Perhaps the countries lining the Mediterranean—from Greece and Croatia to Spain and Italy—had the right idea when they decided to include olive oil in every meal. Not only is it a heart-healthy salad dressing, dip or cooking essential, Rizzo notes recent research has shown that including olive oil in your diet also helps to fight signs of skin aging, too.
The Worst Foods for Your Skin
1. Fried, Greasy Foods
We all have a hankering for something deep-fried and delicious from time to time, but your skin might not be so happy with your chicken-wing night. As registered dietitian, because these foods can cause you to pack on the pounds and increase inflammation, your skin becomes irritable, too. Another downfall to your beloved donut habit? The aftermath that’s on your hands post-breakfast. Eating greasy food won’t make you break out in acne. However, getting grease on your face could certainly clog a pore or two.
2. Dairy
You probably have a friend (or a friend of a friend) who reported that their skin cleared up once they cut dairy out of their diet completely.Several studies have indicated a link between dairy intake and acne flares. Though everyone’s response to cheese, ice cream, yogurt and milk will vary, Most common culprit of breakouts were associated with the consumption of skim milk. Verdict is still out, but many dermatologists speculate the cause is tied to the added growth hormones and growth factors within milk itself, which can lead to consistent breakouts. Most milk is sourced from pregnant dairy cows, who have high levels of circulating progesterone, insulin-like growth factor and other hormones that human bodies convert into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). These hormones can send oil glands into overdrive, which can trigger acne in susceptible people.
To test the theory on your own skin, try cutting out dairy for a month and gradually adding it back in to see if your zits lessen or increase. And if you find that milk isn’t a friend to your skin, but a foe? Try almond or rice milk instead. Just make sure to add in a vitamin D supplement to ensure you’re still getting the minerals your body needs.
3. Alcohol
Though it’s likely unreasonable that you’d cut out alcohol forever, if you’re noticing frequent breakouts after a streak of back-to-back happy hours, booze might be to blame. Why? For a number of reasons: first, alcohol dehydrates your skin, which leaves it more sensitive than it already is to environmental factors and topical agents. And if you suffer from acne rosacea, alcohol can also make your skin redder and more prone to acne lesions.