Does Chocolate Trigger Pimples?

Many foods have been pinpointed as potential triggers for acne, including pizza, potato chips and chocolate bars. If you frequently have pimples, it can be hard to distinguish which recommendations are based on scientific evidence and which are simply myths. In the case of chocolate, the evidence indicates that it might be a trigger for your pimples and zits.

Studies on Chocolate and Acne

Many studies have looked at the effect of chocolate on acne, without seeing any relationships between chocolate and pimples, according to a paper published in "Seminars of Cutaneous Medicine & Surgery" in 2005. However, most of these studies have big limitations, which makes it difficult to have a clear answer. For example, some studies did not clearly explain how they determine the number of pimples, did not include enough participants or failed to compare to a control group. Another problem with some of these studies is that they compared chocolate bars to a control bars that contain the same amount of sugar.

Sugar Is The Problem

The cocoa found in chocolate bars may not be the trigger for your pimples, but sugar may be the problem. Most people eat chocolate candy bars that contain a large amount of added sugar. A randomized controlled trial published in the July 2007 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" showed that eating less sugar and starchy foods helped reduce the number of pimples in acne male patients by over 50 percent.

Sugar, Insulin and Pimples

The link between the sugar found in some chocolate and pimples could be insulin, according to a 2002 article in "Archives of Dermatology." When you eat sugar -- or any carbohydrates -- your body responds by producing insulin. The more sugar you eat, the higher your insulin levels. High insulin levels trigger a series of hormonal reactions that can promote the inflammation and pimples associated with acne.

Decrease Your Sugar Intake

Although more studies are needed to elucidate the link between chocolate and acne, the evidence seems to point towards the sugar as being the culprit for the pimples. To help you get rid of your pimples and get a smoother skin, decrease your sugar intake by avoiding chocolate bars that contain added sugar. If you enjoy chocolate, switch to dark chocolate, which contains less added sugar compared to milk chocolate, white chocolate and chocolate candy bars.