Many women deal with hormonal acne caused by changes in the body's hormonal balance. While common, I know it can be incredibly frustrating and impact your self-esteem and confidence.
There are many treatments for acne, but I've found that a few diet changes can significantly improve symptoms. The food we eat directly impacts our hormones, including those that trigger acne.
In this article, I'll share exactly why hormones can exacerbate acne, how it's connected to our food, and what dietary changes you can make to support clear skin.
In this article:
What Women Should Know About Hormonal Acne
According to the latest dermatology research1, using the term “hormonal acne” to refer to acne in adult women is a misnomer. It's not that your acne isn't caused by hormones — rather, all acne is inherently hormonal!
From acne that occurs during puberty to adult premenstrual acne, all acne patients are sensitive to hormones. In fact, one study2 also found that women over age 20 are significantly more likely to deal with acne compared to men. The reason? You guessed it — our hormones.
However, hormones aren't the only culprit, either. The primary causes of acne include:
- Excessive sebum production
- Inflammation
- Bacteria colonization
- Follicular hyperkeratosis (excessive production of keratin, a protein found in skin and hair, by your follicles)
Hormones Affect Oil Production
Sebum is an oily substance secreted by your sebaceous glands. It's a mix of lipids that protects your skin, but overproduction can clog your pores and lead to breakouts. The sebaceous glands3 also can produce inflammatory molecules that worsen acne.
Inflammatory cytokines are chemical messengers that increase inflammation in the body. Acne is directly linked to increased expression and activity of cytokines4.
Hormones5, especially androgens like testosterone, increase the production of sebaceous glands to make more sebum. If you notice your acne flaring at various points in your cycle, like right before your period, during perimenopause, or even if you're pregnant, hormones are a likely culprit.
During puberty, acne can worsen as androgen production increases. Perimenopause6 also marks a time of increased acne for many women as progesterone drops, leaving estrogen unchallenged and in some cases, androgen levels increase. And excessive androgen production is also why acne is a common symptom of PCOS.
Factors like your genetics7 also play a role in acne severity, along with habits like not removing your makeup at night or going too long between washing your pillow case. But in recent years, it's also become clear that diet is directly linked to acne because of the influence on hormones and inflammation.
Understanding the Relationship Between Your Diet and Hormonal Acne
For a long time, skin health professionals weren't convinced that diet made any difference for acne, but nutrition science is constantly growing and changing. More evidence8 solidifies the association between food and skin in the last few years.
In addition to the link between food and inflammation, diet influences acne severity by affecting the levels of various hormones, including:
- Insulin
- Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)
- Androgens (like testosterone)
Insulin and Hormonal Acne
Insulin is produced by your pancreas and oversees blood sugar balance. When you eat carbohydrates, blood sugar rises, and insulin is released. This is a normal and healthy response. Insulin signals to move sugar out of the blood and inside the cells.
While we don't want to fear carbohydrates in the diet, too much insulin9 is inflammatory and is associated with chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, but it can also impact your skin by boosting androgen production and IGF-1.
IGF-110 is a hormone very similar to insulin that also increases the production of androgens. Research connects higher blood levels of IGF-1 to more severe acne, and it may also increase those inflammatory11 cytokines linked to breakouts.
In other words, a diet high in foods that spike your blood sugar will increase insulin. Insulin, in turn, stimulates IGF-112 and androgen production, which increases sebum production13 and inflammation, causing breakouts and worsening acne.
But remember, it doesn't mean that eating sugar automatically causes acne for everyone. We all respond differently to food, but as you'll see below, sugar is only one of the foods that could worsen acne.
The only way to know for sure if what you're eating is causing acne is to follow an elimination diet. In an elimination diet, you remove all potentially problematic foods and see if your skin improves. For many women, diet makes a significant difference.
My free hormone starter kit includes a 7 Day Meal Plan and Recipe Guide designed to help women take control of their hormones and address the underlying causes of acne and similar issues.
Foods to Avoid That May Trigger Hormonal Acne
Here's a list of the foods most likely to trigger your acne. If you're at your wits' end and want to know with certainty which foods are a problem for your skin, try eliminating all these foods for at least two weeks, then gradually add them back slowly (one to two foods each week) to learn their individual effects.
High Glycemic Index (GI) Foods
The glycemic index (GI) is a scale that ranks carbohydrates based on how fast they raise your blood sugar (glucose). High GI foods spike glucose quickly, while lower scores mean the food is digested slowly — and generally healthier for your metabolism.
