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Preventing Acne with Diet

Posted on October 18, 2017

With the more nutrition-conscious society that we have become, we are often asked if there are any foods to avoid for patients with acne.

So far, no specific dietary changes are generally recommended in the management of acne. However, while the answer is not yet clear-cut, a few possibilities have emerged. Most importantly for some of us, we can breathe a sigh of relief to know that chocolate has not been shown to cause acne!

Presently, the data suggests that high glycemic index foods may be associated with acne. The glycemic index measures how a carbohydrate-containing food raises blood sugar. Examples of high glycemic index foods

Examples of high glycemic index foods include: white bread, instant oatmeal, shortgrain white rice, crackers, pretzels, and popcorn.  Examples of low glycemic index foods include: whole wheat, oat bran, barley, sweet potato, peas, legumes, lentils, most fruits, and non-starchy vegetables. In addition, limited evidence suggest that skim milk may aggravate acne. No association was found with cheese or yogurt.

If you or your family member has an acne problem, our dermatology providers at The Woodruff Institute would be happy to help you! We have same-day appointments available.