Hormonal imbalance is the most widely accepted cause for acne. But, there are speculations on the role of diet and nutrition on acne and other skin diseases. The nutrients and properties of foods vary and their impact on the bodily system varies as well. Wheat, for example, can alter your body's glycemic index, a unit that expresses how various foods affect the glucose level in your blood. Other than that, the gluten content of wheat is an important concern. But, how do these things connect to acne breakouts? Let's explore.
High glycemic index foods like wheat raise the blood sugar level, which in turn triggers insulin production. High insulin levels have an inflammatory effect, which shows on your skin. Gluten allergy, i.e. the immune system's negative reaction to gluten, affects the skin because of two possible reasons. One is that the allergy hinders the distribution of vitamins A and D, meaning that your skin becomes susceptible to infections. The other reason for gluten-related skin problems is that a gluten allergy kicks of a toxic reaction, in which your body fights with the toxin and tries to eliminate it through the skin. So, the result is inflammation and skin eruption.
Gluten intolerance actually refers to the intestinal inflammation that affects your digestion and other related processes. Gut problems have the potential to aggravate systemic inflammation, and drain the body's antioxidant levels, thereby affecting the skin. Though science does not specify how gluten affects acne, we can infer that it could have a notable effect because inflammation is known to adversely affect skin conditions.
If you suspect that your acne is connected to eating wheat, try to eliminate food groups that contain wheat, or more specifically gluten. Most baked items are likely to have gluten. Apart from skin problems, gluten allergy manifests in the form of digestive problems, headaches and general weakness as well. Instead of drawing your own conclusions, it is best to check whether you are allergic to gluten by consulting with a doctor. This is because gluten allergy is connected to several health concerns, such as depression and thyroid problems apart from acne causing inflammation.
Once a gluten allergy is confirmed, you may be asked to cut all gluten containing foods. However, the extent of gluten intolerance varies from individual to individual. Most often, avoiding major sources of gluten would suffice, but finding the right balance depends on a trial and error method.
So, if your acne problem is persistent and does not respond to other treatments, you may experiment on a gluten-free diet for a while. It may take several weeks to recover from the skin eruption and inflammation caused by gluten, but abstaining from gluten for about three to four weeks would be enough to notice a positive change on your skin.
