Can food allergies cause acne?

Hello everyone!

Many often associate acne with raging hormones and excessive sebum production; however there are lots of other things that can cause acne.  Did you know that food allergies are the number one cause of acne? Swelling and inflammation of the skin are one of the symptoms of allergies; acne is simply another kind of inflammation.

If you notice acne appearing after you eat a particular food, you may have a food allergy.  Allergy symptoms may show up hours or even a day later.  Besides, acne doesn’t come and go quickly enough to be associated with food.  Other common food allergy symptoms include swelling, hives, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Food allergies are caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to the proteins found in particular foods.  The allergic reaction occurs because the immune system mistakes the proteins as an invading substance, such as viruses or bacteria.

Common food allergens:

•   Dairy products
•   Eggs
•   Peanuts
•   Tree nuts
•   Seafood
•   Shellfish
•   Soy
•   Wheat

Any food allergy can cause acne.  However, dairy and wheat products are the most common allergens that cause acne.  A lot of people consume dairy and wheat products nearly every day.  For this reason, connecting symptoms to food consumption can be tricky.    

One of the most effective ways to determine if your acne is related to a food allergy is to implement an elimination diet.  If your doctor determines that you have a food allergy, the most effective treatment for your acne is to permanently eliminate that food from your diet.  

If you suspect that your acne may be caused or triggered by a food allergy, eliminate that food from your diet for a few months.  If your acne does not improve, it's likely that other triggers are responsible for your acne.

Talk soon,

Cosette