Do french fries cause acne?
Deep-fried fries score 28. They combine fast carbs with frying fat, and frying at high heat creates advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are linked to inflammation in the body. The same potatoes roasted in the oven with a little olive oil score 74.
French fries150 g · 465 kcal
285 g protein · 58 g carbs · 24 g fat per serving
What the scan likes
- Provides a quick source of energy from carbohydrates.
What pulls the score down
- Deep-frying makes them very high in calories, with 465 kcal for 150g.
- Very high in fat (24g per 150g) from the frying oil, which can contribute to unwanted weight gain.
- The high processing and frying can lead to inflammatory compounds not ideal for skin health.
Better swap
74
Oven-roasted potatoes+46 points · Clear skin 70
Sources
- Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the dietUribarri J et al., J Am Diet Assoc (2010)
- A low-glycemic-load diet improves symptoms in acne vulgaris patientsSmith RN et al., Am J Clin Nutr (2007)
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Scanned with the Clear Food app on 29 September 2026. Values are estimates. Not medical advice.