Acne and Carbohydrates - False Marriage

Do carbohydrates cause acne? Should you avoid them if you want to cure your acne?

In this hub I separate the science from the nonsense behind acne and carbohydrates.

The carb and acne link is riddled with confusion. Research in the past years shows a link between acne and high glycemic index foods (mostly refined carbs).

These foods lead to acne because of their effect on blood sugar levels. Unstable blood sugar levels lead to release of hormones that increase sebum production, clog your pores with dead skin cells, and allow acne causing bacteria to multiply.

Based on this it seems carbohydrates cause acne. But that's only the other side of the coin.

The real reason is unstable blood sugar levels.

Carbohydrates do increase blood sugar levels, and refined carbs even more sharply. But the body has very good mechanisms for controlling them.

As long as this regulating mechanism works well, your blood sugar levels remain reasonably steady no matter what you eat.

It's only when they fail, a condition called insulin resistance, that you get problems leading to acne. So insulin resistance sits at the root of your acne.

Insulin resistance is a fairly complicated condition that develops over the years as a result of wrong diet and lifestyle choices. Some of the main causes are:

• Eating too much fat.
• Eating too many calories.
• Chronic inflammation (for example from stress, exposure to toxins and chemicals, and eating inflammatory foods).
• Sleep deprivation.
• Sedentary lifestyle.

Unlike what most people think carbohydrates doesn't cause insulin resistance. Not natural and unrefined carbohydrates at least, refined stuff is a different story. For example without insulin resistance a person can eat 19 bananas a day without upsetting blood sugar levels.

Low-carb diets - The answer to acne?

When people hear about acne carbohydrate connection they think low-carb diets are the solution. If carbs cause acne then the solution is to avoid them.

As these diets are low in calories and lead to short-term weight loss (good for insulin resistance) they may work in the short-term.

But the problems with low-carb diets is they are extremely high in fat. Too much fat is one of the main reasons behind insulin resistance. Fat blocks the action of insulin, and the pancreas has to constantly pump more to compensate. Research consistently shows that those who eat the most fat have the highest insulin levels. Insulin is one of those problematic hormones when it comes to acne.

Low-carb diets can damage your health. Atkins Exposed website explains the dangers these diets expose you to, and the scientific non-sense used to promote them.

Healthy, unrefined carbohydrates don't feed acne. There's no reason to risk your life by avoiding them in a vain hope of curing acne.

Especially since you can have both clear skin and excellent health by following scientifically supported and time-tested principles of eating healthy foods in their natural state.

In summary, acne is not caused by carbohydrates.

Seppo Puusa is a health advocate, author and educator, and the author is best-selling acne book Clear for Life: Lifestyle for health, happiness and clear skin.

"Finally acne made perfect sense!" - Marjorie.

Acne leaves you confused and frustrated? Read Seppo's free minicourse Acne 101: What Einstein would have done to get clear, and it suddenly makes perfect sense. Just like it did for Marjorie and thousands of people in over 67 countries.

Click here for more acne and diet information.