It is well-known by now that certain foods and nutrients can help or hurt specific parts of a person’s body. Getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D is necessary for strong bones and teeth, whereas taking in too much sugar can have some pretty nasty effects on your teeth and body. The skin is no different. It’s crucial that you recognize which foods may cause acne or other skin damage and work to limit your intake.

In regards to our skin, we are what we eat. Unfortunately, certain foods that are widely considered healthy may be bad for your skin and lead to breakouts, as well as skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema. We’re not recommending that you have to only consume dry toast and water to maintain healthy skin. We’re just emphasizing the importance of knowing how skin reacts to certain foods.

We recommend following these recommendations to help promote smooth, healthy skin without excessive breakouts:

• Try to limit dairy products. Although dairy products contain calcium, too much can actually contribute to acne breakouts. Dairy naturally promotes increased levels of androgen in the blood, which often lead to excess oil production and increased potential for breakouts.
• Lean, non-meat proteins like beans, peas and lentils are highly recommended.
• Go easy on the sugar. Overly sugary products liked baked goods and candy can degrade a person’s collagen and elastin, which are needed for soft, healthy skin. Too much sugar can also lead to breakouts.
• Additionally, drinks that are high in sugar like juices and sodas have been known to lead to wrinkles.
• Try antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables like carrots, apricots and bananas.
• Many whole grain products are highly refined and contain lots of added sugar that can lead to wrinkle-causing glucose spikes.
• Caffeine can increase the body’s production of cortisol, a stress hormone that can often lead to acne breakouts.
• Healthy nuts like almonds contain an abundance of nutrients that contribute to healthy skin including vitamin E, copper, magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron.

Don’t get distressed if you noticed one of your favorite foods on the list. We are simply recommending that you moderate your intake of these particular foods, not eliminate them from your life entirely. To help determine what kind of skin you have and which specific foods can be potentially harmful, we recommend taking part in a complimentary skincare analysis at AYA^™. For more information or to schedule your skincare analysis, please contact AYA^™ Medical Spa or come into any of our three locations (Avalon, Phipps Plaza, Northside) today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for more skincare tips and updates.