The very word "acne" conjures in many people's minds either
past or present struggles with self image, embarrassment
and feelings of helplessness if they've ever suffered this
skin condition, or are currently suffering varying degrees
of acne.
Our skin's appearance is very important to us personally of
course, but it seems to have been only made more important
by the emphasis of "flawless skin" in beauty magazines,
tabloids and other media outlets that our society has
become so enthralled with. It's no wonder that the
skincare industry has enjoyed growth and profits in leaps
and bounds over the past fifteen to twenty years.
So, what can you do, besides enlist the help of an
expensive dermatologist or skin care spa to help combat
acne and prevent new breakouts on your own, for next to
nothing - or better yet, free? Well, we will focus on
things you can change in your diet to get rid of or
dramatically reduce acne breakouts, since what we put in
our mouths is more key for the skin's appearance and health
than most people may think.
There are many schools of thought on what to avoid and what
to include in the diet if you are to attain and maintain
clear skin. However, one thing remains pretty clear, and
that is the avoidance of sugary foods and caffeine. I
cannot tell you how many times I have experienced major
breakouts that I can directly attribute to the consumption
of sugar or caffeine in excess.
Sure, it's ok to have a sweet snack (a small one!) here and
there, and not suffer the consequences of a few new
pimples, but by and large it is prudent to either strictly
limit sugar or try to eradicate it all together if you have
problem skin.
Sugar has many destructive properties that are bad for
overall health, but it's recently also been proven to have
properties that accelerate the aging process of the skin
when chemically broken down by our bodies, and also to lend
a hand in the inflammation of skin cells.
Inflammation is a direct cause of acne, since it is, by
definition an inflammatory skin condition, so we can safely
say that sugar is indeed a category of food to be avoided
in the quest to be acne free, oh and also to keep your skin
young too!
OK, enough about sugar, now let's move onto to another
culprit behind acne. Caffeine can have similar effects on
the skin to sugar, since it actually may increase
inflammation, especially in some people who are more
caffeine-sensitive than others (like myself).
With all the super caffeinated beverages out on the market
today, it's no wonder we're all not walking around with
broken out faces. I suspect that teens especially are
susceptible to the caffeinated drink rage, which is
unfortunate because they may be unknowingly aggravating
their skin and causing breakouts at the age where they are
more apt to break out anyway.
Caffeine can also produce an uneven and "bumpy" texture of
the skin. Beverages aren't the only culprit either, since
there are many supplements, pills and diet aids that
contain stimulants that will break your skin out faster
than you can say "energy". Caffeinated drinks and other
products containing stimulants should be avoided if you
want to avoid rough, broken out skin.
If you want to try to neutralize inflammation caused by
eating foods that increase skin volatility as mentioned
above, a good suggestion is to start drinking lemon water.
Not only is drinking lemon juice infused water a refreshing
difference from plain old water, but water with about an
eighth of a lemon (preferably organic) squeezed into it can
help neutralize acidity in the body caused by
acid-producing foods, which in turn limits inflammation.
Seriously, begin to drink lemon juice infused water for a
few days and I'd be surprised if you don't see at least a
little difference in the way your skin looks.
If you want to get really adventurous, add a sprinkle or
two of cinnamon, again prefereably organic, to your water,
and you may also enjoy a bit of a revved up metabolism as
well as a more stabilized blood sugar level, as research is
showing cinnamon has excellent benefits for blood sugar
stabilization. Why do I mention blood sugar? Well,
because a stable blood sugar level helps to lower
inflammation, and it also helps reduce the effects of
stress and anxiety which can trigger higher levels of
androgens in the body, which are the very hormones that
cause acne.
And there you have it, free or very cheap, easily
incorporated, and dare I say "pleasant" ways to combat
acne. Not only do these suggestions help reduce breakouts,
they are also generally beneficial to your health in other
numerous ways. Who says everyone needs a dermatologist or
expensive skin care regimens to achieve pristine skin?
----------------------------------------------------
Danna Schneider is the founder of
http://www.acnemagazine.com , a very popular weblog about
acne and how to treat it, and
http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com/acnezine-review.html , where
reviews on herbal products for acne like Clear Pores and
Acnezine, as well as skin care regimens and tips for acne,
acne rosacea and other inflammatory skin conditions from
someone who suffered acne herself.
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