Ask an Esthetician- Diet and Acne

Hi Readers,

Hope you’re all having a Fab week, for those of you that don’t know, we have a section “Ask an Esthetician” where you get to ask our myHairmyBeauty skin therapist/esthetician, any skincare question you’d like. To do so please send an email to myHairmyBeauty@yahoo.com. Your post can be anonymous.

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Throughout my teenage years I never dealt with Acne, but I was quite surprised that now in my late 20’s my face is always breaking out. A coworker of mine told me that the oil in my diet might be a result of it, is there any truth to Foods causing Acne?” – Anonymous, Abuja

 

Well yes and no. There’s yet to be a direct correlation between Diet and Acne, but research shows that certain foods do have an indirect relationship with acne. When it comes to diet and acne we have to discuss the role of Insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates carbohydrate metabolism, protein and fat metabolism. Insulin regulates the way our cells use energy in the bloodstream. Research shows that people with ongoing acne issues are more insulin resistant meaning that they DON’T respond to the normal amounts of insulin released in the body. For Acne sufferers who tend to have insulin resistance, poor quality carbohydrates like white bread, sugar, and sugary foods tend to be a BIG problem because they cause an increase in Hormones which directly affects acne and makes it worse. High insulin can increase the oil production in the sebaceous glands and lead to clogged pores, providing a breeding ground for Bacteria.

So it’s not so much about the oils but junk food and excess sugars that can cause a spike in your insulin level, resulting in Hormonal imbalance and outbreak of pimples.