No direct evidence exists linking coffee to acne, but the ingredients in coffee -- caffeine, sugar and milk -- may increase acne flareups. Caffeine makes your body produce stress hormones. Studies have linked higher sugar intake with more acne. In addition, milk may produce hormones that cause breakouts. So, while the coffee itself might not cause acne, you might find your acne worsens with coffee consumption.
Caffeine
No studies exist linking caffeine to acne. Caffeine increases the level of stress hormones in your body, however, and so drinking caffeinated coffee may aggravate acne symptoms. In addition, caffeine dehydrates your skin, which needs water to remove toxins.Therefore, the diuretic properties of caffeine may decrease your body's ability to clear up acne. Because your body may react in its own way to caffeine, try cutting back on caffeinated beverages such as coffee and see if you notice a difference.
Milk
You may want to skip the milk in your coffee if you're working to control acne symptoms. The University of Miami Dermatology Department found a correlation between milk consumption and acne in teens, although the data was dependent on the ability of patients to recall their dietary habits and acne. Researchers hypothesized that the hormones and active molecules in milk might cause the development of acne. Limit milk in your diet and see if it makes a difference in your skin's health.
Sugar
If you're adding sugar to your coffee, you might also be adding to your acne breakouts. Sugar causes a spike in the hormones that cause acne, Dr. Mark Hyman reports on his website. Trials in medical research found participants with higher sugar intake and a high-glycemic diet experienced far more acne than other participants. Filling your body with empty calories from sugar takes away from the nutrition you could be getting from other foods. Your body needs nutrients to function properly and fight inflammation.
Recommendations
You know best whether certain foods cause you to breakout, so experiment by following your daily routine without coffee. Keep a food diary and compare your acne levels with the food you eat. Just don't replace your latte or mocha with soda or milk, which contain ingredients you plan to avoid. Follow your doctor's advice when changing your diet. You may need to take other steps to treat your acne, including finding an effective a skin-care regimen.
References
- Eastbay Acne and Skin Care Clinic; Acne
- "The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology"; The Role of Diet in Acne and Rosacea; Jonette E. Keri, et al.; 2008
- PubMed.gov; High School Dietary Dairy Intake and Teenage Acne; Clement A. Adebamowo et al.; 2005
- DrHyman.com; Do Milk and Sugar Cause Acne?; Mark Hyman
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