13 Powerful Home Remedies for Acne

Follow a low glycemic load diet
How it works
Lowers blood sugar and insulin levels to reduce oil production

May also help
High cholesterol
Symptom management for diabetes
Weight management
Safety
Generally safe for most people

The relationship between diet and acne has been debated for years.

Research suggests that dietary factors, such as insulin and glycemic index, may be associated with acne (53Trusted Source).

A food’s glycemic index (GI) is a measure of how quickly it raises your blood sugar.

Eating high GI foods causes a spike in insulin, which likely increases sebum production. As a result, high GI foods may directly affect the development and severity of acne.

Foods with a high glycemic index include processed foods, such as:

white bread
sugary soft drinks
cakes
doughnuts
pastries
candies
sugary breakfast cereals
Foods with a low glycemic index include:

fruits
vegetables
legumes
nuts
whole or minimally processed grains
In one study, 66 people followed either a normal or low glycemic diet. After 2 weeks, the individuals consuming a low glycemic diet had lower levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a hormone involved in acne development (54Trusted Source).

Another study in 64 people found that those with moderate or severe acne ate diets with more carbohydrates and a higher glycemic load than those without acne (55Trusted Source).

These small studies suggest that a low glycemic diet may help those with acne-prone skin. Additional larger, longer studies are needed.