Thursday, September 10, 2009

Can Food Cause Acne?

By Sally Dreiser

Your parents and relatives probably warned you at multiple family dinners to reduce your chocolate consumption. Back then, the idea that chocolate caused acne was more or less accepted. Flash forward to today, most dermatologists deny that any relationship exists between diet and acne. New evidence is starting to challenge this claim.

Those that suffer from acne have reported breakouts after eating certain foods. One person gets breakouts after eating peanuts, another after consuming milk. Is it really plausible to think that people fabricate such accounts? Not really. If we are to learn anything from history, its that most diseases are a lot more multifaceted than we like to think. There are always several variables involved. While there is no direct link between food preferences and acne, in some a drastic reduction in lesions may surface with diet modification. Since we all respond differently to treatments, some may see drastic improvement while others not so much.

Processed foods, the main component of the American diet, are largely unhealthy. These foods contain mostly simple carbohydrates, which are directly converted into sugar by our body. This sugar trickles into the bloodstream, which ultimately spurs overproduction of a hormone known as testosterone. It is this hormone that controls sebum production. When oil is excreted in excessive quantities, new acne lesions can develop. Switching from processed foods to healthier ones can be a challenge. You stand to improve your overall health, not just in terms of clearing your skin. For instance, you lower your risk factor for diabetes when you reduce your intake of processed foods. Formulate a new diet plan and after a few weeks, you will feel like a healthier person. Lifestyle changes are necessary to get a clear complexion.

Dairy products have long been known to be a big offender in respect to acne. Milk and other milk-based products are enriched with hormones that cause our body to respond negatively. A study conducted in 2005 revealed that women who consumed multiple cups of milk on a daily basis were at a substantially higher risk for developing severe forms of acne. There is no sense in debating the fact that dairy products are an integral part of our diet, however, anything in excess can prove to have catastrophic results. If you are someone who has a significant milk intake on a day to day basis, it may be time to start toning things down. You don't want to subject yourself to the nightmares of acne.

Some refuse to believe that acne and diet choices are linked. You are encouraged to test the hypothesis for yourself if you are the skeptical type. You will see nothing but positive health effects by swapping your processed foods with healthier alternatives. Historical data has shown that the proliferation of processed foods has triggered an increase in acne prevalence. Don't make a change just for acne, but also your overall health. A clean bill of health with ensure a long and prosperous future. It's important that you get started today, as other commitments may make it difficult to do so in the future. Best of luck!

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