Your skin’s health is deeply connected to what you eat, and inflammation plays a significant role in issues like acne, redness, and premature aging. Consuming inflammatory foods can disrupt your body’s balance, leading to increased oxidative stress and skin damage.
These foods can “wreck” your skin by breaking down collagen, causing dryness, and triggering breakouts.
@drlilyt STAY AWAY from these products! #skincareroutine #skincare #dermatologist #acne original sound
Dr. Lily, a board-certified dermatologist who has over 52K followers on TikTok, recently shared four foods you should stay away from because they can cause a range of skin issues. Read on to learn more.
1. Refined Carbs
Refined carbs can cause inflammation, and this can weaken the skin’s protective barrier, leading to dryness, irritation, and an increased risk of environmental damage.
Dr. Lily says that foods such as pasta, bread, white rice, soda, and sweeteners make you “30% more likely to develop acne.”

2. Dairy Products
She reveals that there’s a “link between milk products and acne severity in teenagers. Adults who consume milk regularly are 4x more likely to suffer from acne.”
Dairy also contains natural hormones, which can increase oil production in the skin. This can clog pores and lead to acne breakouts, especially if you are already prone to hormonal imbalances.

3. Fast Food
Many fast food items contain trans fats, processed oils, and additives, which can cause inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation exacerbates skin conditions like acne, rash, and eczema while wearing the skin’s barrier function.
“Regularly eating fast food increases the risk of acne by 17%,” she notes.
Foods like corn and soy oils “imbalance omega-6 and omega-3 levels in your body” and put it into an “inflammatory state.”
A healthy balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is crucial for skin health. Excessive omega-6 fats can crowd out omega-3s, which are anti-inflammatory and essential for maintaining smooth, hydrated, and youthful-looking skin.

4. Foods Rich In Omega-6
Foods like corn and soy oils “imbalance omega-6 and omega-3 levels in your body” and put it in an “inflammatory state.”
A healthy balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is crucial for skin health. Excessive omega-6 fats can crowd out omega-3s, which are anti-inflammatory and essential for maintaining smooth, hydrated, and youthful-looking skin.

5. Whey Protein
Some whey protein powders include artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives that may trigger skin issues. They can also increase sebum production by elevating androgen levels, which create a breeding ground for bacteria.
Whey protein “can stimulate the body to produce higher levels of insulin, which is linked to the development of acne," Dr. Lily states.


