars. Is this true? What other products do you recommend for pimples and acne scars?
First off, I recommend using a gentle, astringent cleanser for controlling break outs. Our Citrus Mint Cleanser has a healing aloe vera juice base, plus herbs like neem which help prevent break outs.
Our Anti-Aging Serum is a great product if you’re looking to prevent break outs while healing acne scars. It has aloe vera and rose distillate, which are very calming and healing.
Our Citrus Stem Cell Serum targets hyperpigmentation and scarring. In my opinion, this is a magical product!! If you have oily skin, the jojoba oil in here might be too heavy for you, so I’d stick with the Anti-Aging Serum.
As far as the coconut oil, it can actually clog your pores! We use fractionated coconut oil, which means the molecules are smaller and non pore clogging. Grape seed oil is actually great for clearing up acne while moisturizing. You can read about that here: https://www.annmariegianni.com/benefits-grapeseed-oil-skin
I hope this helps!!!
There’s no link about the grapeseed oil 🙂
Thanks Ellen, I fixed it. 🙂
True… eating chocolates make my acne worst and produce more breakouts.. so I decided to void all sweet things except fruits.. Of course you can eat fruits.. they dont raise your insulin level cause fruits have fibers
Fruit does raise your insulin levels, some more than others. There is a ton of sugar in bananas, but berries have slightly less.
Friend bananas are the type of berries if you don’t believe google it.
i have acne nd acne scare on mah face…can any one suggest me how to remove scares and how to avoid acne…plz help me
Siddarth, to treat acne scars you can either use 100% tea tree oil daily before sleep or Murad – post acne scar gel. Both of them are pretty effective.
Hilarious that we need studies in 2010 to find out what we already knew in 1885: https://archive.org/details/acneitsetiology00bulkgoog
Acne was successfully cured with Diet for decades by few doctors in the past and given that every cell is nourished by blood and blood depends upon what you eat, and bacteria depends upon the food they find in your blood and tissue to thrive, you can imagine what brainwash we all (including doctors) underwent in order to deny what is simply common sense.
By the way, if you want some additional hint: go and review medical library of the past in archive.org site and you will find that dr. Duncan Bulkley, dr. Robert Bell, dr Henry Bieler already knew almost all that there is to know on many other “incurable” disease and how to clean the body from them.
I’m a teenager whos had acne for 5 years and i too tried a vegan diet. Though i couldnt last past a week ive never had clearer skin then for that week.
Hi Vanessa! Don’t worry, you probably don’t need to go fully vegan in order to clear up your skin. Small steps help, too! Try adding in a morning green juice or green smoothie (more veggies than fruit!) and drinking more water. Maybe add in some oysters into your diet or reduce the amount of “junk food” you’re eating. Little things can help!
Hey! I think that it’s a LOT easier than you think. First maybe just think about reducing. If you think – my goal is to be vegan you might be intimidated out of it.
I hope it will be helpful as I was just starting to change my lifestyle for the reason that I am suffering from a severe acne..
i am having big acnes on my face with yellow pus in them and they are killing me . the pain comes n go every time like someone pushing needle in my acnes and i am helpless now can anyone suggest me what to do
use salt water it makes a big difference just fill a basin with waTER AND ADD SALT THAT EASY
HOPE YOU FIND IT USEFUL
Just a suggestion: yeast in beer can cause boils with puss n oozing, even on your back.Thats large amounts of beer.
This is great! Thank you for sharing the information about Omega 3 vs. Omega 6 fatty acids. I think too many people hear the word “Omega” and immediately assume Omega 3, without noticing the issues with Omega 6 fatty acids. Very good information 🙂
FROM FOUR YRS IAM SUFFERING FROM PIMPLES IN MY FACE IT LOOK UGLY FOR ME FROM TWO MONTHS IAM CONTROLLING MY FOOD IT IS GIVIVG ME A RESULT BUT I WANT TO CLEAR MY FACE WITHOUT PIMPLES CAN SOME ONE GUIDE ME
Hi! I used to have really bad, cystic acne. I spent a lot of money on medications and frequent trips to the dermatologist’s clinic but my skin still did not get any better.UNTIL i turned vegan. After just one week of changing my diet, there were already visible results. No more swelling, redness and bumps. And, after a month, my skin reallly cleared up! I also changed my skin care to Ann Marie Gianni products. I am now on my 5th month as a vegan and I can say that this is the best thing that ever happened to my skin.
Whooo hoo Samantha, sounds like you are really tuning into what your body really wants and needs right now along with what it doesn’t want! Congrats on clearing up the acne and being in your 5th nonth. We are cheering you along to your optimal health.
Hey Samantha! It’s awesome to hear that you’re vegan! I’ve been vegan for 7 months, but my acne hasn’t gone away. Do you have any tips on what you eat and how you cleared up your acne so fast?
Hey girl, I know you didn’t ask me but i just thought it would be helpful to let you know. I am a vegan myself and have been clearing myself through this diet as well. There are healthy and unhealthy vegan diets. The one that works for me is by staying on a high-carb, low-fat, plant based diet. Meaning, as little sugar as possible, NO oil, and no fats. Not even good fats like avocados and nuts.. because when your body is inflammed, although there are healthy fats.. an inflammed body does not react well to it until it is healed by eating clean. If you would like more information on how to cure your acne with a vegan diet, I suggest you check out Dr. Mcdougall’s color book. https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/cpb/
This is what saved me. I hope you will feel inspired after reading the information you will find in the link above. Remember, you are not alone! I wish you best of luck. (:
Hi Tracy Mai.
Though I didn’t go completely vegan like Samantha did, i was able to trace a couple of things that triggered my acne and did my best to stay away from them. Most of which were mentioned in this article.
Things like dairy products and anything containing milk like biscuits, beverages etc, dates, sugar and eggs. Then i discussed with my G.P about taking supplements which he permitted. So i bought a months supply of vitamins A,E,D&C, and Zinc capsules and people around me couldn’t believe my skin cleared up by just watching what i consumed and popping 5 vit. capsules daily. These vitamins are God sent for my skin. All through 2015, i only had the supplements for two months with intervals between the months.
Fell off the wagon in February after i lost my job but today 1st of June, i got back on that healthy wagon cause i love my skin too much to let cakes decorate it with acne lol.
Hi Suzan, which Zinc capsules did you buy? I don’t know which one to get!
I also went vegan and did the gluten free thing for about 2 years never saw a change in my cystic acne.
I never had acne on my face like ever, so I became vegan because its better in all ways. Now its been 6 months but acne appeared on my face ! Its so weird !
I’d also add removing gluten (at least for an experimental month) and adding in even more healthy fats like coconut oil, avocado, and making sure to avoid the inflammatory veggie oils.
Great post!!
Great suggestions. Thanks Deena.