If you have bad acne, you’ve probably tried all the facial exfoliators and top acne treatments out there. But have you considered that the best acne treatment might be going vegan?

Acne is the most common skin disorder in the U.S., and almost 85% of people experience acne during their lifetime. More than 40% of teenagers have acne or acne scarring by their mid-teens, so preventing acne as much as you can is very important.

But even the best face care products might not function as effective acne treatments if your diet is sabotaging you from the inside. Meat is actually loaded with saturated fat that can put you at risk for cardiovascular disease. If your arteries aren’t healthy, your skin won’t get the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Red meat specifically may also cause inflammation.

One study even determined that acne is linked to a Western diet that includes too many animal proteins. Cutting down on leucine, an amino acid found in meat, can lessen the severity of acne.

Studies have also shown similar results for dairy. Milk has a correlation with acne occurrence, likely because milk comes from pregnant cows with high levels of hormones. This can be conducive to oil secretion and acne breakouts.

However, treating acne just by giving up meat and dairy products won’t get the job done on its own. It’s crucial to replace the calories you need with nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables. Both have higher water content than meat, which can hydrate your skin and minimize lines.

Vegan diets high in vitamin C also make some of the best acne treatments. Vitamin C increases the elasticity of the skin and cuts down on wrinkles. You can get high levels of Vitamin C in foods like strawberries, kale, lemons, papaya and cauliflower, among others.

If you want a little extra boost to your skin clearing strategy, all-natural creams and medications can be some of the best acne treatments since they rarely strip or damage your skin. Check out natural skin care options to see what products will help with your acne!