Foods that make Acne worse?
Salty foods and food high in iodides are the culprit in making acne worse. Below is a list of foods typically high in iodides. We tell people to not go crazy around eliminating these foods, just be aware of eating too much of them.
Iodide Contents in Food (parts per million of iodide)
Salt
Iodized Salt ¼ tsp
Seasoned Salt
Sun Evaporated Salt
Uniodized Salt
100
40
30
19
Seafood
Kelp
Cod 3oz
Squid
Crab
1020
87
39
33
Dairy
Cheddar Cheese Spread
Milk
Butter
Mozzarella Cheese
27
11
26
13
Milk (and cheese) is another BIG culprit – not only does it have iodides, it also has hormones in it that contribute to acne. Many teenage boys love to drink gallons of milk which is contributing to their cystic acne.
Health foods and supplements are not immune – vitamins almost always contain some form of iodide – it could be in the form of iodine, iodide, potassium iodide or kelp. Also, vitamins contain biotin and B-12 both of which make acne worse. Be careful with protein bars – they often have potassium iodides in them. Whey and soy protein powders for smoothies can be bad for problem skin – try hemp or pea protein powder instead.
We want you to be informed what could be making your acne worse – these foods are not the “cause” of acne. The cause needs to be addressed by using the right products in the right way. But it’s good to know what can contribute to your breakouts.