Is Acne Linked to Diet?

 Is Acne Linked to Diet?

The UK NHS website clearly states "There is no evidence that diet plays a role in acne. Eating a healthy balanced diet is recommended because it is good for your heart and your health in general. However, it will not help your acne." http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Acne/Pages/Introduction.aspx

This statement is repeated over and over again by many acne websites keen to use this to sell their acne wares, but is this statement a medical fact or a medical opinion?

There is a lot of confusion surrounding the cause of acne. What works for one person doesn't always work for another and even medical practitioners from all fields of health struggle at times to clear skin, they struggle because they have not spent the time identifying 'types' of spots and class all spots as 'acne'. The Elaine Mummery Acne Clinic takes a fresh approach.

The body produces many different types of spots. You may not have categorized spots into 'types' before, but have a close look at your skin. You may see blackheads, tiny whiteheads, tiny pinhead spots that are scattered over your forehead or cheeks that never go away, small pustules with whiteheads, small pustules with yellowheads, large pustules that when pressed have a 'root', red spots with no pus, painful cysts that can appear on either side of the chin or on the top parts of the cheeks, or large nodules that appear with an overall red appearance to the skin.  Why does the body produce so many different types of spots?

I have spent over 20 years working this out and I am now able to pinpoint the cause of each type of spot.

Acne is not always related to diet, in some cases the use of certain skincare products can cause spots. It may surprise you to learn that even some natural skincare products can cause irritation and spots. Skin bleaching products can be problematic as can sun protection creams and lotions. Make-up too can cause spots for some and the use of compacts and powder can increase the problem if dirty brushes and face pads are used.

Food poisoning too can be an issue and often I see cases whereby the skin and health problems start with food poisoning in the early years. Food poisoning especially from undercooked meats should always be treated seriously as organisims can be within these meats and can set up home within the intestines.

The western diet is full of salt, sugar and fat with token amounts of fresh vegetables being included, fruit smoothies are promoted that often contain little nutrients because they are pasturised (heated up). Soup is packed into tins loaded with salt and we are told that these are one of our '5 a day' and therefore we feel that we are having a healthy diet.  Spots can be produced because the balance of food that we are taking into our bodies isn't right and when the balance isn't right this affects the pH level of every part of the digestion system and every organ of our body.  

Do your parents have good health?  Often we can inherit things we are completely unaware of. Speak to your parents, ask about your health as a baby/toddler. Early signs of problems with food intolerances/ poor immune system can include, constant throat infections, ear infections,  childhood asthma and constant colds and stomach bugs. Unfortunately, most doctors are not trained to uncover root causes of symptoms and instead prescribe a drug for each symptom, this in itself can increase health/skin problems.

The majority of clients that I see have a long list of health problems and have never related these to their skin, symptoms can include, migraines, constipation, night sweats, itchy bottom, depression, irritability, insomnia, thinning hair, numerous allergies and intolerances, asthma, fatigue, thrush, nasal congestion, eczema, sore eyes, sore joints, premature aging of the skin, bloating and bad breath. Is it any wonder then that antibiotics, contraceptive pill and Roaccutane fail to give long-term relief?

Other clients have good health and yet have poor skin. Other clients have poor health despite eating a very healthy diet. I have clients that have been living of a very small range of foods because they have read so much information about cutting out carbohydrates, sugar, dairy and gluten that they have been frightened to eat. Other clients have fallen for 'apple diets' that are designed to clean out the body when in fact for some this can increase the acne problem.

Some of my clients have spent years reading and trying everything they have read online and it is only a few final pieces of the jigsaw that they need me to put together for them.

My success in treating acne lies in the fact that I treat each client as an individual. I do not have a 'one solution fits all' approach. Each skincare plan is put together specifically for each client to address each type of spot and each symptom listed. I believe that supplementation should only be used if absolutley necessary and that nutrients should come from food. 

If you are looking for a fresh approach to your acne problem, why not get in touch?

If you want to find out how one person was helped to get get clear skin then click here. 

 A FRESH APPROACH TO ACNE