Gummy bears. Licorice. Tootsie Rolls: A sweet tooth's dream, indeed. But an acne sufferer's worst nightmare, too, we admit. So rather than indulge in the high-sugar, chewy, gummy candy that lines convenience store shelves, choose dark chocolate, which boasts antioxidants. The relationship between antioxidants and your skin? Simply put, antioxidants work to shield your skin from free radical damage, which jeopardizes the integrity (and health) of your complexion. Find dark-chocolate coated raisins almost anywhere -- peanuts too. Or, you can even make a fondue and dip other goodies into it, like sliced fruit or whole grain pretzels.
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Tap into water
Eight glasses of water a day: You've read it, heard it, suggested it to a friend even, but do you follow this faithful advice daily? The number is actually less important than the concept of keeping your body hydrated all day long. This helps to flush out bad toxins, yes, but also keeps skin dewy and hydrated from the inside out. Your goal should be frequent -- but not bothersome -- urination that is neither totally clear nor gold in hue. Remember, you can easily flavor your water with a lemon or orange slice, mint leaf or cucumber wedge. Still bored? Choose sparkling for a change.
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Drink smarter
No, you don't need to shelf every bottle in the house, but you should cut back in frequency and amount per sitting, if acne is an issue. Why? Alcohol can make existing acne worse, aggravating it and bringing additional heat to the source. Easy way to cut back: Mix your wine with sparkling water or even diet clear soda to make a sparkler, which has less alcohol content but an equally appealing taste. Also, pick a couple of weeknights to enjoy a cocktail, not being deprived during the week will help you avoid a binge during the weekend.
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.
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.
