The Link Between The Atkins Diet And Acne
Despite an existing misconception, most dermatologists will tell you that a particular diet can neither cause nor help eliminate acne. There is however, evidence that certain types of foods can contribute to the severity of acne in some individuals. In other words, if you are meant to get acne you will, and as a result it is important to stay away from foods that can work to make the situation worse.
There are some types of foods that have been shown to make acne worse, though again this only happens in certain individuals. Three of the most “popular” foods that have been shown to increase acne breakouts include vegetable oil, chocolate, and products that are high in caffeine, such as coffee and soft drinks. Most of these foods cause an increase in acne by causing certain hormones in the body to become imbalanced. Though there are other contributing factors to the appearance of acne, most cases are caused in some way by hormones and hormone imbalances.
Since certain types of foods have been found to contribute to the appearance and severity of acne, it is natural to assume that there are some dietary approaches that an individual can take to try to lessen or perhaps even prevent acne.
One recent study in Australia actually looked specifically at the Atkins diet to determine how its dietary approach contributed to the appearance and severity of acne in some individuals. In this particular study, 50 individuals suffering from acne were divided into two groups of 25 each. One group was given a diet that was rich in processed foods, and the other was given a diet similar to the Atkins diet, meaning they ate foods that were high in protein and low in carbohydrates. The results of the study showed that the group that was placed under the Atkins diet, meaning the group that participated in a low-carb, high-protein diet, actually showed a measurable and noticeable reduction in their acne.
As a result of this Australian study, experts are now beginning to theorize that since the foods in the second group were more protein-based, they somehow were able to maintain blood sugar levels at a moderate range. Some evidence suggests that high blood sugar levels can contribute to acne outbreaks, thus by maintaining low blood sugar levels, the dieters in the Atkins diet group were able to reduce their acne.
One study is not nearly enough to determine that there is a significant link between acne and the Atkins diet. Since Atkins does reduce the amount of carbohydrates that an individual consumes, and evidence shows that high blood sugar levels can contribute to acne breakouts, it seems like an obvious assumption to say that if carbohydrates are reduced, then there should be an associated reduction in acne. However, the contradictory statement to this assumption reminds us that fats and oils can also contribute to acne breakouts, and since Atkins encourages individuals to eat a diet rich in fats an oils, it stands to be assumed that as much as Atkins can help reduce acne by encouraging a low-carb diet, it can also increase acne by encouraging a diet high in fats and oils.
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