The acne wheat connection is an implication that wheat products can in fact be the source of acne breakouts, and that simple modifications in dietary choices can reduce an acne problem significantly. For the longest time, hormonal fluctuations have been blamed as the source for most if not all acne breakouts.  The connection between diet and acne has long been debunked as a myth, that poor food choices can not be blamed as the cause of acne.

Nutritionists however have been revisiting this myth to see if in fact there can be a connection between dietary choices and acne breakouts.  Recent work has found that there is a connection between acne and wheat.

It has been found that products containing wheat such as certain flours, pasta, bread, nutrition bars, or any other food item that contains wheat flour, has an effect on blood sugar levels.  Wheat products will raise the blood sugar levels and create a temporary condition known as hyperglycemia.  The result of this is an increased production of the hormone insulin which has the tendency to cause an inflammation of skin in the pores.  This triggers growth of cells which in turn, creates debris in the pores causing acne breakouts.  The acne wheat connection suggests then that when high levels of wheat or wheat flour are ingested, one would be more prone to acne breakouts.

Genetics in Acne Wheat Connection

It is also suggested that genetics plays a role in the acne wheat connection.  Some genetic lines simply appear to be particularly responsive to the chemistry that results in the blood sugar levels when wheat is ingested.  This results in the inflammation on the skin causing acne.  There also seems to be a link between more severe cases of wheat caused acne and dysfunction of the skin’s immune system.  When dysfunction of the skin’s immune system occurs, the likelihood of increased presence of acne breakouts is higher.  Further, the acne wheat connection is also being  linked to other disorders such as Crohn’s Disease, attention deficit disorder, ovarian cysts, and irritable bowel problems.  These diseases are all related to the inflammation that wheat causes, and if these disorders are present in the genetic line, one is not only more likely to struggle with acne wheat problems, but also with any of these medical conditions.

In order to identify if you are struggling with the acne wheat connection, you and your doctor will need to examine your acne history.  Those that are dealing with the acne wheat connection have more than likely tried every acne treatment or product on the market with little to no success.  You may not have even seen any result from prescription medications for your acne treatment.  Most patients coping with the acne wheat connection may even consider their acne untreatable.  Your doctor can help you to determine if you are dealing with the acne wheat connection by testing your blood sugar levels, and by determining if your previous acne treatments have failed.  Eliminating wheat flour from your diet may be the only step you need to eliminating the acne wheat connection all together.