Random topic I know!  It's not VGchartz without a random topic every now and then.

Let me first start off by saying that I am considerably underweight and have Moderate Acne issues.   I'm male, 5'11, 125 pounds with a BMI of 17.4.  Thats quite an unhealthy BMI.    By all estimates im about 20 pounds below the lowest "Healthy Weight" line for my sex/height. 

And it's not because i dont eat, in fact I eat more, and of the right types of foods, than virtually everyone I know and workout every other day, I just simply cannot gain weight.  Doctors even insist there is nothing wrong with me, i just have an abnormally fast metabolism. 

And I also have moderate acne, especially on my back.  My face isnt horrible by any mean, but it is noticable.  My back is the only place where it's rather bad.  And yes, i take daily showers and the whole nine yards. 

(This really sucks, because if I want to get rid of my Acne, I have to stop eating most foods that cause me to gain weight including high levels of protein, and if i try to gain weight I will break out)   

Considering all of that, I began wondering if there was a correlation between underweight people and ance.  Thinking back, it seems all of the heavier people i've ever met have nearly flawless skin while it seems the skinnier people have had acne issues in one form or another.  Just a random late night *I should be in bed* type of thought. lol

What do you think?

I am also underweight but I do not have acne so I do not think it is connected.

Interesting, now that I think about it..it's always the skinny people that have ance issues the most. I had acne issues in highschool and only deal with it nowadays during the summer time. My weight is up and and down between 140-145.

I do not believe you being underweight is a cause. There may be a correlation between your acne, weight loss and something else. But correlation =/= causation. I've seen overweight people with plenty of acne and tiny people with flawless skin.



Acne has more to do with irregular blood sugar control and inflammation. Of course, the causative factors in individual A might not be the same in individuals B and C. In other cases toxicity, stress and hormonal imbalances have a role. You will have to do some trial and error to figure it out.

Look into your digestion. Poor digestion has been linked to it. Acid reflux and the like tend to exacerbate the situation. A friend of mine had a bad case of bacne (back acne), and she linked it to malabsorption. But again, it might not be the same for you.

Also ... eating the 'right foods' can be tricky. If blood sugar issues and inflammation are at the heart of your problem then you might want to avoid (or cut down) starches and other foods that may affect blood sugar stability. Sugar is your enemy if you suffer from acne.

Also ... the colon is the primary place you have to keep in check for clear skin, and that includes acne. Keep you colon healthy and it will help promote better skin.


Give me an example of your typical diet (throughout the day). Do you consume wheat products? How much water do you drink daily? How often do you eat?

You'll need to do trial and error to figure it out. Variation and selection is the best process, and it may take you some time, but the end result does justify the means in this case.

I'll be happy to share with you what I know if you need any assistance.

Exactly, i cant seem to think of a single overweight person with bad acne issues, it's quite interesting. 

Also ... if you use dairy products then cut it. Dairy has been linked to acne. It is HORRIBLE on the digestive system, and as I pointed out above digestive issues and acne go hand in hand. If you're in the gym then there are other alternatives to building muscle. Skip the whey protein and cows milk.

Wake up, have something to eat (Ranges from a big bowl of cereal to a few microwave burritos if im feeling protein-y)

Usually have Water and/or milk with it (both if i eat cereal) 

I eat plenty of apples, mostly green apples, one or two a day for snacks, usually along side a bottle of water.

For lunch, it depends how hardcore im into my homework or games.  Could range from Mac n Cheese to a good large can of beef stew. 

Supper, a good meal usually with Chicken or Beef as the main dish, with a veggie (my favorite veggie is Broccoli) and usually potatos as well (baked, mashed, french fries, or cooked with roast beef)

After that it's just abunch of snacking throughout the day that i cant really remember, yogurt, more apples, chips ect the usual stuffs...not much in the way of Chocolatey stuffs unless theres a granola bar hanging around. 

uhhh, bout all i can remember lol

Actually, acne is mostly associated with OVERweight; and massive spikes of increased testosterone levels; mostly when you are adolescent, that is why most adult people dont have acne.

My girlfriend can't consume dairy or she might break out.   This is a pretty common things actually.  Although it has made me like Soy/Almond milks alot more :D.

High GI-Diet And Dairy Intake Linked To Acne

It has a lot to do with diet.
Bad foods are soft drinks, white bread/rice, cereal, bagels, potatoes. And milk products.

Sweat also aggravates the problem. Working out regularly and loading up on fast energy foods might be a bad combination.
Underweight people with fast metabolism trying to gain weight could be more at risk.