The Link Between Dairy and Acne

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe LinkPotential CausesAvoiding DairyTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

The Link

Potential Causes

Avoiding Dairy

Treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

Some healthcare providers believe that what we eat may indeed affect our skin and makeacneworse, and evidence is mounting that points a finger at something you probably think of as good for you: milk. Studies suggest that milk drinkers develop more severe acne than non-milk drinkers.

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Is There a Link?

Not all experts and studies agree that milk is involved in acne, though, and not everyone who drinks a lot of milk breaks out in pimples, of course. Some evidence shows that milk causes acne while other studies suggest people who drink more milk tend to have worse acne. Those are associations, though, and not proof.

A meta-analysis of prior studies published in 2019 concluded that total dairy consumption and total milk consumption both were related to the occurrence of acne. That went for milk with any fat content. However, researchers said yogurt and cheese didn’t appear connected to acne at all.

Then there’s a meta-analysis published just a year earlier that concluded all dairy—including yogurt and cheese—was associated with an increased likelihood of acne.

In trying to prove the theory of milk’s involvement in acne, the biggest problem for researchers is an inability to do a double-blind, randomized controlled trial (considered the gold standard in research) because so far no one has come up with an adequate placebo for milk.

So while the association seems clear, much remains to be learned about the link between dairy and acne.

Foods That Could Be Sabotaging Your Skin Health

Beyond whether there’s a link, something researchers have to grapple with is: What effect could milk or other dairy products have on the body that could lead to acne? A few different ideas about possible causes are in play.

Hormones

Some experts think the hormones in milk contribute to pimples. Milk containsandrogen hormones, which have long been associated with the formation of acne breakouts.One particular androgen istestosterone, which is strongly linked to acne development.

Through a complicated chain reaction in your body, testosterone createsdihydrotestosterone(DHT). DHT stimulates thesebaceous glands, creating an oilier skin that is more prone to pore blockages and, ultimately, pimples and acne.

Not Just a Male HormoneTestosterone is most often thought of as a male hormone, but women produce testosterone too, just in lesser amounts.

Not Just a Male Hormone

Testosterone is most often thought of as a male hormone, but women produce testosterone too, just in lesser amounts.

IGF-1 Growth Factor

Many dairy farmers give their cows hormones to make them produce more milk. One such hormone is the IGF-1 growth factor. In the human body, IGF-1 peaks during adolescence, when acne is usually at its worst. Experts believe IGF-1, along with testosterone and DHT, can trigger acne breakouts.

In several studies, high milk consumption was linked to high IGF-1 levels, with skim milk associated with higher IGF-1 levels than whole milk.

The processing of skim milk may explain why it is linked to acne severity more often than whole milk. Whey proteins are added to give skim milk a creamier consistency, and some evidence suggests that these proteins impact acne development.

Hormones and InflammationSome experts believe the hormones in milk may cause inflammation in your body, and systemic inflammation is known to contribute to acne breakouts.

Hormones and Inflammation

Some experts believe the hormones in milk may cause inflammation in your body, and systemic inflammation is known to contribute to acne breakouts.

When to Avoid Dairy

Especially if conventional acne treatments aren’t working for you, it may be worthwhile to start paying close attention to your dairy consumption.

Is Milk Bad for You?

Even if banning milk from your diet seems to improve your acne, it most likely won’t be enough to completely clear your skin. For that, you’ll need an acne medication.Over-the-counter skin productsmight work if your acne is mild. However, most people get the best results fromprescription acne medications.

For severe acne, ask your healthcare provider or skincare professional about procedures such as comedo extractions, chemical peels, and corticosteroid injections.

Prescription Topical Acne Treatments

What foods cause acne?

No one knows for sure if any foods actually cause acne. However, in addition to dairy, foods that are high on the glycemic index are suspected of contributing to acne or making acne more severe in some people. Some research shows that a low-glycemic-index diet lowers IGF-1 levels, which could explain why this diet is effective.

The Glycemic Index of Common Foods

A Word From Verywell

If you’re considering a major dietary change to help with acne or for any other reason, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about how to make the change without compromising your health. Remember that acne is a complicated condition that can be hard to treat, so you may need to do more than make a few dietary adjustments.

If you’re having trouble managing your acne or you feel it has a major impact on your life, bring it up with your healthcare provider. A referral to a specialist or change in treatment may help you clear up your skin and feel better about yourself.

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Aghasi M, Golzarand M, Shab-Bidar S, Aminianfar A, Omidian M, Taheri F.Dairy intake and acne development: A meta-analysis of observational studies.Clin Nutr. 2019;38(3):1067-1075. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.04.015Juhl CR, Bergholdt HKM, Miller IM, Jemec GBE, Kanters JK, Ellervik C.Dairy intake and acne vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 78,529 children, adolescents, and young adults.Nutrients. 2018;10(8):1049. doi:10.3390/nu10081049American Academy of Dermatology Association.Can the right diet get rid of acne?Kucharska A, Szmurło A, Sińska B.Significance of diet in treated and untreated acne vulgaris.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2016;33(2):81–86. doi:10.5114/ada.2016.59146Burris J, Shikany JM, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.A low glycemic index and glycemic load diet decreases insulin-like growth factor-1 among adults with moderate and severe acne: a short-duration, 2-week randomized controlled trial.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2018;118(10):1874-1885. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2018.02.009Zhang X, Chen X, Xu Y, et al.Milk consumption and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in humans.Nutr Metab (Lond). 2021;18(1):7. doi:10.1186/s12986-020-00527-yZamil DH, Perez-Sanchez A, Katta R.Acne related to dietary supplements.Dermatol Online J. 2020;26(8):13030/qt9rp7t2p2.Additional ReadingBurris J, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.Acne: the role of medical nutrition therapy.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013; 113(3):416-30.Burris J, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.Relationships of self-reported dietary factors and perceived acne severity in a cohort of New York young adults.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014; 114(3):384-92.Ferdowsian HR, Levin S.Does diet really affect acne?Skin Therapy Lett. 2010; 15(3):1-2, 5.Melnik BC.Linking diet to acne metabolomics, inflammation, and comedogenesis: an update.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:371-88.

