While not necessarily dangerous to their health, cystic acne can be one of the most emotionally painful and frustrating medical conditions for the millions of Americans who suffer from it on a daily basis.
If you’re constantly battling cystic acne but can’t seem to win the war, you may need to start by re-examining your ammunition: the food you’re putting into your body. Choosing an appropriate cystic acne diet can work wonders in clearing up your skin, and although it may not prevent cystic acne altogether, you’re likely to notice a big change in your complexion after eliminating a few simple foods from your meals and snacks.
Here are a handful of the biggest culprits when it comes to food that can cause severe acne, all of which are ingredients you’re going to want to avoid in your cystic acne diet:
High-Glycemic Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are generally broken down into two groups: low-glycemic carbohydrates and high-glycemic carbohydrates. The higher a food’s glycemic rating, the faster it breaks down in your stomach. When this process happens too quickly, your blood sugar is going to spike rapidly. Even in healthy adults this can lead to imbalances in the body which are widely attributed to cystic acne.
Avoid starch-based high-glycemic carbohydrates such as potatoes and rice on your cystic acne diet, and opt instead for their low-glycemic alternatives like fruits, vegetables, and pasta.
Dairy Products
For a long time, dermatologists and nutrition experts though that dairy products like milk were actually helpful for combating cystic acne due to the high number of vitamins and minerals found in them. But in 2012, researchers discovered a definite correlation between cystic acne and consuming moderate-to-high levels of dairy products.
If you do cut out dairy from your diet, however, make sure to follow the warning of the experts and obtain your daily doses of calcium and Vitamin D from other dietary sources like fish and leafy green vegetables.
Deep Fried / Greasy Foods
You’ve probably heard a million times that deep fried and greasy foods are horrible for your skin’s complexion, but it’s so important that it’s worth reiterating over and over if that’s what it takes.
Experts are still debating over what it is with oily foods that cause acne, but there’s no denying the fact that there is a strong linkage present. It is worth pointing out though, that not all fats are bad. The saturated and trans fats found in fried foods are still horrible for you, but healthy types of unsaturated fats can actually reduce the inflammation associated with cystic acne.
Cystic Acne Diet Strategies That Work
Adopting a healthy cystic acne diet can go a long way in improving your complexion, but it won’t work on its own. You also need to make sure that your supplementing your new diet with a proven cystic acne home remedy in order to eliminate the root causes of your severe acne altogether. But with the right combination of personal care and the knowledge of the right foods to avoid to prevent cystic acne, you can begin seeing a noticeable difference in your skin as soon as anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.