Got Milk? Got Acne?
MILK CAUSES ACNE!
It makes for a great blog headline. But is it true?
Moms have been saying for ages that eating too much pizza, French fries, and chocolate is what causes acne. Until recently, we didn’t have any research to support or refute Mom’s theory. Now there are studies linking high glycemic diets (that is, diets high in sugar and simple carbohydrates) with acne; so it looks like Mom might have been right.
But the strongest relationship between diet and acne is actually with milk.
There are current studies showing that there is an association between drinking milk and having acne. In the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, researchers found that drinking skim milk was associated with increased severity of acne in teenage boys.
Blockage of pores caused by hormone induced changes in your skin is a known cause of acne. Milk might contribute to acne, therefore, because milk contains hormones (androgens) that can act on your skin just like your natural hormones.
Does that mean you should stop drinking milk?
No. These findings, although interesting, do not prove that milk causes acne — many people who don’t drink any milk still get acne. But if you have acne and have difficulty controlling it with washes or other acne therapies, then you might consider cutting back on milk to see if that helps.
Remember, though, that milk is a good source of vitamin D and calcium which are critical for bone development in your early teenage years.
You might also like:
The Proper Way to Pop a Pimple
How Do Birth Control Pills Control Acne?
Are You Over-Scrubbing Your Face?
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Photo: William Morgan Hsu
Interesting.
Great Blog – useful info.
Maybe you can help me – I’m allergic to lots of things including parabens, which seems to be in everything.
I am looking for parabens-free products. I found a nice moisturising cream at http://www.exederm.com and other things at a British site called elave – now I would like to find parabens free shampoo
Any ideas ?
What about blogging about sensitive skin and hypoallergenic products
Keep up the good work
Russ-
Thanks.
John-
That is a great topic. I’ll do a little research and write a post for you on it. Thank you for suggesting it.
Very interesting, who would have known Milk would cause Acne. I find it interesting that some people have Acne so bad and yet can get treatments that cure it, for example: http://www.crutchfielddermatology.com/treatments/acne/acne.asp
If there a cure for Acne beyond taking medicine?
perhaps certain ethnicities that encourage the drinking of milk, are genetically susceptible to getting acne?
I’ve never had any such reaction from milk, so perhaps it might be an individual thing? A particular body chemistry that just doesn’t jibe well with dairy products or something?
The increase of the hormones in teenage boys is probably more the culprit, then you add milk and ‘poof’ – Acne Explosion!
By the way, I love milk!!
Those are Great Tips! Thank You for this in depth information about acne and how to get rid of it.
I’ve had acne for the last 13 years (I’m 30 now). Until recently I read that milk can cause acne. I decided to forgo anything dairy in my daily diet, i.e. no milk, no cheese, no milk chocolate. After 2 months I can definitely see a whole lot difference it makes on my skin. I guess it could be all that hormones in the milk was causing MY hormones to be haywire. I feel better about myself now.
Instead of drinking milk, I take calcium supplements and eat a whole lot of calcium-rich vegetables like broccoli and bak choy.
But then again, the cause of acne is different from one person to another. I still do have an occasional pimple once in a while at that time of the month, but I guess that’s from my own hormones!
Tim C-
The best way to treat acne is with medication (or just wait long enough, as it improves with age in most people).
Axion-
Perhaps, although it appears that the hormones in milk are responsible for causing acne and as such would not be impacted by ethnicities at all.
Fitness diva-
Milk surely is a small contributor to acne. Hormones peaking during teen years are a large factor. I love milk myself.
Pickel-
Thank you.
Liz-
Thanks for sharing. You are not alone, there are certainly many people whose acne benefits from less milk.
I’m one of those who do not drink milk but still get acne. I always had acne during my teen years(sob) but it disappeared when I was in my early twenties.
This is very informative, if it works for you then good. Teenagers should be informed of this.
Excellent info in regard to acne. This is a serious topic, and it is so hard to find reliable acne information online. Thanks and keep up the good work!
I don’t know if I can give up my love of milk for the few pimples I get a month. But it would explain why nothing helps any more.
Something to point out, skin allergies happens for some rare cases when the patient consume milk.
Thanks for this! I’ve had acne problems for 20 years (I’m now 36). Acne creams and Retin A didn’t help much. In April, I gave up drinking skim milk (though not yogurt and cheese yet). My skin’s finally started to clear up. I really wish I’d tried cutting back on milk years ago.
I cured acne after reading a book called No Acne for Me. I thought there were no cure or treatment but apperently I looked the wrong places. Acne free and acne cure – get this book.
I am proof this is true! My nutrition coach mentioned cow dairy was bad for the skin – being a cheeze lover I was reluctant to give it up. I did leave cow dairy behind and have found a better complection, but I find that goat dairy is not as abrasive and I still enjoy my milk and cheeze! All I can say is seeing is believing and I am a believer!
I agree whole-heartedly that drinking milk (whole milk is my fave) gives me, or at least has strong positive correlation to, acne development. Two years ago, a dermatologist told me that she could tell by the type of acne that I have, that I am an avid milk drinker and suggested that I cut it out for a while to see the difference it makes. I too am continually struggling to give up milk, but have not fully cut it out of my diet. As soon as I cut milk out completely, my skin clears up so nicely that I get lots of compliments. As soon as have a few glasses of milk, the zits resurface within 24 hours. I wish I was aware of this correlation years ago. I shared this story with an acquaintance who also suffers from (more severe) acne. I saw her a month later, and her skin looked great. She said she cut out dairy. Hopefully sharing this story will help those who suffer from milk/dairy-induced acne.
Hey guys!!…
Just to make things more clear!!…
Acne is primarily a kind of body malfunction!! When the body fails to breakup blood lipids into energy… the body gets rid of these lipids through the sebaceous glands and blockages happen and acne are born!! The main reason as to why this malfunction happens is not quite known!! most probably it is a genetic factor!!
So when drinking milk!! notice that milk contains about 4% fat content about 32 grams of fats in a liter of milk!! which is about more fat in the body to get rid of through the face!! and thus more acne!!..
Even when drinking skimmed milk!! acne will occur.. that’s actually is the key to know how to cure acne!!… the BIG portion of calories of skimmed milk comes from sugars!! As we know .. the body adapts well for any change!! A diet high in sugars and carbs compels the body to be sugar burner!! Sugar metabolizer… So it will go for sugar and burns them for energy instead of burning fats into energy!! and fats thus is accumulated or thrown out through the skin and face!!.. Not to forget that carbs and sugars are inflammatory agents!!So … what’s the key here? Try to eliminate carbohydrates COMPLETELY from your diet for a while!! and depend ONLY on fats and some protein!!! This way..!! you will be forcing your body to be a FAT Burner and thus it will be more efficient at burning fats and lipids for energy.. and no fats are expelled through the skin!! At first you will see your acne is getting worse!!.. maybe for a week or two!! then your skin will be less oily, and healthier and toner…!! after you have the clear face you want which might occur after a month! you can start introducing carbs again to your diet!! even milk!! but be sure to keep your diet low on carbs and high in fats!!! You can supplement with B-Complex or Pantothenic acid for fatser results.
THAT’s HOW I CURED MY 10 years-OLD ACNE!!