No matter how old you are an acne breakout can be a real blow to your confidence. If you suffer from acne, you’ve probably heard all the old wives tales about what causes it and what you can do to get rid of it. One common tale you hear a lot is that you should cut out dairy if you want to control your acne, but is this true?
In this post, we’ll explore this idea and talk about things you can do to get some control over your acne.
What Is Acne?
Acne is a skin condition. It is characterised by frequent breakouts of spots. There are six main types of spots that can be caused by acne, so it doesn’t look the same for everyone. As well as spots, acne can cause your skin to become oily or feel hot and painful.
Acne is a widespread condition, and not just in teenagers. 95% of people between the ages of 11 and 30 are affected, to some extent, by acne. For around 3% of adults, the symptoms will continue past the age of 35.
What Causes Acne?
The causes of acne are varied and can be complicated to pin down. The best ideas at the moment suggest that there is a genetic component that can make you more susceptible to acne. If both your parents had acne, then you are much more likely to have it too.
Acne in teenagers is often attributed to changes in hormone level. This is also the reason that some women find that their symptoms sync up with their menstrual cycle. Alternatively, they develop acne during pregnancy.
The links between diet and acne are unclear. Many researchers stopped looking into diet and acne because of a study from the 1960s. This study indicated that there was no link between diet and acne. However, it has since been found that there were problems with this study. Researchers are now looking again at this question with fresh eyes.
There is increasing evidence that there may be a link between what you eat and your skin condition. However, there is nothing conclusive yet. Individuals have different triggers. What can cause a break out for one person may not cause one for another, so it is a complicated situation to study.
How Does Dairy Affect Acne?
Studies in both America and Italy have found evidence of a link between dairy consumption and acne. The connection was more robust when the dairy was in the form of skimmed milk.
The researchers suggested a couple of different mechanisms that might account for the effect. However, there isn’t enough evidence to be sure what is going on yet. Researchers are, however, looking into this topic with increased interest.
How Can You Limit Acne Breakouts
Here are some things to keep in mind that might help you to reduce your acne breakouts.
Keep A Food Diary
If you think that dairy or other food might be the cause of your acne, then try keeping a food diary. Keep a log of what you eat and when you get breakouts. If there is a food that is making your breakouts worse, this should help you to identify it. You can then try to limit the amount of this food in your diet.
If dairy does seem to be the culprit, it can be hard to cut it out of your diet completely. You can instead try a product like Lacto Shield. Lacto Shield is a tablet you can take with meals. It contains a natural enzyme that breaks down the lactose in your food. This can help if your body struggles to deal with lactose. The enzyme converts the lactose into glucose, a chemical your body finds easier to digest and use.
Avoid Oily Skin Products
Acne is often caused when too much oil or sebum blocks your pores. This means that using products that have a high oil content can make the situation worse. When choosing a skin product, you should try to avoid any that leave an oily film on your skin. Water-based moisturisers are a better option for acne-prone skin.
Wash Your Face Especially After You Sweat
Exercise is excellent for acne. It makes you feel better and may help to speed the rate at which a breakout clears. However, sweat is terrible for acne. If you leave sweat on your skin, it can aggravate acne. So try to always rinse your face with water after you get sweaty.
For anyone who suffers from acne, it’s a good idea to get into a routine of washing your face with water and a gentle cleanser twice a day. This can keep the level of oil on your skin to a minimum.
Hopefully, these tips can help you to spot the indicators of acne and prevent or reduce further breakouts.