What goes in your mouth can show up on your face…
…in the form of acne! That’s according to Yale School of Medicine dermatology professor Dr. Mona Gohara. She says two of the worst offenders are foods that contain refined sugars and processed grains. They’re high glycemic foods, which means they break down quickly in your body, causing an insulin spike and raising blood sugar levels. That leads to hormone fluctuations and low-grade inflammation, which makes your face pump out more oil, clogging your pores, and causing acne. And Dr. Gohara says that’s true for adults AND teenagers. Because processed food-related acne can show up at any age.
One more acne trigger: A Harvard study found that people who drank two or more glasses of fat-free milk daily had a 20% higher risk of acne. The problem is fat-free milk contains more sugar than whole milk… and like with refined carbs, the extra sugar raises insulin levels. So, if your skin is breaking out, consider switching to 2% milk, or dairy-free alternatives that contain fewer than 10 grams of sugar per serving.