The Best Skin of Your Life Starts Here. Paula Begoun

present in many of the foods we eat, such as yogurt. Although they can be helpful when consumed, the research on prebiotics and probiotics related to topical application and their effect on acne is non-existent, so any benefit remains theoretical, although there has been at least one study that indicates they may have potential. [81] There’s no harm in trying this option, via foods and/or supplements. As far as skincare products, we just haven’t seen any that would be able to keep the prebiotics and probiotics stable or contain enough to provide any meaningful benefit.

      Fatty acids are an interesting group of ingredients that can have an effect on breakouts, but exactly what that effect is, either positive or negative, isn’t clear; far more research is needed. [82,83] There are only a few studies showing how fatty acids may improve matters but none are conclusive in the least.

      Fatty acids, such as lauric, oleic, and palmitic acids, can have an antibacterial effect on P. acnes. However, their stability is an issue: A product that contains a fatty acid must be carefully formulated to ensure the fatty acid can exert its antibacterial action before it breaks down. If these fatty acids are present in skincare products that are packaged in a jar, chances are good they’ll break down before they can really help your skin, because air exposure causes these fatty acids to turn rancid.

      Sulfur can have some benefit as a disinfectant for breakouts. [33] However, compared with other options, it’s an overly strong ingredient for skin, potentially causing more irritation than needed to fight acne-causing bacteria. For this reason, using sulfur to manage acne has largely fallen out of favor, so it’s actually hard to find sulfur-based acne products, which in the long run is best for most people’s skin. Nonetheless, when all else has failed, this may be an option to consider.

      Diet can have both a positive and negative effect on acne. Reactions to certain foods can cause acne, while other foods may help reduce the frequency of occurrence. [63] Reactions to foods such as dairy products (mostly due to naturally-occurring hormones in dairy) or excess sugar intake can have varying degrees of influence on acne breakouts, depending on the individual. [59,60,61,62] Identifying which, if any, are true for you can lead to a significant and relatively rapid improvement in your skin. It takes experimentation to see what’s true for your acne. Links to dietary factors such as shellfish, gluten, or peanuts are anecdotal, and haven’t yet been demonstrated in research, but if you’re wondering if this is true for you it’s easy enough to experiment by eliminating one or all of these to see how your skin reacts. [84]