If you have acne and dark skin, you may partly blame these on the foods you eat.
Actually foods do not necessarily cause acne, at least not directly.
But there are certain foods that can trigger acne attacks and lead to dark skin.
These you must watch out for especially if you have a high risk for developing acne in the first place.
Acne does not happen to every individual out there, although the incidence appears to be greater in teenagers, pregnant and lactating mothers, and women on menopause.
One very likely factor common to these groups of people is hormonal imbalance.
The hormones, in particular, the sex hormones, control the production of sebum.
When there is hormonal imbalance, sebum production can go overboard, and that's when it starts to get worse.
Because you see, when there is too much oil production there is always that tendency for the pores to get clogged.
When that happens, there's no way for bacteria to get out of your skin.
The bacteria can cause an infection, to which the body responds by producing more white blood cells, which unfortunately breaks the skin out.
It's important to understand that some people may have acne, while others may not.
And while some factors causing hormonal imbalance are beyond your means to control, there are other outside influences that can also trigger hormonal imbalance that leads to sebum overproduction.
Foods are among these influences.
Anybody at any age can develop acne when he/she does not make wise food choices.
There are several categories of acne-producing foods you must watch out for and avoid:

• Foods with high glycemic value.
  High glycemic foods are foods made up mostly of refined carbohydrates and refined sugar.
  These foods can be fatal to diabetics, and they can trigger acne flare-ups, too.
  How? Because these foods increase the blood sugar levels, and in attempts to control blood sugar, the pancreas has to release insulin.
  Insulin causes the production of more sebum.
  
• Fatty foods.
  The body actually needs more good fats, so fatty foods in this case would refer to foods high in the bad fats, not the good ones.
  Consuming more fatty foods than your system can process causes insulin resistance.
  You might think this is a good thing, but it's not because it is only sending the wrong signal to your pancreas to produce more insulin, which can lead to an overproduction of sebum.
  
• Dairy products.
  Dairy products are difficult to digest, thus consuming them often puts a lot of stress on the digestive system.
  Over time, the digestive system burns out, and the immune system weakens.
  A weak immune system will not have the ability to fight bacteria, including those that cause acne.
  

Ironically, it is also through foods that you can achieve fairer, healthier and more beautiful skin.
The following list of foods can help prevent acne flare-ups while making your skin clear and bright at the same time:

• Fruits and vegetables, especially those with antioxidants and high water content.
  Best eaten raw, fruits and vegetables hydrate, rejuvenate and brighten the skin.
  
• Sunflower seeds.
  Sunflower seeds are rich in Vitamin E which is regarded by many as the "beauty vitamin".
  Sunflower seeds may be eaten as they are, but another way to enjoy them is to mix them along with fresh vegetables for a crunchier, healthier, and more delicious garden salad.
  
• Fiber.
  Fiber-rich foods, such as grains, beans, and green vegetables help to increase metabolism, flushing out toxins faster and more effectively.
  
• Water.
  Water is a great moisturizer.
  Drink no less than eight glasses a day for beautiful, clear skin everyday.