Anti-Inflammatory Foods for Acne

Eighty-three% of teenagers worry about their complexions, according to a study sponsored by the American Medical Association. There's some controversy over whether changing your diet can improve acne, and many dermatologists, following the American Academy of Dermatology guidelines, tell patients there's no connection between diet and breakouts. Since acne is a kind of inflammation, eating foods that reduce inflammation may improve skin's appearance. Does this Spark an idea?

Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Eat more fatty fish --- including salmon, tuna and mackerel --- and walnuts, and look for ways to include flaxseed and canola oil in your diet. These foods are all good sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, which work to reduce inflammation in the body.

Add more beans and lentils to your diet. These legumes are great sources of fiber, which can lower inflammation level markers in the blood, according to researchers at Germany's Federal Research Center for Nutrition.

Use olive oil liberally. It contains a compound called oleocanthal that stops the body from producing compounds that cause inflammation.

Snack on strawberries. Eating 16 or more strawberries each week lowered blood inflammation levels by as much as 14 percent in studies at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Foods that Cause Inflammation

Watch out for trans fats, found in margarine and spreads, snack foods and fried foods. Trans fats can increase inflammation by making your body produce more cyclooxygenase-2 enzymes, one of the major causes of inflammation.

Limit your intake of high-sugar foods, too, since these can also promote inflammation. Try to avoid foods with sugar listed as one of the first five ingredients on the nutrition label.

Other Dietary Considerations

Choose foods with a low glycemic index, such as whole grains, lean meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. A 2007 study in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" showed that people who switched to a low-glycemic diet reported 51 percent fewer breakouts than people who ate diets with lots of sugar and processed foods.

Reduce your intake of dairy foods. Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health have found a connection between high dairy consumption and problem acne.

If you notice a correlation between a particular food and breakouts, take a break from eating that food to see if your skin improves.