Diet
Low-Glycaemic-Load Diet for Acne
One of very few dietary changes with randomised trial support for skin: lower glycaemic load, fewer inflammatory lesions at 12 weeks.
Also called: low gi acne · cutting sugar skin · glycemic acne
Verdict — legit
Does what it claims, with evidence behind it.
Evidence grade B
At least one good randomised trial, or consistent findings across controlled studies.
Mechanism
Lower postprandial insulin reduces IGF-1 bioavailability and androgen-driven sebum production, and raises IGFBP-3 — the same axis isotretinoin modulates pharmacologically.
Citations
- The effect of a high-protein, low glycemic-load diet versus a conventional, high glycemic-load diet on biochemical parameters associated with acne vulgaris: a randomized, investigator-masked, controlled trialJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2007
- A low-glycemic-load diet improves symptoms in acne vulgaris patients: a randomized controlled trialAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition · 2007
The full read
Two independent RCTs and several follow-ups show a real reduction in lesion counts on a low-glycaemic-load diet, with the mechanistic markers moving in the expected direction. It is slower and weaker than a topical retinoid and it is not a substitute for one, but it is genuinely additive and it is the diet change to make first if you are going to make one. Practically: the change that does the work is removing sugar-sweetened drinks and refined-flour snacking, not buying anything.
