In spite of what you see on TV and in magazines, there are lots of people who have acne.  Millions of them, in fact.  Acne is one of those conditions that are easy to diagnose but quite a challenge to treat.  Although some people choose to battle it out using medications and therapy, there are some who also use diet in the hopes of finding a cure, even if it’s temporary.

Is there such thing as an acne diet?
Most doctors and dermatologists will tell you that eating that bar of chocolate or those deep fried potatoes will not make your acne worse.  This is because acne is the result of the overproduction of sebum under your skin, which harbors acne-causing bacteria.  The clogged pores then become inflamed, causing skin ruptures which often result to scarring. 

Diet is generally not accepted as a cause of acne although some people believe otherwise, which is probably the reason why myths about special diets designed to combat acne persist.  There is no scientific evidence that can confirm the relation of diet to acne as of yet.  However, there are some aspects about acne where a diet change may be helpful.

Diet for a healthy skin
Healthy skin is clear, smooth and supple because it is still capable of producing collagen.  This is the substance that acts as a binder to keep the skin elastic.  It is responsible for keeping skin from sagging.  If your skin is healthier, it is more likely to recover from acne scars easily. 

The nutrient responsible for assisting in the production of collagen is Vitamin C.  This vitamin helps the body heal easily and also help boost the immune system naturally.  It is also a very effective antioxidant. 

For this reason, most diets designed to combat acne include vegetables and fruits containing Vitamin C.  If your goal is to help your skin and body heal itself naturally or at least strengthen your immune system to help combat your acne, try eating more fruits and vegetables.  They are filled with fiber, which helps you eliminate toxins more efficiently. 

Fat isn’t phat
Another component of a diet that is commonly suspected to cause acne is fat.  Many people swear that oily foods such as French fries and high-fat content foods such as cakes and pastries cause acne breakouts.  Some will even blame their acne on peanut butter and eggs.  Again, there is no scientific study that supports this declaration.

However, it is possible that certain foods do cause an allergic reaction to people.  Eating too much sugar and fats might disrupt their normal, healthful diet and may sometimes exacerbate their skin condition.

If you find that this is true in your case, simply avoid or cut down on your intake of these foods.  Replace sweet, high-calorie and fat snacks with natural choices such as fruits and vegetables.  Foods rich in Vitamin A and E, both known antioxidants, may also help boost your skin’s ability to heal itself.

Special acne diets
There are products such as supplements, drinks and special diets that are being promoted as the solution to acne.  If you’re considering giving these products a try, remember that all products will work for some people but will have no results for others.  Always be aware of the ingredients or formulation used to determine whether the preparation will be beneficial to you or not.

Listening to your skin
A genuine acne diet that will work universally has yet to be discovered.  Until then, you will have to use special medications and maintain a healthful meal plan to help your skin fight this condition. 

Diet Plans at a Glance

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 at 12:06 am and is filed under Diet Plans at a Glance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.