We often hear about how there is 'no evidence' regarding our diets causing acne. However, this appears to be slightly misleading.
The negative studies I have seen, ie those saying there was not a link, involve trials of 7 days. However as other research *1suggests it can take up to 6 weeks for a change of diet to effect levels of vitamins known to help acne sufferers! I guess that is the 'quick fix' world we live in. However, there is research linking milk and acne*2, so it would be advisable to reduce the intake of milk and milk based products. There is also research that shows that patients with severe acne having significantly lower amounts of vitamins A and E in their blood than did those with less severe acne*3, suggesting that eating foods high in those nutrients would be beneficial. Minerals such as Zinc *5, and selenium *6 are also recommended.
This nutrient rich diet high in vitamins and minerals should be maintained for a minimum of 6 weeks*1 for the vitamin levels to increase and be beneficial.
So what about chocolate and other foods? Little scientific evidence seems to exist, there is however a great deal of empirical evidence linking refined carbohydrates and sugars with acne. The link may involve chromium as Chromium is related to blood sugar - the more sugars we eat, the more chromium we need but as chromium is only found in trace sources in our diet a deficiency may arise. So how does this link to acne? It has been found that people with unstable blood sugar levels have a high incidence of severe acne and that when these patients are given 400 micrograms of chromium in the form of yeast, their skin rapidly improved. *7
It is an established fact that some non-westernized populations whose diets that are free of processed foods, cereal grains, dairy products, refined sugars, and refined oils and almost entirely comprise unprocessed fresh, fruits, vegetables, and lean meats, fish, and seafood have populations known to be free of acne.*4. Although some people are quick to dismiss this empirical evidence it would seem to make some sense given the other facts.
It would seem apparent that a holistic approach to treating acne should involve not just skincare routine but also a look at environmental factors. We recommend a diet high in fresh fruit and veg, lean meats and fish. Combined with daily juicing of a combination of:
and kale, broccoli, carrots, Green lettice, spinach, watercress, Apricots, peaches, mango, loquats, passion fruit, grapefruit - for vitamin A:
IMPORTANT NOTICE: doses of 25,000iu or higher of vitamin A should only be taken under professional advice because there is evidence that adverse effects (including birth defects) may result. So as a rough guide there is around 15,500IU/100g of Vitamin A in Kale and 16,812 IU/100g in carrots.
*1 D. LABADARIOS, J. CILLIERS, L. VISSER, M. E. VAN STUIJVENBERG, G. S. SHEPHARD, D. WIUM, R. WALKER (1987) Vitamin A in acne vulgaris Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 12 (6), 432-436. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2230.1987.tb01942.x
*2 Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Berkey CS, Danby FW, Rockett HH, Colditz GA, Willett WC, Holmes MD. Milk consumption and acne in adolescent girls. Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA. Dermatol Online J. 2006;12(4):25.
*3 Z. El-akawi, N. Abdel-Latif, K. Abdul-Razzak (2006) Does the plasma level of vitamins A and E affect acne condition? Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 31 (3), 430-434. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2230.2006.02106.x
* 4Cordain L, Lindeberg S, Hurtado M, et al: Acne vulgaris: a disease of Western civilization. Arch Dermatol 138:1584-1590, 2002
*5 Michaelsson G, Juhlin L, Vahlquist A. Effects of oral zinc and vitamin A in acne. Arch Dermatol. 1977 Jan;113(1):31-6.
*6 Michaelsson G, Edqvist LE. Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in acne vulgaris and the effect of selenium and vitamin E treatment. Acta Derm Venereol. 1984;64(1):9-14.
*7 McCarty M. High-chromium yeast for acne? Med Hypotheses. 1984 Jul;14(3):307-10.
