Not sure if diet can help your acne? Although often very persistent, having the best diet for acne may significantly calm skin redness and reduce breakouts. In addition, your environment and skin products may help to unblock pores while keeping a healthy skin barrier.
Although not all cases of acne will completely clear with diet, acne responds very well to diet. In my clinical experience, most people experience significant reduction in redness and clearer pores overtime. The ideal diet for acne is very nutrient dense and includes anti inflammatory foods to calm your skin.
A balanced diet rich in vitamins A, C and E (colourful fruits and vegetables and seeds) and protein is key to give your skin what it needs. As a nutritionist, one of the most common issues I see with my clients with acne is a diet high in refined inflammatory foods (e.g. white flour and vegetable oils). As a result, this often leads to inflamed skin, making it difficult for your skin to clear. To avoid these issues, I recommend real delicious food, not just a detox diet for acne and juicing (although this is ok in moderation if you like)!
Nourishing your skin with plenty of omega-3 fats and antioxidants is key to calm redness and help the healing process. I therefore focus on ADDING nutritious foods back into your diet, providing an anti inflammatory diet for acne.
Nutrition supplements are not needed for everyone (if your digestion is good and your diet is varied and healthy). Although, most of us find it hard to eat a wide array of nutrients to provide the optimum levels for our skin. Supplements such as zinc can therefore can make a huge difference if you have low levels. Individuals with acne may also benefit from higher levels of probiotics if digestive imbalances are involved.
I usually recommend dietary changes before tests with acne, as most of the time skin responds quickly to dietary changes.
Depending on your specific symptoms, I may recommend a salvia hormone test (especially if symptoms worsen at a specific time of the month for menstruating women).
If your symptoms include bloating, pain or indigestion, a digestive stool test may be useful to identify issues with metabolism of fats and protein. Potential bacterial, yeast or parasite infection can also be identified and are commonly associated with skin inflammation. Tests can be ordered at your first nutrition consultation.
This really depends on how long you’ve had acne and how severe it is. If your diet can be improved significantly, you may start seeing results after 3-4 weeks, however most of my clients see most benefits after 3 months.
Choose from one of my 3 packages below to start your journey to clearer skin.
If you simply want to try recipes at your own pace, you can start off with my 14-day meal plan for clear skin. Alternatively, if you would like to focus on your every day habits including your skincare routine, try my 8-week skin programme. For in-depth and personal one-to-one nutritionist advice, you can also book nutrition consultations.
Eat your way to youthful glowing skin with a simple PDF guide, including over 50 delicious recipes online to nourish your skin back to health. Includes vegetarian, pescatarian and gluten-free options.
✔︎ Suitable if you are new to healthy eating
⏰ Starts Monday 10th June 2024 ⏰ Structured online programme via emails, videos and weekly tasks to help you build healthy habits for clear & calm skin. Also includes a personalised skincare routine.
✔︎ Suitable if you are ready to make long term changes
One-to-one nutrition consultations are provided via video or phone call. Get personalised advice on your diet, supplements and skin products, and stay on track with ongoing messaging support.
✔︎ Suitable if you have more complex health issues