Tips and Tricks for Acne Prone Skin
Anyone who has struggled with acne knows how frustrating it can be. One day your skin is glowing, and the next you’re debating if you should leave the house. Since a young age I’ve struggled with acne, my dermatologist always put me on a new topical or over the counter pill to help it, but they rarely worked. Even though most acne is hormonal or genetic, there are certain things that can trigger or worsen the problem. I’ve listed the worst offenders below - when cutting these items out of my diet I ALWAYS noticed an improvement.
SUGAR
Start by adapting a low glycemic (GI) diet – low in sugar both natural and processed. When you consume excess sugar, your body’s response is to produce the hormone insulin which then leads to increased inflammation — a huge problem when it comes to acne. Focus on eating lean meats, nuts and seeds, lots of veggies, and healthy grains like rolled oats and quinoa! Fruits that are low in sugar include, blueberries, peaches, plums, and cantaloupe.
DAIRY
Dairy has always been my biggest trigger for acne. Cow’s milk is often taken from pregnant cows whose milk contains high levels of progesterone, which can throw off your hormonal balance and cause acne. Swap your dairy milk to almond or oat, it may take a bit to get used to it but once you do you’ll never go back! Also try to avoid cheese, but if you’re have a crazy cheese craving always choose goat cheese over cow. Goat cheese has less lactose, sodium, and is easier to digest.
COFFEE
This was probably one of the hardest to avoid because I personally LOVE coffee, but once you go 30 days without, your body no longer craves it! Caffeine pumps up your cortisol levels (stress hormones), which amps up your skin’s oil glands making you look extra shiny and at risk for congesting your pours.
Try switching your coffee lattes to matcha lattes! Matcha is incredible for your skin. It not only reduces inflammation, but also rejuvenates the underlying skin to improve your complexion.
ALCOHOL
Drinking alcohol like wine, beer, liquor, etc. doesn’t directly cause acne, but it does cause a hormone domino effect that might. Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol can throw off your body’s blood sugar, which can in turn cause acne.
When drinking, keep this in mind: stay away from cocktails and keep it to a minimum. I normally just opt for a glass of wine every now and then and try to avoid the hard stuff.
Hope you’ve found this helpful, and you start implementing a few healthy changes to your diet!! Personally, this was the biggest way I was able to manage my acne. I’ve learned that healing from the inside-out is the best way to accomplish what you’re looking to achieve.
