For individuals prone to acne, achieving smooth and clear skin requires a balanced dietary regimen and moderate lifestyle, nurturing the body from within
Acne vulgaris is a common condition, particularly prevalent from adolescence to the 30s and 40s, stemming from increased sebum production coupled with inflammation of the pilosebaceous units, resulting in pore blockages and blemishes. While not inherently dangerous, it significantly impacts one's aesthetics and interpersonal interactions. The multifaceted etiology of acne includes dietary and lifestyle factors. Below, PasGo delineates foods to favor or avoid for individuals with acne-prone skin.

Things to avoid when dealing with acne vulgaris:
- Many believe that high-fat foods are the culprit behind acne, yet there's no scientific evidence supporting this hypothesis. Nevertheless, one can readily observe the correlation between food and blemishes.
- Milk: While milk is often hailed as a valuable dietary source, especially beneficial for children, it may not yield desired outcomes for adolescents grappling with acne. Whether whole milk or skim, milk contains certain fundamental hormones that significantly support acne development.

- Sugar: Though not conclusively proven, many nutritionists suggest that excessive sugar consumption exacerbates acne. Chocolate, candies, or sugary beverages are all detrimental. Gradually reducing your daily sugar intake is advisable.
- Apart from food contributing to acne development, staying up late, frequenting the streets, or overthinking, along with alcohol consumption, coffee, etc., can worsen acne.
Diet for Acne-Prone Skin:
- Fish Oil: Load up on fish. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish not only benefit your overall health but also prevent acne outbreaks. Salmon, trout, and tuna are rich sources of Omega-3.

- Vitamins: Treating acne effectively often involves incorporating certain vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin B5 into your regimen. Vitamin A, in particular, has been shown to yield promising results in acne treatment.
- Zinc: Eggs, whole grains, and mushrooms are abundant sources of zinc. Zinc helps boost the body's immune system, enabling it to naturally and effectively combat acne.
- Foods rich in vitamin F (unsaturated fatty acids) help protect the skin, promote elasticity, and reduce wrinkles, thus aiding in anti-aging. Vitamin F is abundant in vegetable oils such as soybean oil, peanut oil, and sesame oil.
- Avoid excessive salt intake as it retains water, leading to under-eye bags and puffiness, giving the appearance of swollen eyes.
- To maintain beauty, meals should be rich in protein to ensure adequate blood supply, rosy complexion, bone development, and luscious hair. Protein deficiency can impede the body's growth and functions.
- Protein is not only found in meat, eggs, and dairy but also in unpolished rice, peanuts, sesame seeds, soybeans, fish, and seafood. Additionally, include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet as they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, aiding in better absorption, metabolism, and digestion.

Preventive Measures for Acne Vulgaris:
Currently, there's no foolproof method to completely prevent acne vulgaris. However, patients can hinder acne development by:
- Regular skincare routine, gentle cleansing with diluted saltwater, avoiding excessive scrubbing, and respecting the skin's structure.

- Reducing mental stress, cultivating optimism, happiness, and engaging in physical exercise to enhance overall health and immunity.
- Avoid excessive sweating. Shower and thoroughly dry your body after sweating heavily.
- Refrain from consuming sweet and fatty foods such as sweet desserts, cakes, chocolates, mangoes, and durians.
- Avoid applying cosmetics to the skin, especially creams and oils.
- Do not use cosmetics or products containing corticosteroids, and particularly steer clear of mixed creams.
- It's advisable to supplement zinc, vitamins, and minerals through various vegetables, fruits, and consume 2 liters of water daily to detoxify the body.
Pro Tip: If you're hesitant to drink water due to frequent bathroom trips, try this trick: Sip water in small amounts, which aids the kidneys in functioning more efficiently.
Treating acne vulgaris requires collaboration between the physician and the patient. Patients must adhere to treatment, selecting appropriate medication based on the severity of the condition and skin sensitivity. After clearing the acne, maintenance treatment is necessary to prevent recurrence. Good skin hygiene and a balanced diet yield positive treatment outcomes.
Ideal Foods for Acne-Prone Skin:
1. Kale
Kale is rich in antioxidants (goitrin) and iron, aiding in oxygen metabolism to nourish your skin. Additionally, kale is abundant in Vitamins A and E, preventing acne formation.
2. Salmon
Along with other types of sea fish like tuna, mackerel... salmon is packed with Omega 3 and fatty acids, helping to mitigate the appearance of various facial acne types.
3. Various nuts and tubers such as peanuts, beans...
Rich in Vitamin E, cephalin, and lecithin, these help prevent skin aging, promoting beauty and skin health.
4. Various red fruits and vegetables (Carrots, tomatoes, red peppers)
Abundant in Vitamin A and E, these aid in balancing and bonding skin cells from within, keeping facial skin smooth. Drinking a glass of tomato or carrot juice daily or regularly using tomatoes and carrots as ingredients in daily meals helps prevent freckles and makes the facial skin rosy.

5. Potatoes
Rich in vitamins and lycopene, potatoes promote the regeneration of new skin cells, fade dark pigments on the skin, and reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Potatoes are also used to make freckle-eliminating masks: Choose 2-3 potatoes without sprouts. Wash and peel them. Cut the potatoes into small pieces and put them in a blender. Mix potato juice with fresh milk (using 1/3 of the potato juice amount) and makeup powder. Apply the mixture to your face, and after 20 minutes, rinse it off.
6. Cucumbers
Cucumber's Vitamin E can stimulate cell division, slowing down skin aging. Additionally, the oil in cucumber (sap) attracts ultraviolet rays. Therefore, cucumber is used as a face mask to fade freckles, acne scars, and wrinkles.

7. Oranges, Lemons
Oranges and lemons contain a lot of vitamin C, iron, calcium... Regularly drinking orange or lemon juice not only brightens the skin but also gradually fades dark pigments under the skin, thus eliminating freckles.
Additionally, it's advisable to drink plenty of water (1.5 liters per day), eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to keep the skin hydrated and supplied with essential vitamins. Wishing you all everlasting beauty!
Intermittent Fasting Method - Shedding Pounds Rapidly
Compiled by Ngoc Anh - PasGo.vn
