Is the Western Diet Triggering Acne?

The Western diet has long been criticized for being unhealthy. Despite extensive efforts to educate the public about what to eat, the diet continues to center around an unhealthy balance of animal foods and grains.

Acne appears to be the most severe in adolescent populations in the West. For years, it has been justified as being a matter of heredity, claiming that much of the Western world shares European heredity, which is prone to acne. However, that logic is flawed because acne affects adolescents of all ethnicities in the Western world. Children as young as six are suffering from outbreaks and using acne scar removal treatments.

A variety of studies found connections between the consumption of a Western diet and acne. Specifically, there is strong evidence to support the theory that dairy is a trigger for acne. In addition, an observation of the Inuit people in Canada as well as Okinawans showed an increase of acne that corresponded with a shift toward a modern Western diet.

In a particularly compelling study, 47,000 nurses evaluated the correlation between consumption of milk and acne in adolescent patients. What they found was that teenagers who drink more than three servings of milk a day had more acne than those who drink less than one serving per week.

It appears that regular consumption of dairy products triggers higher insulin production. It is surprising, because dairy has a relatively low glycemic index. The insulin surge may be to blame for acne.

If you or your children suffer from acne, you may want to reevaluate your diet and experiment with reducing or removing dairy. Another step to take is to use an acne treatment that balances holistic principles with modern science – like the Zenmed Derma Cleanse system and their incredible acne scar removal treatment.

When treating acne, it is important to remember that it is a symptom of imbalance within the body. While topical medications and acne scar removal treatments certainly help control symptoms, it is important to treat the underlying imbalances. Often, acne eases when sodas and refined starches are replaced with fruits and vegetables.

Zenmed also makes Derma Cleanse capsules that help balance body chemistry and heal acne from the inside out. In addition to diet changes, it may help prevent future outbreaks in a holistic, effective way.