Our users often ask if their diet affects acne and the answer is YES.  What you eat can increase or decrease sebum production.  However, it isn’t what you’d expect … so let’s first start off by debunking some long-held, myths spread by our well-meaning grandmas:

• Eating oily foods does not cause more oily skin:

  There are a number of studies that have shown that consuming greasy foods does not result in more oily skin.  Let’s put this one right alongside the old wives tale that every grain of rice that you don’t finish in your rice bowl will turn into a pimple.

• There is no evidence that “heaty” foods cause acne:

  There are no credible studies that we’ve seen that link the “heaty-ness” of foods to acne.  However, we do recognize that the body is a complex system and concur that we should all eat a balanced diet which includes fresh fruits and vegetables (see below).

• Little evidence that Chinese herbal medicines reduce acne:

  Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have claimed that drinking/eating a variety of herbs can treat acne. However, there is little evidence or studies shown to prove these claims.

  The issue with herbal medications is that it’s hard to know what you are getting since there is little regulation regarding the contents and concentration of active ingredients in these herbs. At Clearly, we focus on medications that have a strong track record of stopping acne. Our Clear Out formulation uses retinol, AZA and Amazonian tea tree oil which have been well documented to stop acne and foster scar repair.

A. Foods That Increase Oily Skin:

Here are the foods which boost sebum production and therefore trigger more breakouts on acne prone skin.

• French fries, instant noodles:

  Wait, didn’t we just write that greasy foods have no relation to acne? The issue with fries and instant noodles is not the grease but rather the starch. Refined starches boost up blood sugar, insulin and ultimately the production of androgen hormones.

  Why does this matter? Harken back to those wonderful teenage years when hormones would kick sebum production into overdrive and cause a wave of breakouts. A binge of refined carbs may create a similar effect, so moderation is key. Cut back on white rice and white noodles and opt for whole grains instead.

• Soda:

  A 12-ounce can of regular Coke contains 39 grams of sugar … over 9 teaspoons.

  Similar to refined carbs, the sugar in soda will quickly boost up blood sugar, insulin and ultimately the production of sebum.

• Milk:

  Reconsider drinking that glass of milk. Approximately 90% of Asian adults are lactose intolerant.

  Every individual’s response to lactose may be different but increased sebum and mucous production are common symptoms of lactose intolerance.

B. Foods to Make Your Skin Happy:

Your skin is a reflection of your total body health so we cannot stress the importance of eating a healthy balanced diet and drinking enough water.  We should be consuming 4-5 fist-sized portions of fruits and veg every day and drinking 8 to 12 cups of water. The key is to maintain long-term healthy habits.  Below are some easy ways to get started:

• Drink water before you drink another beverage:

  Start your day with a glass of water before you eat or drink anything else.  Repeat again right before you’re about to have a cup of coffee or any other drink.  This fills you up on the good stuff so you drink less of the junky stuff.

• Add fruit to your snack routine:

  Let your mid-day snack start or end with  a few pieces of whole fruits.  Nab a few good-looking pieces from a fruit stall or bring something easy from home.  Having snacks on hand that’s perishable forces us to eat it more often.

• Color Code Your Veg:

  Veggies not your thing?  Make it fun by picking a food color a day to eat, just to keep it exciting.  How?  Have a green day, focused on dark greens (ie:  spinach, long beans, avocados, etc…), then a red day (tomatoes, bells peppers, beets), etc…

C. Hitting Close to Home:

In 2010, a study was done on 1,285 Koreans where those who ate a healthy diet of fish and vegetables were compared against a group which ate instant noodles, carbonated drinks, processed cheese and junk food.

The study showed that “a high glycemic load diet, processed cheese, a high-fat diet, and iodine play a role in the exacerbation of acne in Koreans.”

In another study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, researchers found that following a low-glycemic, high-protein diet for 12 weeks improved acne in men.

Clearly has developed a line of over-the-counter products that you can easily integrate into your routine to keep acne away.

o Clear Out combines three active ingredients in order to hit acne from multiple angles. Use the Lighten Up to fade the redness from post-acne marks once the Clear Out does its work. Save 8% by ordering both items together in a Duo set:

It may be a cocoNO if you have acne-prone skin. 

Coconut oil is to our skin what kale has been to our salads lately…the super trendy cure-all for what ails us. And it’s completely understandable, coconut is awesome AND heaps better smelling than kale.  But for those of us who have more sensitive skin, we should proceed with a little more caution.

Why?  Well, while the rest of the world is posting about coconut oil on their face like this:

Those of us with…uh, more high-maintenance skin, need to know this:  Coconut oil scores ranks high on the comedogenic ratings. Now, if you’re going “co-me-wha?” in your mind right now, you’re not alone:

Comedogenic ingredients are those that, when applied onto our skin, provoke or exacerbate an excess of sebum (aka: face oil) on our skin.  For those with already sensitive skin, this extra sebum stimulation can lead to higher production of bacteria (particuarily P.Acnes) on our face surface, which then leads to whiteheads, blackheads, and pustles.  Aka: our face could feel like this (but likely less cool looking):

Fun right?  Now, we at Clearly are not into scare tactics.  We are in the pro-“the more you know, the better you can make decisions” camp.  As with anything in the world, the fact that coconut oil is high in comedogenic impact is just that: a fact.  The question is what we do with that fact.  Anything can irritate anyone if applied incorrectly or in varying amounts.  So let’s contextualize it for something useful:  if you have acne-prone skin and want to jump on this latest trend, consider these options first:

• UMA patch test (just apply a little amount on your face as you would as part of your face-care routine) for at least 2-3 nights to see if there’s a reaction
• Avoid your journey into coconut oil until AFTER your period (if you have one) as that’s peak skin cray-cray time and the results may be masked by your hormones
• Consider an alternative for your face and use coconut oil on other parts of your face.

Alternatives to consider if you want to use face-oil but want something with a lower chances of irritating your skin?  Argon oil, shea butter, or rosehip seed oil are all good options.  Argon oil and rosehip oil are lightweight and absorbs easily while shea butter is a great option when you’re traveling to drier, colder climates.

So verdict:  coconut oil is still awesome but if you’re acne prone, be aware it might be more irritating on your face.  Test spot first before slathering the stuff on.  Or:  just stay on the safe side and use it for its beauty purposes that’s less high-risk for you, like a hair mask, cuticle cream, or shaving oil.  Promise it’ll still look just as glam on your ‘gram not slathered on your face.