Well, here’s one more thing that may work.  There’s a lot of emerging evidence that a low-carbohydrate diet may help to reduce acne flare-ups. A survey from the University of Miami says that a South Beach-type diet (one low in carbohydrates, but high in protein and with moderate amounts of good fats) may improve complexion for those who have acne.  Over 80% of those who took part in the survey said that the condition of their skin had improved while they were on the diet, and a little more than 90% of people who were on a prescription acne medicine said that they’d lowered their dosage.

It works like this:  A person eats a diet high in carbohydrates, then their body converts those carbs to sugar- which makes their blood sugar level spike.  The pancreas releases insulin to bring blood sugar levels back under control.  Over a long time, the cells build up a tolerance to insulin, and the pancreas has to produce more insulin to do the same job.   Prolonged high insulin levels lead to a lot of health problems, and acne is just one of them.

An increase in insulin production can make the skin produce more sebum, which is the skin’s natural waterproofer.  This excess sebum, along with bacteria, causes acne.  The evidence shown by the survey suggests that a lower-carbohydrate diet that’s heavy on natural foods like vegetables, beans and whole grains (and low in processed food) will help keep skin much healthier, and possibly acne-free.  These findings aren’t official, but they provide anecdotal evidence that diet does play a role in whether or not a person gets acne.