I recently received an inquiry from one of my readers about adult acne and, more specifically, the claims that milk causes acne. First let me begin with a thank you for the question! Adult acne is an unpleasant condition, and as a result, there are a lot of theories on how and why people get it. In this post, I’m going to try and clarify some of the noise out there about acne.
There are many different causes of acne that vary from person to person. By paying close attention to where you commonly breakout on your face, when it happens and how often, you may be able to pinpoint what some of your personal causes may be.
Let me begin with a little background on the general causes of acne. There are several factors in the causation of acne that include the overproduction of oil (also known as sebum), irritation of hair follicles and the build up of bacteria.
In addition to these factors, there are many possible reasons why some adults experience acne including:
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Stress
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Medications
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Vitamin Deficiency
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Genetics
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Diet
Adult acne differs from teen acne mainly in that it manifests on the lower portion of the face (i.e. chin, jaw, lip area). Additionally, those with adult acne typically experience red pimples, deeper than the typical teen blackheads and whiteheads.
The Milk and Acne Link
Let’s begin by saying that there is no direct link between consuming milk and the cause of acne. Additionally, everyone is different, so milk may not even be a concern for many people. With that said, there is, however, a correlation between the two. In other words, drinking milk doesn’t directly result in acne, but there is a relationship linking the two together, as has been seen in multiple scientific studies.
It is speculated that the hormones naturally found in milk, as well as the additional hormones added when the milk is processed, may be at the heart of the matter. Skim milk tends to be associated with breakouts more than whole milk. This may be due to the processing skim milk experiences with IGF-1, testosterone and DHT, to make its consistency creamier.
And what about organic milk? Well, the fact is that female cows are still lactating when they produce milk and the hormones produced during the pregnancy are still present in organic milk. So since the hormones appear to be the relationship between milk and acne, drinking organic milk will not change that element.
So what can you do? Try experimenting with your diet, taking note if you see an increase in breakouts when you eat or drink certain foods. When you notice a trend, try cutting the suspected food out of your diet to see if your skin improves. However, remember that everyone’s body reacts differently. As a result, you will need to develop a personal routine of a healthy diet, skin cleansing and moisturizing that works best for you.
Thanks for the question, yankeedoodle. If anyone else has questions, send them in! I’m always happy to try and answer my readers’ questions!
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