Even if many dermatologists do not believe dietary
changes will improve acne, they see little harm in
adopting a diet that encourages eating fruits and vegetables
and limits processed and high sugar foods.
Eating foods low on the glycemic index may help
prevent other medical conditions such as diabetes,
heart disease, and obesity.
Precautions
Limiting the amount of dairy products in the diet
may limit the amount of calcium consumed, for that
reason, a calcium supplement may be needed to
insure daily dietary calcium requirements are met.
Poor intakes of calcium can be very damaging to one’s
health.
Zinc supplements can cause stomach upset.
Authors of acne diet plans recommend no more than
30mg of zinc per day to avoid this.
Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin. That means
that excess vitamin A is stored in your body rather
than eliminated in your urine. Too much vitamin A
can be harmful. Consult a doctor before taking vitamin
A supplements.
QUESTIONS TO ASK THE DOCTOR
What type of acne do I have?
Will this diet improve my acne?
Can this diet hurt me?
Will this diet make my acne worse?
How long do I need to follow this diet?
Pregnant women or those who may become pregnant
should not take vitamin A supplements. Excessive
amounts of vitamin A may cause birth defects in
the unborn children of women who consume too much
vitamin A.
Risks
There are few risks associated with an acne diet.
Most relate to taking zinc, vitamin A, and calcium.
Zinc may prevent the body from absorbing enough
copper. To avoid this, take a supplement that specifically
states that it does not prevent copper absorption.
High doses of vitamin A can be toxic. Many acne
prescriptions contain concentrated forms of vitamin A.
Consult a doctor before taking vitamin A supplements.
Limiting intake of calciumcan cause deficiency and
significant health problems. Supplementation may be
necessary.
High doses of vitamin A can cause birth defects if
taken during pregnancy. Pregnant women should,
under no circumstances take vitamin A supplements
or medications containing vitamin A.
