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Acne is a significantly underrated condition to anybody that has not suffered at its mercy. If you are one of the millions who find that some days are wished away due to confidence crippling breakouts, or if you simply find that the odd blemish is becoming rather too common, it may be time to reassess your dietary habits. Typically, acne is treated with skin creams and gels designed to dry it out. These creams can be both uncomfortable to the point of peeling a layer of your skin off, and also embarrassing as they usually give the face a ‘red raw’ appearance, which is tricky to camouflage. Alongside pharmaceutical skin creams, often antibiotics are prescribed by GP’s. These medications are rarely a success at keeping acne at bay on a long term basis. This is because unfortunately acne is usually treated by targeting the symptoms rather than the root cause. The fact is your skin is your window of wellbeing. If it is breaking out and inflamed it is trying to alert you that something isn’t quite right inside, and by simply treating the spots on a superficial level you are just not going to solve the problem once and for all. Here are a few acne-clearing nutritional tips Avoid Dairy – There are a number of reasons why dairy is linked so strongly to acne. Many people find dairy hard to digest and an unsettled digestive system is a common acne trigger. Dairy is an acid- forming, inflammatory food, and your body and skin function best in an alkaline environment. Dairy is also swimming with hormones which only burden your liver and can cause or contribute to a hormonal imbalance which is often expressed by inflammation on the skin. Avoid wheat – Wheat products (bread, flour, pasta etc) can aggravate acne due to its gluten content. Many people struggle to digest gluten even if they do not have a diagnosed wheat or gluten intolerance. Wheat products have a ‘sticky’ nature which can further lead to irritation of the digestive system which can aggravate acne. The gluten- free food market is growing steadily and there are many bread alternatives to wheat now. Also rice pasta is worth a try for all you Italian food romantics. FEED YOUR SKIN: Here are a few food examples to send your skin exactly what it needs to clear and cheer up: Watercress – A pure skin cocktail of a plant, watercress contains vitamins A, C and E as well as B vitamins, sulphur, iron and iodine. Its antibacterial agents zoom in and out of the pores to cleanse and purify. Pumpkin seeds – These tiny pods are pumped with zinc and super fats needed to keep the skin clear and glowing. Pumpkin seed oil is also delicious and heroically nutritious poured over salads, soups and veg. Green leafy vegetables – These include skin saints kale, cabbage and spinach, which are the most alkalinising angels around, and also packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants– that’s pure radiance in a bite. Garlic – Not only antioxidant rich but antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory. All those anti’s equate to one big anti-acne campaign led by this powerfully persuasive little clove. Garlic, onions, shallots and leeks all belong to the same family which is famous for its wealth of sulphur – an essential skin ingredient. The skin is an incredibly complicated organ of the body. When there are imbalances which are expressed through acne breakouts, triggers are likely to be unique to you, which is why what works for your friend may not work for you. For further information visit us for some acne clearing nutritional therapy About the author: Rachel Henderson is a fully qualified nutritionist and co-founder and director of Food Fairy Nutrition Ltd
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nutrition, acne, nutritional therapy,
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