Is Sour Cream Bad For Acne?

If you're wondering whether your love of sour cream can make your acne worse, the straight answer is: Possibly. Although there is growing acceptance that diet plays a role in acne, food triggers vary from person to person, according to the Mark Stengler, a naturopathic doctor and co-author of "Prescription for Drug Alternatives." So while sour cream might cause more breakouts for you, it might have no effect on someone else who has acne.

Sour Cream And Inflammation

As a dairy food, sour cream might aggravate acne by increasing inflammation in your body. Inflammation becomes a key player in acne once bacteria start to feed on oil, dead skin cells and other substances in clogged pores. In clinical practice Stengler and his co-authors have noticed that dairy foods such as cow's milk does make acne worse in some patients.

Sour Cream And Weight Gain

Another possible reason sour cream might make acne worse is that it can lead to extra pounds on your hips after just a few moments on your lips. One cup of sour cream contains about 45 g of fat, according to the USDA National Nutrient Database. Being overweight or obese increases levels of the hormone insulin, which can make acne worse. Any step you can take toward reducing insulin levels --- such as giving up sour cream and slimming down --- can improve acne, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.

What Research Says

In a study of more than 47,000 women published in the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology" in February 2005, researchers retrospectively evaluated the role of consuming dairy foods during high school in physician-diagnosed teenage acne. They found that consuming dairy foods such as whole milk, cottage cheese, cream cheese and even skim milk were positively linked with acne. They concluded that hormones and bioactive molecules in milk may be to blame.

Considerations

If you notice that your acne flares up after eating sour cream, try to eliminate it from your diet for up to six months. However, be aware that other foods such as whole milk, cheeses and other dairy foods might also trigger your breakouts. If you can't kick your craving for sour cream, try fat-free, organic sour cream as organic milk products come from cows that do not receive hormones. However, if you are on a special diet, consult your doctor before making any changes.