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Aghasi M, Golzarand M, Shab-Bidar S, Aminianfar A, Omidian M, Taheri F.Dairy intake and acne development: A meta-analysis of observational studies.Clin Nutr. 2019;38(3):1067-1075. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.04.015Juhl CR, Bergholdt HKM, Miller IM, Jemec GBE, Kanters JK, Ellervik C.Dairy intake and acne vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 78,529 children, adolescents, and young adults.Nutrients. 2018;10(8):1049. doi:10.3390/nu10081049American Academy of Dermatology Association.Can the right diet get rid of acne?Kucharska A, Szmurło A, Sińska B.Significance of diet in treated and untreated acne vulgaris.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2016;33(2):81–86. doi:10.5114/ada.2016.59146Burris J, Shikany JM, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.A low glycemic index and glycemic load diet decreases insulin-like growth factor-1 among adults with moderate and severe acne: a short-duration, 2-week randomized controlled trial.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2018;118(10):1874-1885. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2018.02.009Zhang X, Chen X, Xu Y, et al.Milk consumption and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in humans.Nutr Metab (Lond). 2021;18(1):7. doi:10.1186/s12986-020-00527-yZamil DH, Perez-Sanchez A, Katta R.Acne related to dietary supplements.Dermatol Online J. 2020;26(8):13030/qt9rp7t2p2.Additional ReadingBurris J, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.Acne: the role of medical nutrition therapy.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013; 113(3):416-30.Burris J, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.Relationships of self-reported dietary factors and perceived acne severity in a cohort of New York young adults.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014; 114(3):384-92.Ferdowsian HR, Levin S.Does diet really affect acne?Skin Therapy Lett. 2010; 15(3):1-2, 5.Melnik BC.Linking diet to acne metabolomics, inflammation, and comedogenesis: an update.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:371-88.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Aghasi M, Golzarand M, Shab-Bidar S, Aminianfar A, Omidian M, Taheri F.Dairy intake and acne development: A meta-analysis of observational studies.Clin Nutr. 2019;38(3):1067-1075. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.04.015Juhl CR, Bergholdt HKM, Miller IM, Jemec GBE, Kanters JK, Ellervik C.Dairy intake and acne vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 78,529 children, adolescents, and young adults.Nutrients. 2018;10(8):1049. doi:10.3390/nu10081049American Academy of Dermatology Association.Can the right diet get rid of acne?Kucharska A, Szmurło A, Sińska B.Significance of diet in treated and untreated acne vulgaris.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2016;33(2):81–86. doi:10.5114/ada.2016.59146Burris J, Shikany JM, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.A low glycemic index and glycemic load diet decreases insulin-like growth factor-1 among adults with moderate and severe acne: a short-duration, 2-week randomized controlled trial.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2018;118(10):1874-1885. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2018.02.009Zhang X, Chen X, Xu Y, et al.Milk consumption and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in humans.Nutr Metab (Lond). 2021;18(1):7. doi:10.1186/s12986-020-00527-yZamil DH, Perez-Sanchez A, Katta R.Acne related to dietary supplements.Dermatol Online J. 2020;26(8):13030/qt9rp7t2p2.

Aghasi M, Golzarand M, Shab-Bidar S, Aminianfar A, Omidian M, Taheri F.Dairy intake and acne development: A meta-analysis of observational studies.Clin Nutr. 2019;38(3):1067-1075. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.04.015

Juhl CR, Bergholdt HKM, Miller IM, Jemec GBE, Kanters JK, Ellervik C.Dairy intake and acne vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 78,529 children, adolescents, and young adults.Nutrients. 2018;10(8):1049. doi:10.3390/nu10081049

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Can the right diet get rid of acne?

Kucharska A, Szmurło A, Sińska B.Significance of diet in treated and untreated acne vulgaris.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2016;33(2):81–86. doi:10.5114/ada.2016.59146

Burris J, Shikany JM, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.A low glycemic index and glycemic load diet decreases insulin-like growth factor-1 among adults with moderate and severe acne: a short-duration, 2-week randomized controlled trial.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2018;118(10):1874-1885. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2018.02.009

Zhang X, Chen X, Xu Y, et al.Milk consumption and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in humans.Nutr Metab (Lond). 2021;18(1):7. doi:10.1186/s12986-020-00527-y

Zamil DH, Perez-Sanchez A, Katta R.Acne related to dietary supplements.Dermatol Online J. 2020;26(8):13030/qt9rp7t2p2.

Burris J, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.Acne: the role of medical nutrition therapy.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013; 113(3):416-30.Burris J, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.Relationships of self-reported dietary factors and perceived acne severity in a cohort of New York young adults.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014; 114(3):384-92.Ferdowsian HR, Levin S.Does diet really affect acne?Skin Therapy Lett. 2010; 15(3):1-2, 5.Melnik BC.Linking diet to acne metabolomics, inflammation, and comedogenesis: an update.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:371-88.

Burris J, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.Acne: the role of medical nutrition therapy.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013; 113(3):416-30.

Burris J, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.Relationships of self-reported dietary factors and perceived acne severity in a cohort of New York young adults.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014; 114(3):384-92.

Ferdowsian HR, Levin S.Does diet really affect acne?Skin Therapy Lett. 2010; 15(3):1-2, 5.

Melnik BC.Linking diet to acne metabolomics, inflammation, and comedogenesis: an update.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:371-88.

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