Sep 15 / Star Khechara

Diet and Acne: What Skincare Professionals Need to Know

Around the world, acne is still one of the most prevalent skin disorders. The focus of treatment has been on topical creams or medication for decades, but the discourse is changing. More and more, nutrition is becoming a modifiable factor that practitioners cannot ignore.

Using nutrition science to treat acne has both clinical and commercial benefits for dermatologists, skincare clinics and wellness providers.

The Evidence is Growing

Recent research reinforces the role of diet in acne development and severity.

  • Ryguła et al. (2024) reviewed evidence linking glycemic load, dairy and fat intake to acne, highlighting dietary modification as a promising management tool.
  • Khan & Chang (2022) showed that high-glycemic diets and dairy not only worsen acne but also aggravate hidradenitis suppurativa.
  • Kostecka et al. (2022) found that 56% of young women surveyed believed fast food aggravated their acne and those with stronger nutrition knowledge reported better skin outcomes.

In large-scale data, Penso et al. (2020) linked high glycemic index foods with adult acne while expert consensus from Claudel et al. (2018) debunked myths like chocolate and confirmed stronger evidence for dairy and refined carbs.

From Theory to Practice

While Fiedler et al. (2017) pointed out the heterogeneity of studies, systematic reviews confirm that nutrition plays an important role in acne management. Burris et al. (2013) advanced this by advocating for medical nutrition therapy, showing how Western diets high in dairy and refined carbs worsen acne through hormonal and inflammatory pathways.
According to the historical background provided by Plewig et al. (2019), theories linking diet to acne date back to the 18th century. There is more evidence now than ever before, but more extensive studies are required to prove causation rather than correlation.

Foods that contribute to acne

High-glycaemic foods
High-fat foods
Dairy
Fast food
Milk is nature’s perfect food for the calf, but not for humans with acne.
Danby (2010)

What This Means for Your Practice

For practitioners, these insights open new opportunities:

  •  Integrate dietary screening into client consultations
  •  Educate patients on high-glycemic and dairy triggers
  •  Partner with nutrition experts to deliver evidence-based strategies
  •  Position your clinic or brand as a leader in integrative, science-backed acne care

FAQs for Practitioners

Q: Can changing my diet clear acne completely?

While diet is an important factor, acne is multifactorial genetics, hormones and skincare habits also play key roles. Dietary adjustments can reduce severity and inflammation, but results vary by individual.

Q: Which foods should I limit or avoid for better skin?

Evidence points to high-glycaemic foods (like sugary snacks, white bread and pastries) and dairy as common triggers. By reducing these and prioritising fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, results could be enhanced.

Q: Can nutrition advice be safely integrated into clinical practice?

Yes. Skincare professionals can incorporate dietary screening, provide general guidance based on evidence and collaborate with nutrition experts for personalised plans. Clear communication ensures safe and effective recommendations.

Final Remarks: Using functional nutrition Techniques to Improve Your Practice

Nutrition is no longer a peripheral consideration in acne care; it is central. Research consistently links high-glycaemic foods and dairy to acne severity, offering actionable strategies for both practitioners and clients. Incorporating dietary recommendations into your consultations not only promotes improved skin outcomes but also establishes your practice as a cutting-edge, scientifically supported pioneer in the holistic treatment of acne.

Your clients will receive thorough, outcome-driven care if you remain informed and work with nutrition specialists as the field develops. In summary, making wise decisions in your clinic and on the plate is the first step towards having healthy skin.

Are you prepared to advance your knowledge of acne care?

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Functional Nutrition for the Holistic Treatment of Acne is a course designed to teach dermatologists, skincare specialists and wellness professionals how to address the underlying causes of acne. This course focuses on gut-mediated interventions and evidence-based dietary modification in light of recent findings about the impact of dairy, refined carbohydrates and high-glycaemic diets on skin health.

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  • Integrate nutritional screening and assessment into client consultations.
  • Identify key dietary triggers such as high-glycemic foods and dairy and implement personalized nutrition strategies.
  • Apply holistic protocols that combine diet, lifestyle and gut health to reduce inflammation, balance hormones and improve skin outcomes.
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Our Masterclass in Acne Nutrition equips practitioners with:

The information and useful resources to deal with the underlying causes of acne. Utilising the most recent findings, this masterclass emphasises how diet, dairy and refined carbohydrates affect skin health and prepares professionals to use evidence-based dietary strategies, inform clients and incorporate acne-focused procedures into their work.

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Who Should Enrol in This Accredited Masterclass?

  • Nutritionists & dietitians expanding their expertise into gut-mediated skin health.
  • Dermatologists, aestheticians & skin therapists seeking to integrate gut-focused nutrition strategies into skin treatment plans.
  • Wellness practitioners supporting clients with inflammatory skin conditions linked to digestive health.
  • Corporate wellness providers aiming to enhance employee wellbeing through integrative gut-skin programmes.

References

  • Ryguła, I., Pikiewicz, W., & Kaminiów, K. (2024). Impact of diet and nutrition in patients with acne vulgaris. Nutrients, 16(10), 1476.
  • Kostecka, M., Kostecka, J., Szwed-Gułaga, O., & Jackowska, I. (2022). The impact of common acne on the well-being of young people and the influence of nutrition knowledge. Nutrients, 14(24), 5293. Item
  • Khan, A., & Chang, M. W. (2022). The role of nutrition in acne vulgaris and hidradenitis suppurativa. Clinics in Dermatology, 40(5), 387–392.
  • Penso, L., Touvier, M., & Deschasaux, M. (2020). Association between adult acne and dietary behaviors. JAMA Dermatology, 156(9), 1013–1020.
  • Plewig, G., Melnik, B., & Chen, W. C. (2019). Acne and Nutrition. In Plewig and Kligman’s Acne and Rosacea (pp. 193–213). Springer.
  • Claudel, J. P., Auffret, N., Leccia, M. T., et al. (2018). Acne and nutrition: hypotheses, myths and facts. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 32(6), 913–919.
  • Fiedler, F., Stangl, G. I., & Fiedler, E. (2017). Acne and nutrition: a systematic review. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 97(3), 287–292.
  • Burris, J., Rietkerk, W., & Woolf, K. (2013). Acne: the role of medical nutrition therapy. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 113(3), 416–430.
  • Danby, F. W. (2010). Nutrition and acne. Clinics in Dermatology, 28(6), 598–604.
  • Smith, R., & Mann, N. (2007). Acne in adolescence: a role for nutrition?. Nutrition & Dietetics, 64(4), 284–291.

Article by Star Khechara

Professional agehacker, author, speaker, founder of skin nutrition institute
About me
Ex-skincare formulator and beauty author turned skin-nutrition educator: Star distilled her 20+ years of skin-health knowledge into the world’s first international accredited skin-nutrition school to teach skin therapists, facialists, face yoga practitioners and estheticians how to help their clients feed the skin from within for cellular-level rejuvenation and vibrant beauty. 
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