:Clear Skin Blog

Depending on who you talk to, some will tell you that sex either causes acne or is the cure. This is one of the those long-running rumors that still makes its way to message boards, although the relationship really has no scientific backing.

The reality is, sex neither causes nor cures acne. However, it’s understandable that some may think the two related. After all, acne and sex are both affected by the same instigator, that being sexual hormones called androgens. An increase in sex hormones both increases your sex drive and your body’s level of skin oil.

Now, if sex had an effect on the level of hormones in your blood, then there might indeed be a link. However, this doesn’t appear to be the case. Current studies on the subject have shown contradicting results. The medical consensus is that your body’s production and level of sex hormones has little to do with your actual sexual activity. You may be having a lot of sex, or none at all, and your body will still pump out androgens.

So while sexual activity and acne may correlate, it’s not by any means a cause-and-effect relationship. They are merely both driven by the same hormonal activity. One does not affect the other in any notable way.

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Could the modern western diet be partially to blame for acne? There’s certainly evidence that it could be a strong contributor. Of the foods we eat, high-glycemic foods are high on the list of potential acne culprits, especially for men.

High-glycemic foods include processed grains, refined sugars and many diary products. You can actually consult the glycemic index (GI) to learn more about specific foods that might be a major part of your diet. Glycemic foods affect your body’s blood-sugar levels. They bring about an increase in insulin levels and the growth factor IGF-1. This, in turn, leads to a dramatic increase in the production of the male grown hormone testosterone. And with an overproduction of testosterone, comes an overproduction of sebum (skin oil).

Processed grains in particular are a major element of the western diet. Many carbohydrates that are not even considered junk food, such as processed breads and cereal, can still have negative effects on your skin. This has been backed up by several studies, as well as strong statistical evidence showing that cultures with a low intake of processed grains have dramatically lower rates of acne.

Time and time again, this type of evidence brings us back to the fact that conquering acne is ultimately about managing your body’s output and metabolism of skin oil. Sebum is the real cause of acne, not bacteria or any dirt or grime on the surface of your skin. Acne starts from the inside, and you need a treatment that stops it from the inside if you’re going to find lasting results. It’s interesting how more and more seemingly unrelated pieces of evidence consistently come back to strengthen vitamin B5 acne theory - that truly putting a stop to acne is all about properly regulating skin oil.

In the meantime, of course, it’s a good idea to consider limiting your intake of high-glycemic foods if your acne is proving stubborn. Analyze your diet and identify the foods that may be raising your insulin levels. Consult a glycemic index. Try to put reasonable limits on your intake of these foods (without starving yourself on a metabolism-killing diet), and consider non-processed, whole-grain breads as an alternative.

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