Acne is a skin condition common among adolescents and teenagers. Hormones play a big role in acne breakouts, but diet may have some influence, as well. Many teens consume caffeine in soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee and chocolate. The drug is not a likely cause of acne, although it is a potential trigger for another skin problem called rosacea.
Definition
Acne refers to breakouts of pimples on the skin, most commonly on the face, back and shoulders, although they can pop up nearly anywhere on your body. Pimples break out when your hair follicles get blocked by dead skin cells and an oil called sebum. Hormone production linked to puberty often causes excess oil production, which leads to those blockages. A partially blocked follicle causes a blackhead, while full blockage results in a whitehead.
Caffeine Effects
Caffeine does not cause acne breakouts, according to two studies cited in a 2008 report in the The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. The studies evaluated several foods, including chocolate and cola, both of which are caffeinated, and found no causal effect. Caffeine works on the central nervous system, not the skin. The drug stimulates alertness and makes you feel more awake. It does not increase your skin oil production or affect your hormones or skin cell shedding, which it would need to do to contribute to pimple breakouts.
Other Dietary Effects
Some studies show that starchy foods may contribute to pimple flare-ups because of their affect on the blood, according to MayoClinic.com. Teens who eat items such as bread or bagels regularly while drinking caffeinated beverages might assume incorrectly that caffeine is the culprit when the food is really at fault. Greasy and sugary foods, which were once anecdotally linked to acne outbreaks, are not really pimple causes.
Rosacea and Caffeine
Rosacea is a skin condition characterized by flushing rather than pimples. Caffeine often is implicated as a cause, but the issue may actually be the chemical's common presence in hot beverages, according to Rosacea.org. Lukewarm caffeinated drinks do not cause any reaction, but hot coffee causes flushing when it is heated to at least 140 degrees. Hot water causes the same effect, so heat is the culprit rather than caffeine content of the liquid. Caffeine does increase anxiety in some people, and stress can lead to rosacea outbreaks, so the drug may have an indirect role in this skin problem.
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