The link between acne and diet is strengthened in a medical review by acne experts.
Alan Shalita, M.D., Acne expert
The article, “Acne and Diet” authored by acne experts Alan Shalita, M.D., Whitney Bowe, M.D., and Smita Joshi, M.D. and published in the July 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD), critically reviewed the existing medical literature.
According to the authors, certain foods were thought to worsen acne before the 1960′s, but later studies showed no association and most physicians referred to the connection of acne and diet as a “myth”. Newer studies in the last decade have led dermatologists to revisit the link between diet and acne.
The authors stated that “dermatologists can no longer dismiss the association between diet and acne. Compelling evidence exists that high glycemic load diets may exacerbate acne.” (High glycemic load diets result from eating carbohydrates, such as breads, pastas, deserts, sodas, and other foods manufactured with high fructose corn syrup.)
The authors added that “dairy ingestion appears to be weakly associated with acne, and the roles of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, zinc, vitamin A, and dietary fiber remain to be elucidated.”
The review concluded that “we hope that this review will encourage others to explore the effects of diet on acne.”
