Do Nutrition and Diet Cause Adult Acne?
Most people think acne just occurs in our teen years, but it can appear at any age in both males and females. In fact, some people may only experience it in their adult years. Acne in adults can occur for a variety of reasons but can especially be triggered by nutrition and diet. A dermatologist at Dermatology & Mohs Surgery Institute can help diagnose and treat your acne.
What Causes Acne?
Acne affects nearly 10% of the population. There is a good chance that at some point in life you will experience some form of it. Acne occurs because of a buildup of oil and dead skin cells. This results in whiteheads, blackheads and pimples on the face, chest, neck or back. The buildup of oil and dead skin cells can be triggered by a bad diet. Foods to avoid to help decrease the likelihood of acne developing include:
- Refined carbohydrates such as bread, pasta made with white flour, white rice, soda and sweeteners
- Food or drinks with added sugars
- Dairy products
- Foods that contain high fat, high calories and refined carbohydrates such as fast food
- Foods with high amounts of corn and soy oil
- Chocolate
- Foods you are already sensitive to
Some can consume these foods and have no acne reaction, but if you notice changes in your skin after eating these, try eliminating them. Once you eliminate a food, slowly introduce it back into your diet and monitor your reaction. If an acne outbreak occurs, you now have a better idea of what is triggering it and you can avoid that food.
How to Get Rid of Acne
Luckily there are a variety of adult acne treatments. When thinking of how to get rid of acne, treatments may include Dermal Optical Thermolysis (DOT) therapy, fraxel, high frequency or simple at-home steps you can take. DOT is often used for those who have acne scarring. Perforations are made in the skin and help remove the entire acne scar.
Fraxel treatments also help remove acne scarring. This treatment helps resurface the skin, improve pigmentation and restore redness in the face. High frequency treatments include lasers directly impacting the skin. They are able to eliminate deep bacteria and deep inflammation within the pimple.
At Home Treatment
If you have yet to experience acne scarring and are in the stages of trying to simply get control over your acne, at-home treatments can help. Be sure to wash your face twice per day with a gentle, non-drying cleanser. Also make sure to not touch your pimples. The more they are touched and attempted to be popped, the worse they can get and the longer it will take for them to go away. If needed, over-the-counter (OTC) medications can be used as well. Products that include benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can help keep new acne from forming. Lastly, as mentioned above, pay special attention to your diet.
Diet and nutrition are not the final word of acne development, but paying attention to what you are eating can significantly help reduce your chances of getting acne. If you are in Bloomington, Illinois or surrounding areas, get with a dermatologist from Dermatology & Mohs Surgery Institute. We are looking forward to working with you.