Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, causing lesions known more commonly as pimples. Despite acne's prevalence, there is still some mystery about it, including the role diet plays. Although you can't get acne from milk, dairy products can be triggers for breakouts in some people, according to naturopath Mark Stengler and his co-authors of the book "Prescription for Drug Alternatives."
Causes of Acne
Acne results from several causes, including hormonal activity that stimulates excessive oil production by oil glands in your skin. Oil and other substances, including dead skin cells, clog canals through which oil travels to the surface of your skin. When this happens, Propionibacterium acnes that live on the skin also become trapped and multiply, leading to inflammation and pimples.
The Milk Effect
Triggers for breakouts vary from person to person. According to Stengler, cow's milk aggravates acne in some patients and should be avoided. Cow's milk contains hormones, which affect hormonal activity in your body and activate oil glands in your face. Milk and other dairy products also cause inflammation, which is another key factor in acne. Many dairy cows feed on grain containing omega-6 fatty acids, which are inflammation-causing fats, notes registered nutrition consultant Raymond Francis on the Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine website.
Evidence
In a study published in the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology" in February 2005, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found a positive link between consumption of whole and skim milk during high school and acne in teenagers. A German study published in the "Nestlé Nutrition Workshop Series Pediatric Programme" in 2011 found that milk and whey protein products increased insulin and set off a series of reactions that trigger acne.
Replacing Milk in Your Diet
To determine if milk contributes to your acne breakouts, eliminate it from your diet for six months. Stick to your acne care regimen, such as using topical creams with benzoyl peroxide. If you're worried about missing out on the nutrients milk provides, such as calcium and protein, replace milk with other foods rich in these nutrients. Examples include calcium-fortified beverages, such as soy or rice beverage, green leafy vegetables and fish with small bones such as sardines. Fatty fish, such as salmon, herring and mackerel, are good sources of protein as well as anti-inflammatory omega-3 essential fatty acids.
References
- "Prescription for Drug Alternatives"; Mark Stengler, et al.; 2008
- American Osteopathic College of Dermatology: Acne
- Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine: Inflammation: A Common Denominator of Disease; Raymond Francis
- "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology"; High School Dietary Dairy Intake and Teenage Acne; C.A. Adebamowo, et al.; Feb. 2005
- "Nestlé Nutrition Workshop Series Pediatric Programme"; Evidence for Acne-Promoting Effects of Milk and Other Insulinotropic Dairy Products; B. C. Melnick; 2011
- WomensHealth.gov: Acne
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