Traditional Chinese Medicine offers many methods for treating acne, which can vary depending on an individual's constitution. However, for those who are unwilling to decoct Chinese herbs, the simplest approach is to start with the "Three More, Two Less" principle in your daily diet.
One More: Zinc. Zinc can boost immunity and promote wound healing. Foods rich in zinc include corn, lentils, soybeans, radishes, mushrooms, nuts, liver, scallops, and more.
Two More: Vitamins. Vitamin A helps with skin regeneration. Foods containing Vitamin A include carrots, spinach, lettuce, apricots, mangoes, animal liver, and cod liver oil. Vitamin B2 and B6, found in green leafy vegetables and fish, are involved in protein metabolism and promote fat metabolism, helping to calm acne. Vitamin C can effectively repair tissues damaged by acne, which can be absorbed from fresh fruits and vegetables. The cosmetic benefits of Vitamin E go without saying.
Three More: Dietary Fiber. It promotes intestinal peristalsis, speeds up metabolism, and helps expel excess oil from the body. Such foods include whole wheat bread, soybeans, and bamboo shoots.
One Less: Rich and Fatty Foods. These are high-fat foods such as animal fats, sesame, peanuts, and egg yolks.
Two Less: Spicy and Fishy/Oily Foods. Spicy foods can easily irritate nerves and blood vessels, potentially causing acne to recur. Fishy and greasy foods, on the other hand, can easily trigger allergic reactions, worsening acne-prone skin.