Understanding Your Primary Acne Trigger - Diet

Author: Jessica Gremley

DIET

A practical guide for getting clear

Your Primary Acne Trigger is―DIET

You’re in the right place

Congrats! You’ve taken the Acne Trigger Finder and the results are in.

Based on your answers to the questions, your PRIMARY acne trigger is DIET. And now, with this guide in hand, you’re on your way to better understanding your primary acne trigger and ways you can begin healing your skin.

REMEMBER! This guide is just one part of your Diet Clear Skin Kit. It’s critical, if you haven’t already, to watch the Online Clear Skin Training, also included inside your Clear Skin Kit.

I created this online training especially for you, because your diet can have a significant impact on your acne! In the online training, I share even more secrets on how this trigger sabotages your skin, and what you can do to take back control.

Ready to learn more about your primary acne trigger?

Let's go!

1. Common characteristics

Breakouts are most often related to foods high in iodine and androgens.

Bet you’ve heard this again and again―chocolate and French fries trigger acne. Nope! Research has proven that’s a myth. So, what food does trigger acne? Here’s where you might be surprised. Many common “good-for-you” foods trigger your breakouts because they contain these two culprits―iodine or androgens.

Iodine is commonly added as a supplement in table salt and dairy, including milk and cheese. Seafood is also naturally high in iodine. Once iodine enters the bloodstream, any excess is excreted through the oil glands, which in turn irritates the pores and triggers acne breakouts.

If you’re a PB&J fanatic like me, giving up peanut butter was so hard! It’s so yummy! Plus, it’s an easy protein fix with long-lasting energy to power you up all afternoon. However, peanuts―as well as peanut oil and even shrimp―contain androgen-like hormones, and androgens are shown to increase not only oil production but also the inflammation that promotes acne formation and progression.

Here’s why. The increased androgen binds to oil glands in the skin, and tells the oil gland to produce more sebum. This excess oil combines with dead skin cells, debris and bacteria, and triggers formation of pimples. Which means, unfortunately, you risk breakouts with every mouthful of these foods.

Prefer a delicious, androgen-safe substitute? Try almond, sunflower seed or cashew butter instead.

2. More Telltale Signs

Breakouts occur 24 to 48 hours after eating an acne triggering food.

Do you tend to break out after an ice cream cone, a big plate of mac & cheese, an energy bar, soy shake, vegan burger, or your favorite fried clams or tuna steak? If you’re not completely sure, start tracking! Breakouts triggered by diet typically occur within 24 to 48 hours of eating.

Now that you know some of the specific acne triggering foods that are highest in iodine and androgens, you can start monitoring how your skin reacts after eating them. For example, if you have a large whey protein shake made with cow’s milk and no other acne triggering foods for 48 hours, watch your skin for a breakout. Assuming you eliminated other possible triggers such as hormones, stress, gut imbalance, if you get a breakout, your primary acne trigger is likely diet.

3. Likely Landmines

Diets aren’t the answer.

Those with acne try so hard to do the right thing! They often come to us after adopting vegan, vegetarian, Paleo, “all-natural”, gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and other popular diets. And yet they still have acne.

Some have strung together so many diets, they’ve nearly starved themselves because they’re too afraid to eat something that might trigger a breakout. They’ve restricted their eating habits to a nearly dangerous level to clear their acne. Still with no success.

That’s one big reason we’re so thrilled when they come to us. There’s no reason to go hungry! It’s more a matter of avoiding the foods that actually do trigger acne; everything else is just fine to eat, based on your tastes and health goals.

Food intolerances and leaky gut can also aggravate your acne.

For most of our clients, acne triggering foods high in iodine and/or are the main foods that are problematic.

However, for some people, food intolerance (also known as non-allergic food hypersensitivity) contributes to the problem. Food intolerance refers to difficulty in digesting certain foods. These foods often include dairy (lactose intolerance is well known!), gluten and those that cause gas buildup such as beans and cabbage. Symptoms of food intolerance include bloating, migraines, acne, stomach ache and irritable bowel.

