Acne 101: Exactly What to Eat to Keep Pimples Away

"When we consume any nutrient, our body utilizes it to heal the internal body and organs, and the bones and lean tissue. Once all of this is healed, then the excess nutrients are used for the skin, hair and nails. This is why most doctors look at your skin and tell you if you are undernourished. Acne, pigmentation and wrinkles mean that your body does not have an abundance of micronutrients, and will anytime fall short if there’s a physical stressor. Often skin problems are a sign of bad digestion, liver problems, or even IBS. While we often just visit a dermatologist for our skin issues, it is wise to meet a gastro specialist or dietitian for these issues," she says.

"Vitamin C is the best cure for acne. Just add 1000 mg of vitamin chewable tablets to your daily routine. Also, ensure you’re getting enough vitamin D and E. Take a probiotic tablet daily. Make sure you get enough fibre through vegetables and up your yoghurt intake."

"While all your skin problems manifest differently, diet is a huge contributing factor for skin-related issues but it’s just not that simple. Everyone is different, their bodies can become imbalanced from a variety of things and it’s not one size fits all. Keep your diet varied, wholefood and well-sourced as much as possible. When it comes to foods everyone is different and can have different reactions. Again, everyone is different and it’s important to identify why for that individual.  For instance, if you are suffering from dull skin, it may be from iron-deficient anaemia, insufficient digestion, chronic fatigue due to stress or so forth," she says. 

"I recommend the following nutrients for acne, pigmentation, dull skin and dark spots:  Vitamin A, B-vitamin complex, Zinc, Vitamin C and Collagen."  (Image: Liveli.com)

"Ideally, we all should be consuming a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and proteins. However, people usually tend to forget the thumb rule of a balanced diet which is having a colourful meal," she says.

"Include a lot of green veggies such as kale and fruits such as papaya, lemon and berries in your diet." 

"Foods are information to the body and they determine the quality of your cells, tissue and organs. An imbalance in the ecosystem (inside the body)  will result in ageing faster and externally give rise to wrinkles, pigmentation and acne. So, the three factors that help with your skin health are - healthy gut bacteria, hydration and sleep," she says. 

"I recommend including probiotics and food rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, glutathione, Vitamin B6 and omega 3 such as papaya, chia, flaxseeds, fatty fish to keep your acne at bay."