Dairy, Sugar and Acne by Pamela A. Popper, Ph.D., N.D.
Acne and almost all skin conditions are related to diet and the overall health of the body. The skin is an outward view of an individual’s health. Although the totality of the diet determines health outcomes, including the conditions of the skin, some foods have a more negative effect than others on acne.
According to an article published in the April 2009 issue of the International Journal of Dermatology, the more milk teenagers drink and the more sugar they eat, the more likely they are to develop acne.
Hope Ferdowsian, M.D., M.P.H., and her co-authors reviewed 27 previously published articles on the topic and concluded, “Setting aside milkshakes will likely do more to prevent blemishes than a drugstore full of commercial products. Milk appears to fuel hormonal imbalances that can lead to acne.”
Previous studies have established high hormone levels in milk products. This is to be expected since milk comes from pregnant cows. These hormones, combined with the proteins in milk, increase skin oil production leading to pimples. Additionally, milk is a constipating food that can lead to gastrointestinal distress, which also has an adverse effect on skin health.
High-fiber, low-fat, near-vegetarian diets, on the other hand, sharply reduce the ingestion of hormones and prevent the buildup of excess hormones in the system. Acne is relatively rare in populations that consume such a diet, but as people migrate to Westernized countries, or modernization changes local diets, acne becomes more common.
When talking to teenagers about improving their diet, the discussion of reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease often falls on deaf ears – most kids don’t consider degenerative disease as a serious threat. Kids are, however, interested in their appearance, and this type of information may provide more leverage in getting them to clean up their diet.
Elsa H. Spencer, Ph.D., Hope Ferdowesian, M.D., M.P.H., Neal Barnard. M.D.
“Diet and acne: a review of the evidence.” International Journal of Dermatology Published online DOI:1111ij:1365-4632:2009.04002.x
Audrey’s note: Need help figuring out what to eat when you eliminate cow juice? Let me help you.