Will Oily Food Really Cause Acne?

There are many people who will point the finger at bad eating habits as the cause of their acne. Oily and greasy foods, chocolates and nuts may get a bad rep, but are they really the cause of your acne? You need to know the causes of acne to solve the confusion.

Acne is caused by the overproduction of sebum and oily substance that is secreted by the sebaceous and microscopic glands. This overproduction is often caused by fluctuation in hormones, pores that are clogged with bacteria or dead skin cells as well as inflammation. Many people believe that these issues can be linked to the foods they consume, like eating too many foods with bad fats such as greasy foods. While this is commonly believed by people, there is no evidence that supports these claims. Greasy foods may be bad for your heart, but there is little to no connection between the greasy foods you eat and your acne.

Sweets and carbs.

Eating a significant amount of sweet foods may have been the blame in the past for acne breakouts, especially chocolate, but they are not the actual cause of acne. Sugary foods and foods that provide a greater amount of simple carbohydrates can cause your acne to flare up. Eating chips, cookies, crackers, white breads or pastas, potatoes and drinking soft drinks can all be acne triggers. When it comes to answering the question “does oily food cause acne”, you can get a correlative sure answer, for whether sugary foods will cause acne or not, you will need to look at how these foods affect your blood sugar. When you consume these types of foods, your blood sugar increases, which causes the body to produce more insulin. This increase in insulin then increases the skin oil production that can clog pores and cause breakouts.

Dairy products

While there may not be a clear connection between dairy and skin issues, this isn't the case for everyone. Some of the hormones found natural in milk may be a trigger for acne. If you are concerned that dairy may be causing your acne to worsen then, consider going dairy free for a month. Note any changes to your complexion during this time. If you do go dairy free, keep in mind your body does need calcium to keep your bones strong so that you want to find an alternative way to get the daily recommendation of 1300 milligrams a day. You can still get plenty of calcium by consuming orange juice, soy milk, tofu, spinach, and broccoli.

Fruits and vegetables

Asking “does oily food cause acne” indicates you are concerned that the foods you eat can be the cause or your acne. Eating a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables will improve your skin, instead of worsen it. Fruits and vegetables have no link to causing acne and in fact are proven to improve your skin in a number of ways. Incorporating more healthy fruits and vegetables into your diet can reduce skin flare up and provide vital nutrients your skin needs to remain healthy. If you suffer from acne, then including more wholesome foods like fruits and vegetables can help with this issues. Fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin A are especially beneficial and should be eating instead of oily or fried foods. Cantaloup, sweet potatoes and carrots all contain significant sources of vitamin A that will help with acne breakouts.

Poor Hygiene

Many people look at acne as a result of having poor hygiene, so they wash their skin even more. Unfortunately, washing your face more, in many cases aggressively, can make your acne worse. With an increase of washing and scrubbing of the face, you irritate the skin, which results in it looking even worse than it was before. Those with acne should limit washing their face to once or twice a day without scrubbing. Use a mild cleanser with warm water and be sure that one of the times you wash face is just before bed, as this will help remove dirt, seat and makeup that have accumulated during the day.

Popping pimples

The first thing people want to do when they notice a pimple is to squeeze, in hopes that it will go down in size. However, popping a pimple will only cause the area to become more irritated and inflamed, which makes it more noticeable. Instead of popping the pimple, it’s better to leave it alone or use an over the counter acne medicine. Ointments, gels, cream, and lotions that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide are the most effective treatments to reduce pimple size.

Acne will clear up on its own

Along with the question of “does oily food cause acne”, you may have wondered whether to leave it to clear up on its own or you need medical help. Since acne is caused by clogged pores, it is not likely to clear up on its own. The overproduction of oil in the skin is something that can be taken care of with proper treatments either over the counter or prescribed. Talk to your doctor to find the right treatment for the acne.