5 Foods That Will Give You Greasy Skin

Keeping your skin from getting oily and free of breakouts can sometimes seem like a total struggle. With so many choices of skincare products, combined with uncontrollable hormonal changes, other environmental factors, and the normal stressors of life in general, attempting to get clear skin is not always so simple. Throw in an extra factor, like your diet, and suddenly having a nice complexion can seem just a bit more complicated. Given the fact that we all have pretty busy lives, knowing what causes our breakouts is key to saving time with skincare

Oily skin is produced a variety of ways, but one component of your skin's greasiness is your diet. Eating foods rich in vitamins and antioxidants can help keep your skin clear and glowing, but the opposite holds true too. Eat foods that are fattening and full of bad ingredients, and you may increase oil production in your face and find yourself with greasy skin and unwanted breakouts.

"Your skin is your bodies largest organ and it requires essential nutrients to maintain a healthy balance," says skincare expert Dr. Arleen Lamba. "Your skin reflects your overall health and wellness."

To help combat oily skin and keep acne at bay, avoid eating too much of these five foods, which can cause build-up, oil production, and inflammation in the skin.

1. Unsaturated Fats

Studies have found that consuming too many omega-6 fatty acids in your diet can cause inflammation and result in acne. Foods that are cooked in heavy oils such as french fries and chips have a large ratio of omega-6 fatty acids and can wreak havoc on your skin.

"It's no surprise that the grease and oil [in these foods] can also lead to oily skin," says Dr. Lamba

2. Dairy

Dairy consumption has been frequently linked to increased acne, and this occurs because dairy products contain high levels of hormones that clog pores and trigger breakouts. If your skin is sensitive to the hormones in dairy, Lambda suggests turning to alternative products like almond milk.

3. Alcohol

On top of dehydrating your skin, making it more prone to breakouts, behaviors associated with alcohol, such as sweating, eating heavy foods, or forgetting to wash your face, often cause greasy-looking skin.

"When you consume alcohol your heat index rises, which means you actually do get warmer and sweat more," says Lamba. "This increased sweating leads to clogged pores, which can then lead to breakouts."

4. Refined Carbohydrates

Foods such as white bread, white rice, and other refined carbohydrates are high on the glycemic index, which means they cause a sharp rise and drop in your blood sugar. Studies have shown that high glycemic foods can cause increased oil production as well as acne, so stick to foods low on the scale such as whole grain foods and non-starchy vegetables for less oily skin.

5. Sugar

Sugar can cause a variety of health and mental issues, so it's no surprise that the sweetener also does damage to your skin.

"Sugar is not only hard on our waistlines, but it also promotes oil glands to produce more oil," says Lamba. Eating sugar drastically raises your insulin levels, which causes rapid inflammation in your body, affecting your skin as well.

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