Acne is a very common condition of the skin which appears as lesions; these are usually called pimples, or spots, or zits. The word acne originally comes from the Greek word for peak, άκμή, meaning that the acne looks like little mountains or volcanoes on the skin. What causes acne? Well, lots of things. An imbalance of hormones is one, which is why so many teenagers and young adults have acne. Bacteria in hair follicles can also cause acne, or sometimes the skin’s glands that make oil just produce too much. There are many ways to treat acne, from topical medications to home remedies to even laser therapies, but scientists have also found that there’s a powerful correlation between what a person eats and whether they have acne.

What to Eat & Drink if You Have Acne

There are many important vitamins and minerals that you should make sure you’re getting to help control your acne. But the first thing to do is make sure you drink lots of fresh water. The water will help to remove toxic elements and waste from your body faster, helping your skin to become clear of acne. The next step is vitamins & minerals. What sorts of vitamins are important, and where should you get them?

Vitamin A

The best sources of Vitamin A are dark green and yellow vegetables, or yellow fruits – this may include broccoli, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cantaloupe, spinach, turnip greens, carrots, squash, apricots, or parsley. Vitamin A is also available from animal sources such as liver, milk, butter, cheese, and whole eggs.

Vitamin B

Hormonal imbalances that cause acne can be helped with stress-relieving B-vitamins like B1, B2, B6 and B12, which you can get in leafy vegetables, eggs, whole grains, milk, and fish. Vitamin B3, also called Niacin, is found in peanuts, avocados, eggs, liver, and salmon. Niacin or B3 helps with blood circulation and reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood, which is very helpful for acne sufferers.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps form collagen in the skin as well as an anti-inflammatory agent, helping to clean the skin and protect it from bacteria, which is one of the causes of acne. Vitamin C is easily found in fruits and vegetables - citrus fruits (lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit) and tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, and broccoli.

Zinc

Like Vitamin C, Zinc is an antioxidant, and it also helps the immune system to fight infections. Zinc is also great when it comes to helping the skin get rid of old dead tissue. You can get Zinc in meat and seafood, whole grains, eggs, mushrooms, and nuts.

Selenium

Selenium can help protect cells from free-radical damage, which can be an important factor in healthy acne-free skin. A mineral found in soil, Selenium is absorbed by vegetables when they grow. You can find Selenium in mushrooms and seafood, and especially Brazil nuts.

While you can buy multivitamins containing all these vitamins and minerals, you’ll find it best to get them from natural food sources. Your skin will thank you when you’re free of acne!

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