High-glycemic14 foods include:
- Candy and baked goods
- Soda and juice
- White and whole wheat bread
- Sweetened cereals and bars
- Chips and crackers
- White rice
- French fries
High GI foods are strongly linked to acne15 because higher blood sugar means more insulin16 production, which, as you just learned, influences IGF-1 and androgen production.
Since chocolate is usually categorized as a sweet treat, it seems appropriate to address the big question — does chocolate cause acne? It likely depends on the type.
Pure, unsweetened cocoa is not a high GI food. While one small study17 did find a significant increase in acne after participants were given unsweetened cocoa, other studies18 specifically found an association between milk chocolate and acne.
Milk chocolate is sweet and contains dairy (which we will look at next), so it may be more about the added ingredients.
Dairy
Dairy is complex because not all types are linked to acne. Yogurt and cheese19 don't seem to be a problem for most people, but milk and acne are connected, mainly due to the milk proteins.
Casein and whey, the two primary proteins found in milk, could exacerbate acne because, like high GI foods, they increase IGF-120. This also helps explain why some people break out after using whey protein21 supplements.
Milk also stimulates insulin production22 even though it's not considered a high-GI food, but yogurt and cheese don't appear have the same effect. While yogurt and cheese don't appear as problematic as milk in the research, I can tell you that clinically I have see patients who absolutely have their acne triggered by eating their favorite cheese.
A review23 of studies that included more than 70,000 participants concluded that drinking milk increases acne risk. And when milk is combined with a diet24 high in sugar and inflammatory fat, IGF-1 levels jump and make acne even worse. As always, nutrition is nuanced and quite personal.
Inflammatory Fats and Oils
The link between acne and fats is linked to omega-6 fatty acids, which increase inflammation in your body. Foods highest in omega-6 fatty acids include refined vegetable oils like:
- Canola oil
- Soybean oil
- Corn oil
- Safflower oil
- Peanut oil
Since these oils are used in so many packaged and processed foods, they can sneak into your diet even if you aren't using these oils for cooking. Fried foods are also usually cooked in these oils.
Omega-6 fatty acids are essential for your body, but they need to be balanced with omega-3 fatty acids, which reduces inflammation. If omega-6 is too high (which is very common given these fats are found everywhere in modern Western diets), it can throw off the fatty acid balance25 and increase inflammation that exacerbates acne.
Ultra-processed Food
Ultra-processed foods are packaged, refined foods that combine all of the above risk factors. They are usually made with refined, simple carbohydrates and processed vegetable oils, and as a result, they can make acne much worse (and just aren't great for us in general).
Ultra-processed foods include:
- Fast food
- Candy
- Ice cream
- Chips
- Crackers
- Some frozen packed foods
Interestingly, research26 suggests that groups of people who followed traditional diets without access to the ultra-processed Western diet didn't have acne until these foods were introduced.
Alcohol
Alcohol is less talked about with acne, but since it directly impacts hormones, I've seen it as a problem for some women, and it's been noted as a risk factor in research27.
Both estrogen and testosterone28 levels can rise following drinking which impacts hormone balance and worsens acne. There are several ways in which alcohol can affect your hormones and it may show up first as acne or as period problems.
Further, acne is associated with histamine intolerance. Histamine is produced by your immune system as a response to allergies, but people with histamine intolerance tend to make too much histamine or don't break it down properly. It's also important to note, alcohol is high in histamines, so it could worsen acne for histamine-sensitive29 people.
And finally, some alcohol, especially mixed drinks, can be high in sugar, which increases insulin production.
Anti-inflammatory and Nutrient-dense Foods That Help Hormonal Acne
A dietary strategy to support acne isn't just about what foods you remove but also what nutrient-rich foods you can add to support radiant skin.
Foods High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Foods high in omega-330 fatty acids offset inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids and turn down the production of inflammatory cytokines that contribute to acne. Not only can omega-3's turn down the inflammatory response, but they could also lower the production of IGF-131.
Research shows that people who eat less fish containing omega-332 fatty acids tend to have worse acne, but adding omega-3 rich foods and supplements to your diet can improve skin33.
You can find omega-334 in the following foods:
- Fatty fish like salmon, sardines, or mackerel
- Chia seed
- Flax seeds
- Walnuts
Supplements are also used, especially since many people don't eat fish regularly. When selecting an omega-3 supplement, be sure to look for ones that filter their oil to remove any contaminants like heavy metals.
