Top 7 Causes for Acne

Acne is one of the most common skin problems and health issues in general. It results from repeated infections to the blocked skin pores. Skin pores may get blocked by oil, bacteria, dead dermal cells, and/or dirt.
Here are the top 7 causes of acne.

7. Eating Refined Grains and Sugars

People who eat more refined carbs may have acne more than people who don’t consume too many refined carbs. Refined carbs and sugars elevate your blood sugar levels, which subsequently increases insulin levels. Both high blood sugar and insulin levels contribute to acne. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

6. Dairy Products

Increasing your dairy product intake can increase the risk of having acne significantly. In addition, if you have acne, taking dairy products can increase the severity of the condition. Some studies suggest that there is a cycle of cause and effect between acne and dairy products. (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)

5. Eating Fast Food

Acne is associated with many components of modern lifestyle, including the regular consumption of fast foods. Fast foods are rich in calories, fats, and refined carbs. Statistics show that there is a strong relationship between consuming fast foods and acne, especially in teens. (23, 24, 25, 26)

4. Omega-6 Fats

Fast foods are usually very rich in omega-6 fatty acids and very low in omega-3 fatty acids, which enhances inflammation and subsequently leads to acne. For example, corn and soy oil are very rich in omega-6 fatty acids. The imbalance between omega3 and omega-6 results in increasing the severity of inflammations, leading to worsening the condition of acne. (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)

3. Chocolate

The huge consumption of chocolate is one of the most common causes of acne. Studies show that the regular consumption of chocolate can lead to an acne outbreak in 99% of people. The immune system reacts with the bacteria causing acne, which may explain why acne appears after eating chocolate. (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)

2. Hairstyling Products

Pomade acne results from the use of hair-care products since styling products have oils and fats, which may lead to blockage of the skin pores and trapping of the acne-causing bacteria. Try to avoid spray applicators if you have sensitive skin and chronic condition of acne. (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)

1. Whey Protein Products

Whey protein is a common ingredient in many supplements. Whey protein is rich in leucine and glutamine, which are amino acids that increase the division of skin cells. Studies show that consuming whey protein, especially in bodybuilding supplements, is linked to the development of acne. (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)