Acne and Diet

There is some controversy over whether one's diet can contribute to acne breakouts. We consume so many different things, it is impossible to say whether one thing or another aggravates acne in one individual. Therefore, it is difficult for anyone to draw solid conclusions about what diet might do to contribute to acne.

Here are a few things that almost everyone agrees on when it comes to acne and diet:

• Chocolate and greasy foods do not cause acne.

• Consumption of excessive amounts of iodine can aggravate your skin. High levels of iodine are found in salt, turkey, seaweed and asparagus so avoid these foods.

• Consumption of foods high in zinc may reduce inflammation. High levels of zinc are found in foods that are high in protein (beef, pork, chicken, peanuts, legumes).

• If you think that a certain food may be triggering your acne try eliminating it for a couple of months and see if you notice an improvement in your skin.

• The Acne Prescription: The Perricone Prescription for Clear and Healthy Skin at Every Age, a new book by Nicholas Perricone, claims that eating large quantities of fish (especially salmon) will have an “anti-inflammatory” effect on your body and is essential for acne treatment. This is somewhat controversial since fish has been found to contain highlevels of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), it is therefore advisable only to eat fish once per week.

• Reduce your consumption of things that will stress your body- such as refined sugars, caffeine, cigarettes or alcohol.

• Always remember that a healthy body is better able to fight disease so eat a well-balanced diet.