More and more people today are suffering from acne. Once a skin ailment that plagued mainly adolescents, many adults now report having acne well into middle age and beyond. With so many people seeking treatment for their acne, many are also looking to the root causes behind their unsightly blemishes in an effort to prevent breakouts.
One common belief is that milk causes acne. Is it true that milk causes acne? A variety of research by dermatologists, beauty editors and nutritionists have gone into determining if it’s true that milk causes acne. Unfortunately, the findings are unclear and contradictory. While some studies indicate milk causes acne, other studies find there is a correlation between acne and ingredients commonly found in dairy products in which case the milk itself is not the cause of acne. Other studies indicate no relationship between milk and acne at all.
Why do people think milk causes acne?
If it’s not fully known if milk causes acne, why do people think milk causes acne? One reason is because milk may cause acne, in which case the belief is right. However, even if milk does not cause acne, there is good reason for people to think milk causes acne.
The Western diet, and American in particular, is notable for its use of dairy products which many other global cuisines do not. Drinking a glass of milk instead of wine or water is a particularly American dietary habit. Is it a coincidence that the United States and other western countries cite higher instances of acne?
Many adults are also finding that they are lactose intolerant and so should avoid dairy. As a result, dairy is now often maligned as a generally unhealthy food. Since beauty magazines are quick to jump on such bandwagons, many popular outlets like Vogue extoll a dairy-free diet as a cure for acne.
Does milk cause acne?
The National Center for Biotechnology Information analyzed scientific literature related to research into the link between drinking milk and acne. The group found that “any dairy, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, was associated with an increased [rate] for acne in individuals aged 7–30 years.” But does this mean milk alone is responsible for acne?
The milk itself may not necessarily be the true root cause. One reason dairy products could cause acne is not the milk itself but the “hormones that cows make when they are pregnant, which wind up in their milk. People who have higher levels of those hormones in their blood tend to have more acne,” according to WebMd. If that were the case, an organic diet focused on avoiding dairy containing growth hormones could alleviate acne but still include milk.
But it’s possible that “proteins [intrinsic to cow milk].. release a hormone similar to insulin, called IGF-1. This hormone is known to trigger breakouts. Sometimes the hormones in milk can also interact with our own hormones, confusing our body’s endocrine system and signaling breakouts” according to Healthline.
Yet another possibility is that the sugar and grease used in many dairy-rich foods like ice cream or cheese are the true culprit behind acne.
