Does Milk Cause Acne?

There have been several debates on the types of foods that may trigger acne breakouts, and a lot of foods have already been implicated in the appearance and exacerbation of acne. Aside from nuts and chocolates, some acne- prone individuals then wonder: “Does milk cause acne?”

Milk, it appears, is not as healthy as initially thought, especially for people who have a tendency to develop breakouts. Studies have shown that there are several ways in which drinking milk can cause people to have a higher degree of developing acne when compared to those who do not. Statistics have found that those who drank milk had more than 40% chance of developing acne, and the more glasses per day, the more severe the breakout.

So to answer the question: “Does milk cause acne?” well, based on the recent statistics and researches; the answer is definitely YES!

One reason why milk can cause one to have acne is its effect on the metabolism of blood sugar in the body since the rapid rise and fall of sugar plays with the body’s hormones, particularly androgen, leading to an increased production of sebum. Milk also contains a certain growth hormone called IGF- 1 that precipitates the growth of human skin cells. The occurrence of acne is further exacerbated by the fast turnover of the cells in the skin’s epidermis, which, when combined with the sebum, clogs the pores, and more clogged pores means plenty of opportunities for infections to set in and cause acne.

Another explanation as to how milk consumption boosts acne breakouts lies in how it is influences the inflammatory response. Inflammation happens when the body reacts and attempts to neutralize a pathogen that enters the body and is manifested as redness, swelling, pain, and heat in the affected body part. One has to remember, that the cows that produced the milk is raised in a setting that is less than ideal, the animals are given high doses or antibiotics, drugs, hormones, and is exposed to illnesses during their milk- production days and that the combination of these factor generate milk that has high levels of toxins, pus, and bacteria which cannot be entirely removed through pasteurization. When a person then ingests the contaminated milk, the body’s immune system goes into overdrive and easily triggers the inflammatory process, as manifested by severe acne.

So if one meets a question on: does milk cause acne, all data would lead them to an affirmative. And a person is an avid milk drinker; it would be best to purchase raw or organic milk since the cows are raised and maintained in healthier conditions and have lesser exposure to drugs and other antibiotics that boost milk production. Aside from selecting milk organically produced, milk and other dairy products are best avoided and if one cannot, then boosting the immune system to fight off infections is another option.