In turn, these digestive issues―due to food―can increase inflammation in the body and, in turn, trigger acne.

4. Secondary Triggers

You should know―you probably have more than one acne trigger. While identifying your primary acne trigger is crucial in your quest to get clear, please realize…

There’s MORE than one trigger aggravating your acne. We typically find that our clients have 3 to 4 triggers all impacting their skin at one time.

These common secondary acne triggers include hormonal imbalances, gut imbalance and stress. Two acne instigators often derail your clearing  efforts as well. The first are pore-clogging ingredients in your skincare, hair care, laundry and beauty care products―even many topical acne care products! The second instigator is sticking to an acne care routine that’s unknowingly harming and/or perpetuating your acne.  

You might be aware of some of these triggers and instigators; others, you might not have had a clue they’re impacting your skin!

The important thing to know is: all systems in our body are interrelated. Triggers like diet can set off a chain reaction of secondary triggers―like stress or gut imbalance, which in turn, can unsettle your hormones. You get the picture.

What can you do? 

If you believe your acne may be impacted by secondary triggers like these, be sure to check out the acne trigger and acne topic pages inside Clear Skin Connection. Each is packed with proven, research-backed resources so you can take the best path forward to heal your skin.

Meanwhile, here’s the lowdown on the three secondary triggers that may be impacting your skin.

HORMONES

As a female, you’ll most likely experience hormonal acne around the mouth, chin and along the jawline.

And the week prior to your period is when the most hormonal acne flares up. Finding your body’s healthy balance of estrogen, progesterone and androgen is one of the critical keys to eliminating acne. I prefer using a tailored regimen of herbs as opposed to birth control pills. Using herbal supplements allows your body to naturally rebalance itself without harmful side effects.

GUT IMBALANCE

Breakouts related to gut imbalance occur on the cheeks and side of face by the ears.

Bloating, gassiness, skipping bowel movements, stomach aches, cramping and leaky gut are all signs of gut imbalance. The most common gut issue is constipation. You should be having 2 bowel movements a day. Yes, two! If not, you can naturally rebalance your gut microbiome with therapeutic-grade Probiotics (such as our Clove Hill Clear Skin Probiotic-10), Oil of Oregano and Fish Oil.

STRESS

Stress is the trickiest of all the acne triggers as it can show up, at least a little bit, in just about everyone.

Stress-induced breakouts usually occur within 48 hours of a stressful event. If you suspect you have this trigger, pay close attention to timing. You can naturally relieve stress with proven selfcare methods like exercise, mindful breathing techniques, meditation and laughter. In addition, the right supplement for acne-prone skin (such as our Clove Hill Adrenal Stress Formula) can provide the missing nutrients you need to strengthen, support and rebuild your adrenal glands.

5. Time for relief

Eliminating acne triggering foods from your diet is a huge step in the right direction.

Clients in our program never feel deprived! In fact, they feel more than satisfied because there are many, great-tasting, healthy alternatives they can enjoy when eliminating acne-triggering foods.

For example, cow’s milk can be replaced with almond, cashew, oat, rice or coconut milk. In smoothies, fabulous, fresh greens or mild-tasting pea protein can take the place of iodine-laden green powders derived from sea plants. And skin-safe organic chicken, lentils and beans can sub in for seafood.

If getting rid of your acne is important to you, making a few substitutions is worth it, right

A few last thoughts…

Thank you for joining me in this guide!

You’ve learned a lot about your primary acne trigger―Diet.

From common characteristics and telltale signs, additional instigators and likely landmines, to quick ways you can start getting relief, you’re equipped to begin taking back control.

One of the most important things I want you to keep in mind is this―acne is an important way your body tells you “something is off”.

The link between acne and diet definitely falls into this category. And, unfortunately, the longer you ignore the signs that diet is causing breakouts, the more your acne will continue.

However, I know you’ll want to take action and do the right thing!

And now that you have this guide―and all of Clear Skin Central―at your fingertips, you’re better prepared than ever to make the right choices to heal your skin.

Congrats and best wishes!

Jessi Gremley
Creator of Clear Skin Central