Probiotic-rich Foods
Probiotics may help with acne by influencing the inflammatory response and lowering IGF-1 and androgens. A small study35 found that adults who took a Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG probiotics for 12 weeks improved acne symptoms compared to the placebo group. The participants also had lower IGF-1 levels on their skin.
People with acne may also have distinctly different gut bacteria than those without acne. One study36 found that acne was associated with gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance of gut bacteria, so balancing the gut flora could directly impact your skin.
Examples of foods that contain probiotics include:
- Kimchi
- Sauerkraut
- Pickles
- Miso
- Kefir
- Coconut Yogurt
Brightly Colored Fruits and Vegetables
Polyphenols are the chemicals found in produce that give fruits and veggies gorgeous hues. They have antioxidant activity that lowers inflammation in the body and contain skin-promoting nutrients like vitamin C37, and vitamin A. Vegetables and many fruits are also low on the GI scale to support a healthy blood sugar balance.
Including a wide variety of the following fruits and veggies can brighten your skin and benefit your entire body, including hormone balance:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Berries
- Chard
- Bell pepper
- Apples
- Onion
- Garlic
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Berries
- Apples
High-fiber Foods
Since we know that high GI foods can increase the risk of acne, adding fiber-rich foods with a much steadier blood sugar response is a vital acne-fighting dietary strategy. Research shows that a diet low in GI38 foods decreases IGF-1 levels in the blood and reduces acne39. Fiber is also essential for a healthy gut and balanced microbiome40.
High-fiber, lower GI foods include:
- Vegetables and fruit (as listed above)
- Lentils
- Beans
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Quinoa
One way to incorporate high fiber foods, get more omega-3s into your diet, and increase zinc levels is through seed cycling.
Zinc-rich Foods
Zinc is a mineral that helps with acne through anti-inflammatory41 effects. Low zinc42 levels are also associated with more severe acne.
You can take zinc supplements, but they can cause stomach upset and throw off the balance of other minerals like copper.
Foods that contain zinc include43:
- Oysters (by far the top source)
- Crab
- Lobster
- Pumpkin seeds
- Lentils
- Beef
- Quinoa
- Chicken
Polyphenol-rich Tea
Tea contains polyphenols (a natural plant-based antioxidant) that could support inflammation and benefit hormone balance.
- Green tea is exceptionally high in polyphenols and antioxidants to support inflammation. Research44 suggests that taking green tea extract could improve acne and calm inflammation.
- Rooibos tea45 is also high in polyphenols that combat oxidative damage and inflammation.
- Spearmint tea46 can lower androgens to improve acne (and can be really supportive for PCOS).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Hormonal Acne and Diet
Here are some of your most common questions about hormonal acne and diet answered.
What Foods Trigger Acne?
Foods that trigger acne include milk, whey protein, refined carbohydrates, high GI foods, sugar, alcohol, and inflammatory fats. These foods impact your skin by increasing the production of hormones that worsen acne. Not everyone will react to all these foods, but consider eliminating them if you deal with stubborn acne.
What Foods Help with Hormonal Acne?
The best foods for hormonal acne are foods high in omega-3s (fatty fish and shellfish), high-fiber fruits and vegetables that control blood sugar, fermented foods like kimchi, kraut, and kefir to balance your microbiome, and mineral-rich foods like oysters, which reduce inflammation and support skin health.
How Do I Clear Hormonal Acne?
Acne takes a multi-faceted approach, but you can start with diet. Consider a hormone-supporting diet that eliminates offenders like high GI and inflammatory foods, sugar, alcohol, and dairy. Try adding nutrient-rich foods like colorful produce, whole grains, nuts, and legumes to nourish you from the inside out.
What Vitamins Help Clear Skin?
Skin supportive vitamins include vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Vitamin C and vitamin E acts as antioxidants to bring down inflammation in the body that could contribute to acne. Vitamin A is usually used topically but is also helpful for skin health as part of your diet.
How Does Zinc Clear Acne?
Zinc helps with acne by lowering inflammation associated with breakouts. It can reduce the redness associated with acne and help with scarring. People with low zinc levels in their blood are more likely to experience breakouts, especially those with severe acne.
Key Takeaways
- Acne is caused by several factors that can relate to women's hormones (especially puberty, menstrual cycles, and menopause), including inflammation and excessive sebum production.
- In turn, your diet also affects your hormones, so dietary changes are an essential aspect to address hormonal acne.
- Foods that trigger acne include high GI foods, milk, inflammatory oils, ultra-processed foods, and alcohol.
- Nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, fish, oysters, and tea can your body clear acne by lowering inflammation and insulin production.
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