Could acne sufferers benefit from the South Beach Diet? They might if the data from a recent University of Miami survey holds merit.

Using a web survey, medical researchers found that a low carbohydrate diet may help improve skin condition in people with acne. Within three months of starting the South Beach Diet, more than 80% of survey respondents reported improvement in their complexion. More than 90% of respondents taking acne medication said they lowered the dose of medication or the amount of acne treatment after starting the diet.

The survey findings were not part of a controlled clinical study and are still preliminary until published in peer-reviewed journal. However, they may begin to provide some evidence to counter long-held beliefs of skin care specialists that discount diet as a factor in patients with acne.