Dairy Products Linked To Teenage Acne

Although an association between dairy products and acne has long been suspected, there has been relatively little firm evidence to support the hypothesis. It has previously been suggested that a Western diet may increase the risk of teenage acne. Virtually every type of food has been implicated in the pimple-causing pathway. Typically, foods such as milk and other dairy products, chocolate, cereal, breads, nuts, eggs and pork have been cited to contribute to acne. Others have suggested that carbohydrates, fats or non-nutrient dietary factors such as high glycaemic index (GI) foods and salt are more important. Despite much speculation, finger-pointing and discussion, there have been few well-designed studies conducted to determine exactly which foods can increase acne risk, and why these particular foods are bad for you during your teenage years.

Recently, scientists and dermatologists have used data from a large cohort of women to investigate the link between diet and acne. The study used a food frequency questionnaire to examine which foods, and how much of the foods, might cause acne. Investigators looked particularly closely at the frequency of consumption of dairy products: milks, instant breakfast drinks, milkshakes, frappes, ice creams, yoghurts, cottage cheese, cream cheese, other hard cheeses and butter. The scientists also looked at fast food items such as soda, French fries, pizza and chocolate. Certain other factors that might confound the study results, such as age, ethnicity, weight, height, vitamin consumption and total energy consumption were also studied.
The results suggest that consumption of milk and other dairy products during the teenage years is associated with aggravation of teenage acne. In particular, all types of milk (whole milk, low fat milk and skim milk) increased the incidence of acne in the study population. To a lesser extent, instant breakfast drinks, cottage cheese and cream cheese were also positively associated with acne.

Scientists reasoned that bioactive materials in milk, rather than the fat content (skim milk caused more acne than regular milk) might be responsible for the increased incidence of acne. In particular, they argued that hormones including estrogen, progesterone, androgenic precursor molecules and 5-alpha-reduced steroids, which have previously been implicated in the causal pathway of acne, might explain the study findings. The scientists also suggested that other bioactive molecules such as glucocorticoids, insulin-like growth factor and thyrotropin releasing hormones might play a role in comodogenesis (acne growth), but they could not provide an explanation for how these molecules might cause acne.

A more recent study suggests that iodine is the bioactive material most likely to cause acne in teenagers. Iodine is a vital dietary nutrient, which is needed for brain development, and which is incorporated in the thyroid hormones thyroxine (also known as T4) and tri-iodothyronine. Nutritionists recommend that males and females consume at least 150 micrograms of iodine per day, with pregnant women requiring at least 220 micrograms per day. Humans derive most of their iodine from foods which have been grown in the ground, or from iodine-fortified table salt or dairy products. The iodine content of milk is largely the result of fortification of animal’s food with iodine to prevent infection. Milk iodine content is further enhanced if iodophor solutions are used on the cow’s udders and milking equipment, again to prevent infection. The iodine content of milk has been shown to vary according to season and also by geographical location.

In evaluating whether the dairy product debate holds any water when it comes to acne, it is worthwhile remembering that humans are biologically expected to be weaned during the first year of their life. In addition, milk from a cow is not really a “natural” food for humans – any more than milk from a human would be natural nourishment for a baby calf.

Regardless of whether you believe that it is the hormonal content of milk, or the iodine content of milk that is responsible for increased risk of acne during the teenage years, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that if you restrict your dairy intake, your skin could improve. The old saying “it won’t happen over night, but it will happen” is true in this case. You will probably need to persist with your dairy-free diet for at least six months to objectively assess whether dairy products have been contributing to your acne problem.