When it comes to nutrition and skin care, there are many myths and facts. Here are ten scientifically proven examples that shed some light on the matter.

Chocolate causes acne - Myth

Previous assumptions that chocolate causes acne have been refuted. A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found no direct link between chocolate and acne (Block et al., 2011).

Oily foods lead to impure skin - Myth

There is no scientific evidence that fatty foods directly cause acne. A study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found no strong link between fat consumption and acne (Burris et al., 2013).

Sugar leads to premature skin aging - Fact

Sugar promotes the process of glycation, which can lead to skin aging and wrinkles. A study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition shows that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) contribute to premature aging (Danby, 2010).

Antioxidants protect against skin aging and sun damage - Fact

Antioxidants protect the skin from free radicals and UV rays. A study in the "Journal of Dermatological Science" shows that antioxidants can protect the skin from light-induced aging (Sies and Stahl, 2004). However, the use of sunscreen is important.

Carrots color the skin orange/brown - Fact

Carrots or foods rich in beta-carotene can lead to an orange skin color (carotenemia). A study in the Journal of Dermatology examined carotenemia caused by excessive carrot consumption (Kawada et al., 1985).

Dairy products increase the likelihood of acne - Fact

A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found a link between dairy products and acne, especially low-fat milk (Adebamowo et al., 2005).

Green tea improves skin health - Fact

Green tea contains polyphenols that can improve skin health. A study in the Journal of Nutrition found that green tea consumption improved skin elasticity (Heinrich et al., 2011).

Omega-3 fatty acids reduce skin inflammation - Fact

 Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties. A study in "Biochemical Society Transactions" showed that omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation in the skin (Calder, 2013).

Alcohol worsens skin quality - Fact

Alcohol can cause dehydration and inflammation, which impairs skin quality. A study in "Alcohol and Alcoholism" examined the effects of alcohol on the skin (Smith et al., 2013).

Probiotics can reduce skin inflammation - Fact

Probiotics have a positive effect on gut health and can also improve inflammatory skin conditions such as acne and eczema. A study in the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology" (2014) shows that probiotics can help reduce skin inflammation.

List of sources:

Block et al., 2011, "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology"

Burris et al., 2013, "Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics"

Danby, 2010, "Journal of the American College of Nutrition"

Sies and Stahl, 2004, "Journal of Dermatological Science"

Kawada et al., 1985, "Journal of Dermatology"

Adebamowo et al., 2005, "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology"

Heinrich et al., 2011, "Journal of Nutrition"

Sárdy et al., 2006, "Journal of Investigative Dermatology"

Calder, 2013, “Biochemical Society Transactions”

Smith et al., 2013, “Alcohol and Alcoholism”

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2014, "Probiotics for the Treatment of Inflammatory Skin Diseases: A Review of the Evidence from the Dermatology and Gastroenterological Literature"