6 Anti-Acne Foods to Keep Your Skin Clearer and Prevent Breakouts

You are what you eat is an adage that you must swear by to feel and look your best. Cosmo spoke to four health experts to know exactly what you can eat in your anti-acne diet to avoid sudden breakouts:

Shikha Mahajan, Holistic Nutritionist and Founder of Diet Podium.

"When we eat something, our body utilizes the nutrients to heal the internal body and organs, and the bones and lean tissue. The remaining nutrients are then utilised to repair your skin, hair and nails. Many doctors can just take a look at your skin to find out if you are undernourished. Acne, pigmentation and wrinkles are sometimes signs that your body does not have an adequate amount of nutrients. Skin problems can also be a sign of bad digestion, liver problems, or even IBS. While you should see a dermatologist for these issues, it is also a good idea to meet a gastro specialist or dietitian for a second opinion," she says.

Acne-fix: Vitamin C
"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."

Renee Grandi, Nutritionist and Naturopath at Chiva-Som, Thailand

"While all your skin problems manifest differently, diet is a huge contributing factor. Everyone has a different reaction to different diets and it’s not one size fits all. It is best to keep your diet varied and organic as much as possible. It’s important to identify what works 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. 

Acne-fix: Multivitamin diet
"I recommend the following nutrients for acne, pigmentation, dull skin and dark spots:  Vitamin A, B-vitamin complex, Zinc, Vitamin C and Collagen."  

Simal Soin, Celebrity Dermatologist, Aayna Clinic 

"In an ideal world, we all would eat 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 rainbow meal," she says.

Acne-fix: Go green with your food.
"Include a lot of green veggies such as kale and fruits such as papaya, lemon and berries in your diet." 

Karishma Chawla, Nutritionist and Lifestyle Educator

"Foods are information to the body that determine the quality of your cells, tissue and organs. An imbalance in the ecosystem (inside the body) may manifest externally as premature wrinkles, pigmentation and acne. So, to have the best skin of your life, there are three factors - healthy gut bacteria, hydration and sleep," she says. 

Acne-fix: Probiotics and multivitamins

"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."