Does Fast Food Cause Adult Acne | At Home Acne Remedy

Causes & Symptoms

Two schools of thought have developed over the years on the relationship between acne and fast food. One school takes the stances and says that acne has nothing to do with fast food. And of course the second school of thought is that fast food causes acne. One can agree with both schools of thought in a small way in that acne is not caused by fast food, but fast food can make your acne condition worse.

Below are a few reasons why fast food may cause acne or at least makes acne worse:

Foods High in Salt: in general foods high in salt are bad for your body. Why? Because salt, table salt in particular, contains iodine and when consumed in high levels iodine will induce acne in an acne prone person. Salt also causes water retention and can cause you to look puffy or feel bloated. Simply put, it’s best to stay away from excessive amounts of salt, and consuming less high salt foods will help reduce acne outbreaks and improve your skin condition.

High Oil Foods: certain oils put pressure on your heart and other organs, which can lead to less blood flow, affect the quality of your skin, and cause an increase in acne. On the other hand, olive oil has been proven to be good for the heart over the years, so some oils may be good to consume. Either way, if you eat fast foods high in oil and tend to have acne breakouts afterwards, you’ll probably want to limit these in your diet.

Foods High in Sugar: chocolate and soft drinks probably come to mind first when thinking of high sugary foods. Eating these high glycemic index (GI) foods may impact your acne. Foods that are absorbed into the bloodstream quickly are thought to have a direct impact on acne, because of the increase hormonal fluctuations they trigger. High GI foods spike hormone levels, including insulin, which is thought to instigate sebum production. Foods and drinks high in sugar should be eaten in moderation, regular consumption of these may worsen the condition of your skin.

At the end of the day, most research shows that acne is caused by a combination of the skin producing too much sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells that clog pores, all of which leads to localized infections resulting in acne. While there is no danger from acne itself, severe acne can scar as well as lead to, low self-esteem, increase anxiety and depression. Although fast food may not be a direct cause of acne, fast foods may worsen hormonal fluctuations, cause water retention, put excess pressure on organs and thereby increase your acne experience.

Your skin is the largest organ that you have. If you care about your skin, then eating a healthy, well balanced diet should be a high priority on your list. Fast foods may not cause acne, but limiting them in your diet won’t hurt either.