Foods such as cheese, ice cream and other dairy products are mucous forming and hard to digest.

Thus, when you ingest too much of dairy, it may come out as cystic acne on the chin and jawline area. This is because the hormone levels in mass-produced milk products could possibly lead to excess sebum production, causing acne.

Sugar or high-glycemic foods such as cakes, soda and white bread spike blood insulin levels and cause systemic inflammation.

Not only can these foods lead to acne and eczema, they also cause the production of enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, speeding up skin aging.

Alcohol causes water loss in body and skin, causing a loss of moisture, which dries up your skin leading to excess sebum production and thus the formation of acne.

Without enough moisture being retained in your skin, fine lines and wrinkles become more apparent.

While it has not been proven that citrusy food leads to an acne breakout, eliminating citrus from one’s diet has been proven to help clear up breakouts in the cheek area.

Hydrogenated  fats disrupt the cellular membranes of the skin, resulting in reduced elasticity, making the skin dry and saggy.

Found in processed and pre-packaged foods, these fats are linked to various health related problems from weight gain to even Alzheimer’s.

Soybeans contain natural plant estrogens, known as Phytoestrogens, which mimic human estrogen and can thus throw our hormones off balance.

Soy can be found in a multitude of food such as veggie burgers and tofu.

While coffee is undoubtedly a critical part of our morning routine, coffee beans contain an organic acid known to increase cortisol levels.

Cortisol or the stress hormone stimulates sebaceous glands and causes inflammation, resulting in acne.

One of the most popular junk foods, potato chips contain far too many carbohydrates, producing a quick insulin spike leading to a systemic inflammation.

Also, chips are fried in unhealthy oils and lack all necessary vitamins and minerals, which contribute further to your acne.

While shellfish contains essential minerals, shellfish and lobster, in particular, are high in iodine.

They are known to cause breakouts in people who are especially sensitive or simply consume too much. Instead, try other seafood high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as wild salmon.

While it has been a point of contention for many, there have been studies that have shown that increased consumption of chocolate can cause inflammation and encourage bacterial inflammation.

It has also been proven that dark chocolate has health-promoting antioxidants, try limiting chocolate on a weekly basis to see if there is a difference in your skin.