Adult Acne Linked to Bad Diet

Despite being one of the most common skin care problems in the United States, the exact causes of Acne are not known. However recent research into the links between Acne and diet has provided some interesting results that sufferers will want to be aware of.

Acne is a skin care problem largely associated with teenagers, with the start of outbreaks coinciding with adolescence in young girls and boys. However as many as one in twenty adults still suffer from it and even today, the reasons behind Acne are not fully unknown. The exact reason behind acne has previously been attributed to factors such as genetics, stress, hormones and cleanliness.

Latest Acne and Diet Research

Recently, Professor Neil Mann, a professor of human nutrition at RMIT University, conducted a study to observe any potential relationship between acne and your diet. He lead a research team for more than 2 years and came to the conclusion that diet does affect acne. Despite many doctors over the past 40 years dismissing the claim that diet affects your skin, Professor Mann’s research is now set to prove otherwise.

“We know there are many metabolic processes going on in the body in regards to what we eat, so we were skeptical about claims that diet has no relation to acne,” Professor Mann says. “A basic culprit is high insulin levels. High levels of refined carbohydrates elevate the levels of insulin,” he says. “High insulin levels cause an overproduction of sebum and that helps to block the pore. High insulin levels also cause a certain type of androgen, DHEAS protein, to rise, which, in turn, causes the sebum levels to rise.”

Sebum is an oily substance that is secreted by the Sebaceous gland. It is a vital substance needed to keep the skin and hair waterproof, however a rise or excess in Sebum can make the skin oily, and when combined with bacteria, will lead to an increase in Acne symptoms.

Foods to Help Improve Skin

To help improve the quality of your skin and clear Acne, you should try to increase the intake of certain types of foods. These include fish like salmon, tuna and sardines, which can all make a considerable difference. It is also recommended to increase the intake of a variety of vegetables and to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. The combination of fish and mixed vegetables was concluded as the best meal to help improve the quality of your skin and reduce Acne.