Diet

Got Acne? You Must Eat These Foods

Live by these seven (easy) healthy skin diet rules to prevent breakouts and blemishes

by Robin Immerman Gruen

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You live to eat; you eat to live. But eating a healthy skin diet to reduce acne? Indeed. It's not quite the adage of, "you are what you eat," but it is true that what you eat affects the way you look -- and feel.

Prevent acne by adopting this healthy skin diet -- see it.

If you eat too much of any one thing, chances are high it will show -- literally -- in your skin. According to dermatologist Elliott Weiss, M.D., of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, new research suggests that diet may play a role in exacerbating acne. "One interesting observation is that acne is predominantly an issue in societies that follow a western diet (high refined sugar, high refined grain products), whereas societies that follow a hunter-and-gatherer type of diet (meat, vegetables, whole grains, no refined or packaged food) don't have a problem with pimples." Which makes sense, considering that a major contributor to acne is follicular hyperkeratosis (proliferation), which leads to plugging of the follicle and inflammation; diet, in fact, can contribute to these processes.

So, what's an acne-prone girl to do? First, says Dr. Weiss: Avoid filling up on yummy, sugary foods, excessive amounts of dairy and processed grains. This will help your complexion -- and your waistline, to boot. And second, eat a balanced, healthy for your skin diet full of vitamins and minerals that work to keep you strong, healthy and gorgeous from the inside out.

But remember, changing your healthy skin diet alone won't cure your acne or keep you completely blemish free, but it is a great place to start on your path to a perfect complexion. Here, with help from nutritionist Lara Field, MS, RD, CPS, LSN, we share the seven rules you should live by -- starting now -- to help keep acne issues at bay.

See the healthy skin diet for acne -- now.

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Older comments

Awesome extremely helpful article. Already doing a lot of this but will omit many other things to get my acne under control once and for all!

by fabofive Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 11:21AM Report as inappropriate

Nice.

by Mollysunshine Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 02:14AM Report as inappropriate

THANK YOU!!

by angel_golz Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 06:52PM Report as inappropriate

Where were these tips when I was a teen? Thanks for the sparklers idea, I like to a have a drink but am always afraid I'll break out.

by Sari Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 12:44PM Report as inappropriate

Thanks

by EricaC123 Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 06:38AM Report as inappropriate

Not gagging down an oyster for anything.

by dancerbygrace Friday, December 28, 2012 at 09:36AM Report as inappropriate

I'm so bad about drinking water, but am going to try to start being better about that!

by Chris213 Sunday, September 30, 2012 at 07:00AM Report as inappropriate

Honestly, I've discovered the best way to get rid of acne is tanning. It works for face and body acne. I know it has bad effects, but there are benefits as well.

by allierw Sunday, September 9, 2012 at 12:19PM Report as inappropriate

i do eat a lot of grain because i'm an athlete the occasional granola bar or chewy bar really help fill up my appetite but now that i see this its opened up my eyes.

by y.isle Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 06:16PM Report as inappropriate

Eating your water (say in veggies and fruit) is a better way not to flush them all out.

by Only1KimmieD Friday, June 22, 2012 at 12:36PM Report as inappropriate