7 Best and Worst Foods For Acne-Prone Skin

Dealing with acne every now and then is difficult. It is your duty to take necessary measures to control the situation or else your skin will suffer breakouts. You must have heard about healthy foods and unhealthy foods but do you know that there are best and worst foods for acne-prone skin as well. Know these foods and include/avoid them in your diet.

Acne-friendly Foods

1. Hydrating foods

The main problem with acne-prone skin is dryness which is due to lack of moisture in the skin. To cater to this issue, hydrating foods are the best. This includes drinking a lot of water and eating foods that are rich in water content such as melons, oranges, grapes, tomatoes, etc. 

2. Colorful fruits and vegetables

Colors in your diet can rejuvenate your skin. Yes. Colorful foods are helpful in soothing acne breakouts as these are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. They have beta-carotene which gets converted to Vitamin A, an essential vitamin for the skin.

These prevent the skin from further breaking out. 

3. Cultured vegetables

For healthy and glowing skin, it is important to have a healthy gut. A clean gut is a gateway to clear and healthy skin. Cultured vegetables especially cabbage, sauerkraut, and kimchi are best for acne-prone skin. These boost collagen production to combat acne and improve skin health. Some other sources of probiotics are coconut kefir, tempeh and kombucha tea.

4. Nuts

It is a myth that nuts aren’t good for people with oily or acne-prone skin due to their fatty content. But in reality, these are very good for skin as they contain omega-3 fatty acids that fight skin inflammation to treat acne. However, you should eat these in proportion to not exceed the fats in the body.

Worst foods for Acne-prone skin

5. Dairy Products

Everybody knows that dairy products are bad for the skin. Studies suggest that there is a strong link between dairy (especially cow’s milk) and skin health. The hormones in raw cow’s milk trigger skin breakout. Therefore, it is advised that people who get frequent acne should completely avoid dairy and replace them with healthier substitutes like soy milk, almond milk, etc.

6. Refined carbohydrates

Cakes, pastries, white bread, cookies, are all culprits of acne. These spike blood sugar levels in the body which further triggers hormonal fluctuation, inflammation, increase in sebum production, etc. It is important that you control your carb intake and eat only complex carbs.

7. Saturated fats

Foods that are high in saturated and trans fats should be avoided completely. Eat foods that contain monounsaturated fats instead. They will help in reviving the skin by soothing acne. You can check out the complete list of foods having monounsaturated fats and see what you can include in your diet.