A healthy diet is especially important during your teenage years. Your body is growing and changing rapidly, and you're more in need of essential vitamins and nutrients than ever. Choose a diet that is rich in unprocessed foods to promote overall health. Avoid processed foods, such as fast food and junk food, to keep your body and your skin healthy. Add lean fats and fresh produce to your diet to make sure you're getting the nutrition your body needs. When your body is healthy, the quality and appearance of your skin will improve.

As a teenager, fat should account for 25 to 35 percent of your daily caloric intake. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center recommends adding healthy fats to your diet to keep your skin healthy. You can find beneficial fats in olive oil, nuts, avocados, olives and fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish have natural anti-inflammatory properties and can help soothe irritated skin.

Avoid the unhealthiest fats, such as saturated fats and trans fats, which are commonly found in fried, greasy fast food. While beneficial fats help bring essential vitamins to your skin, unhealthy fats actually deplete important nutrients that your body needs.

Keep a food diary to see if any foods irritate your skin. The Food Allergy Solutions website states that food allergies may be the cause of many skin conditions. Try eliminating one food at a time from your diet if you think that something you're eating may be irritating your skin. Talk to a dermatologist about your concerns. A doctor can order allergy tests that will tell you if you have any food allergies that may be causing skin problems.

MayoClinic.com suggests choosing food items that are full of antioxidants to keep your skin healthy. Snack on carrots, blueberries, spinach and tomatoes to promote healthy skin. Eating a varied diet full of healthy foods and drinking plenty of water throughout the day will contribute to your overall health as well as the health of your skin. A diet high in antioxidants can protect your skin from damage and reduce the effects of aging on your skin.