Are you suffering from acne?
What is Acne?
Acne is a dermatological condition which is commonly present in adolescence with more than 89% of teenagers affected by the condition, although it can also occur or continue into adulthood.
Acne develops when pores become blocked with an overproduction of oils which feed bacteria, leading to painful inflammation. Hormonal imbalances, dietary factors and stress can trigger and aggravate existing acne.
Acne symptoms:
Typical acne symptoms include:
- Painful spots which appear on the face, back and/or chest
- Prolonged inflammation causing redness of the skin
- Presence of whiteheads, blackheads and in severe cases, cysts
If you are concerned or distressed about your skin and feel you are unable to control your acne you should visit your GP or dermatologist to rule out any underlying medical conditions.
If you are continuing to experience persistent acne, it may be a good opportunity to take a closer look at the foods you eat as there is a close connection between acne and diet.
As individuals, our reactions to foods and drinks we consume varies a great deal. An ingredient which may cause problems for one person could be completely acceptable for another. At yorktest, we like to refer to this as our personal ‘food fingerprint’.
For those with acne, discovering and understanding your own personal food and drink intolerances, and the effects they have on your health and wellbeing is important to ensure you make the best possible choices to optimise your diet and quality of life. Identifying and eliminating these specific foods from your diet can be an important step forward to improve your skin.
The Results Speak for Themselves
The University of York conducted a survey* to help understand the benefits of elimination diets based on the results of a food intolerance test.
Out of 40 who reported experiencing acne, 88% reported an improvement having removed their ‘trigger’ foods. We define these as foods which show a positive IgG reaction to antibodies in the blood.
Overall in the study, 76% of people who rigorously followed the recommended diet reported a benefit, 68% of which experienced this after 3 weeks.
| Main Condition Reported | % of people who reported a benefit |
| Low Energy e.g. Fatigue, Lethargy |
87% |
| Gastrointestinal e.g. IBS, Bloating etc |
80% |
| Respiratory e.g. Asthma, Sinusitis, Rhinitis |
72% |
| Neurological e.g. Headaches, ME |
78% |
| Dermatological e.g. Eczema, Acne, Psoriasis |
76% |
| Musculoskeletal e.g. Arthritis, Joint Aches & Pains |
64% |
| Psychological e.g. Anxiety |
81% |
Information provided above regarding Food Intolerance (defined by yorktest as a food specific IgG reaction) is intended to provide nutritional advice for dietary optimisation. yorktest do not claim to treat or cure the aforementioned symptoms and recommend that you discuss any medical concerns you have with a GP before undertaking a yorktest programme.
*Survey carried out with a total of 5286 people who had taken the yorktest – or to give it its scientific name – a food-specific IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) blood test.
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What our customers say
Many of our customers are thrilled by the service that we deliver and are happy to tell us. Read about what some have said about us here.
“I’m not waking up as much during the night, not as bunged up in my nose and I’ve got so much more energy”
Sally Gunnell OBE
52, Energy Levels
“I feel like I’m in a new body! I’m so much healthier. I can’t tell you how amazingly different I have felt since!”
Emily Catterall
24: IBS
“I am sharper, more motivated, focused & can think so clearly. No longer get flustered or confused when things are getting stressful”
David Brown
39, Tiredeness & Brain Fog
“I felt like I could actually breathe again properly. Surprised, to be fair, how much of a difference that made”
Fin Bigg
20, Breathing