How A Diet Strong In Anti-Inflammatory Foods Can Help With Adult Acne

How to Prevent

Acne and breakouts happen to good people. This is not the time to play the blame game: You can have healthy habits and still deal with breakouts. That being said, it is always a good idea to know how what we put in our bodies can be reflected on our skin. A diet strong in anti-inflammatory properties is the best preventative method for problematic skin. This means integrating items like fish, leafy greens, ginger, and turmeric into your diet. Some other foods may actually increase inflammation in your body. These tend to be refined carbohydrate-based, or sugar- and dairy-centric. Give your skin a fighting chance to stay healthy and clear by nourishing it from the inside out.

How to Prepare

If you feel that a breakout is imminent, it's a good idea to act preemptively. Start by washing your face with a gentle and organic cleanser — something without parabens, sulfates, and fragrances. Just like you pay attention to the ingredients of foods you are putting in your body, you should also be attentive to the ingredients you are putting on your skin. Remember, your skin serves as a protector and a barrier, but it can also absorb chemicals, which may activate the inflammatory process.

Our skin functions best when it is slightly acidic, with a pH of about 5.5. When we are stressed, or when we clean our faces with harsh or chemical-based ingredients, we  throw our skin's pH off balance. Apple cider vinegar is acidic by nature (with a pH of 3), and, when diluted, it will help bring the pH of your skin back to a healthy level. In addition, it fights bacteria and minimizes pores, potentially warding off breakouts.

How to Banish

If you're suffering from breakouts, it's time for topical treatments. This means gently exfoliating your skin. The same ingredients that we recommend eating to fight breakouts can also be used to create exfoliation masks for your skin. Turmeric-based masks, in particular, have shown significant benefits. Take an equal mixture of turmeric and raw honey and combine in a Greek yogurt base. Apply a thin layer to your face and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes, then gently rinse off with lukewarm water. The turmeric is anti-inflammatory, the raw honey is antibacterial, and the Greek yogurt has lactic acid. Think of it as nature's chemical peel!