Acne is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that affects as many as 50 million people in the United States, Medical News Today reports. It does not just affect teenagers and is one of the most common skin conditions, but what many people don’t realize, is that in some individuals, there is a relationship between food and breakouts.

Some foods are known to trigger and increase the frequency of acne breakouts, although this link is thought to be controversial, Healthline reports. However, the publication also notes that recent research has shown that what we eat can play a role in acne development, and the most obvious culprits would be foods that are processed or sugary. These foods include fried chips, white bread, soft drinks, juices, and cookies. According to Nivea, eating these foods will make blood sugar and insulin spike, which will, in turn, cause the sebaceous glands to produce more oil—an overproduction of sebum can result in the follicles and pores becoming blocked.

Food Revolution also sites a study in Turkey, involving 2,300 adolescents. The results found that individuals who consumed “the most added sugars had a 30 percent increased risk for developing acne,” and individuals regularly consuming sugary baked goods were 20 percent more acne-prone.

Dairy is also best avoided, with Healthline reporting that “studies have found a link between milk products and acne severity in teenagers.” Those regularly consuming dairy were found to be prone to breakouts. Milk increases insulin levels, which could aggravate acne.

Foods containing high amounts of omega-6 fatty acids (found in corn and soy oils) could increase inflammation and make the acne more severe. Many individuals do not eat enough omega-3 fatty acids (and there needs to be more balance in what we eat), which Food Revolution notes have anti-inflammatory properties.

Coffee may taste great and be your go-to morning drink, but according to Elevays, it could be triggering acne breakouts due to the organic acid content found within the coffee beans. The organic acid content is thought to increase cortisol levels, which “acts like androgen promoting inflammation and sebaceous glands.”

Foods that contain acidic lycopene, like tomatoes and peppers, which are common ingredients in spicy food, could be unbalancing the skin’s PH levels and triggering breakouts around the mouth, Dr. Jeanine Downie told Cosmopolitan.

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