Of all of the myths, beliefs and superstitions that surround acne, maybe the most enduring ones have to do with the diet that we eat and the impact that diet has on the condition of our skin. Some people will go to their grave believing that chocolate and greasy foods cause acne breakouts, while others believe that simply not taking in enough vitamins and nutrients causes acne, regardless of how much fat and calories you eat.

One thing is for sure, however. The link between acne and food is different for every single person out there with a pimple. For some, chocolate might just be a genuine trigger. For others, they could put Hershey’s out of business and not get a single blemish. Regardless of how your skin reacts, let’s take a look at some things you can do to help avoid breakouts.

The first thing you should know is that curing your acne completely through your diet is extremely unlikely. The truth is that modern medical science doesn’t know what causes some people to have terrible acne, and others to get away with no pimples at all. Acne is not caused by you not cleaning yourself frequently enough. Acne is caused by too much oil collecting on your skin, clogging your pours and becoming infected.

While your diet may impact how much oil your skin produces, for some people, there is very little they can do to control the number of outbreaks they get. But for those who can, here are some diet tips that might help keep your outbreaks to a minimum.

Try to avoid dairy products. This may seem a bit odd on the surface, but when you take a closer look at what milk actually is, it makes a lot more sense. Milk is, essentially, baby cow food. It was never meant for human consumption, especially once you are not a baby anymore. Milk is absolutely filled with hormones and nutrients that are for infants, not for teenagers.

It is this mixture of hormones that causes breakouts for so many people. Now, milk is also very good for you and teenagers need the calcium for strong bones, but try to limit how much milk you take in per day. If you enjoy starting your day with a bowl of your favorite cereal, cut yourself off from dairy the rest of the day. Try not to exceed a limit of one cup or glass of milk per day.

The next beast to avoid is refined sugar. The number of health benefits that come with avoiding refined sugar are as long as your arm, but you might notice a link between sugar and your acne outbreaks, too. This is most likely where the belief that chocolate causes outbreaks comes from. Not only does sugar make you fat, many people believe that it causes your body to make extra oil that turns into pimples. Again, you aren’t expected to cut sugar out of your diet altogether, but try to limit what you take in.

Try to incorporate more fish and seafood into your diet. The oils and nutrients found in fish, especially salmon and tuna and even cod can do wonders for your skin, your figure and your overall health. But make sure you monitor the mercury levels in the fish you eat. If you prefer freshwater fish, check in with your local fishing, game and wildlife bureau to see if there are any restrictions on what you can and can’t eat.

While it may not cure your acne outright, monitoring your diet and making sure you get all of your essential vitamins and nutrients every day is a sure way to improve your overall health, and that can only be a good thing for the health of your skin.