Alex asks: What should I eat to shrink pores and prevent blackheads?
Wynnie says: Acne - which can include blackheads, whiteheads and pimples - develops when our skin's pores become clogged with sebum, a thick, oily substance, and accumulate dirt and bacteria. Our bodies make more sebum when our hormone levels rise, especially during adolescence.
For many years, it was thought that diet had no effect at all on acne. But recent research suggests there may be a link between what we eat and the onset of acne.
Researchers at The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia found a possible link between carbs with a high glycaemic index (GI) - which causes glucose and insulin levels to rise rapidly - and acne. On the other hand, a high-protein diet and low GI carbs may help reduce acne, they said.
Low GI carbs break down more slowly, releasing glucose more gradually into the bloodstream.
They studied 43 males, aged between 15 and 25, who were randomly assigned to two groups. One group was given low GI foods such as wholegrain pasta and bread and legumes, along with a high-protein diet. The other group was given a more typical teenage diet consisting of high GI foods such as white bread, potatoes and sugary drinks and snacks.