Can Diet Cure Acne?

Latest research shows diet does affect acne - a lot.

Why is it that derms still claim there's no connection between diet and acne? Why is it that almost every acne website lists diet acne connection as a myth?

The answer may surprise you.

In the sixties they did two poorly conducted studies about acne and diet. One that supposedly studied whether chocolate affects acne was sponsored by a chocolate manufacturer. Those studies were so bad they would earn a high school science student an F.

After those two studies, until 2002, nobody studied the link between acne and diet. Derms simply accepted those two flawed studies as conclusive (since there was nothing else) and have since claimed diet doesn't affect acne. That claim has no credible scientific-basis. But it has been repeated so long and so often it has turned into a dogma. For more detailed explanation please see Origins of diet has nothing to do with acne myth (the article is under 'Slates').

In fact the latest research shows diet does affect acne. So if diet does affect acne the big question is...

The surprising truth is no, diet cannot cure acne.

Well, let me make a small correction. No, diet alone usually cannot cure acne. Diet is an important part of an effective cure for acne, but it's not the only part. Certainly with bad diet you cannot permanently cure acne.

What about people who say diet cured their acne?

This video shows one such case.

Note about the video. The three foods mentioned in the video (grains, sugar and dairy products) contribute to the causes of acne (explained later in this article). But they are not the only things. There are many people who remove these foods from their diet and see no change in their acne condition. It's dangerous to think you can cure acne simply by cutting out certain foods from your diet; as this article explains; Why thinking diet cures acne is dangerous.

I do believe this guy on the video and all the others who say diet got them clear are telling the truth. But there's often more to the story.

Acne is a result of insulin resistance, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. These lead to excessive sebum production and blocked pores and hence to acne.

Diet affects all of them, but diet alone is not the only thing. You have to look at other causes also; such as sleep, exercise and stress levels.

Think of solution to acne as a puzzle. Each part of the solution is a piece of the puzzle.

Those people who say diet cured their acne often had all or most of the other pieces at place. After adding diet things just clicked and they go clear.

Some people say they tried diet and it didn't affect their acne. But this doesn't mean diet wouldn't be part of the solution that cures their acne. It simply means they have to add other pieces to the puzzle before they see visible results.

Acne is a complicated condition and you need to tackle it from all sides. For acne-prone individuals acne is linked to your overall health. Insulin resistance, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are simply signs of poor diet and health habits.

To cure acne you need to look at all the aspects of health - not diet alone. As Dr. Mark Hyman summarizes in this video.

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

He was tormented by acne for almost 20 years. After 8 years of learning about natural health and healing he discovered the simple and obvious solution to acne. Ever since he has dedicated to sharing his experience with other acne victims. You can read Clear for Life for free at http://www.clear-for-life.com