Is dairy driving your acne?

Care for a cheese board? A few scoops of whey protein in your post work out smoothie? Some cow’s milk in your coffee? Unfortunately consuming these throughout your weekly diet could be contributing to your breakouts.

So, what is it about dairy, that is so creamy, delicious and one of the pillars of the western diet can be burdening your skin?

Dairy consumption has been found to increase something called Insulin-like growth factor (IGF). When IGF is released, it stimulates inflammation within the skin cells and sebum (oil) production from the sebaceous glands, not to mention plays a role in androgen synthesis and blood sugar changes.

Various studies have confirmed this link between dairy consumption and acne. One study showed elevated blood levels of IGF in adult women correlated with higher number of acne lesions as well as an increased rate of oil production. Another huge study with 4,273 boys and 6,094 girls aged 9–15 years, showed a significant correlation between the consumption of milk and acne. Interestingly, another study reported not a single acne case among the 1200 Kitavan inhabitants of Papua New Guinea who do not consume dairy products.

Of course, there can be many other driving factors to acne besides consumption of dairy alone (this is my job to identify these other factors), however it is one of the key things I ask my patients with acne to eliminate for at least 3 months if they wish to get results. Don’t worry there are plenty of other foods I ask you to eat more of that can actually help improve your skin and ability to detox. Food as medicine is key.

Reach out if you wish to learn more!