Finally medical researchers have
affirmed that dairy products do worsen acne. How does milk affect acne and what
are the precautions to be taken? Many of our clients at Skintherapy Skincareand Acne Clinic wonder why it’s so important to cut milk out of their diets. Here
is a great article on why dairy is bad for the acne-prone.
Is milk bad for acne? – Dr. Hanish Babu, MD
As early as 1949, Robinson had
published a study in the South Medical Journal that stated that the majority of
the1925 acne patients in his study that kept a food diary reported that milk
was the commonest food that was associated with their acne flare ups.
His study was relegated to the
background when two studies by Fulton et al (1969) and Anderson (1971) failed
to find any association between acne and chocolates, milk, roasted peanuts and
cola. Both these studies were later discredited because of the small number of
subjects, a shorter duration of follow up and inadequate choice of controls
chosen for comparison.
More recently, Adebamowo and his
colleagues from the Harvard University found positive relationship between milk
consumption and acne eruptions in a survey conducted among 47,335 nurses. Their
study was interesting as it revealed a stronger association with skim milk than
whole milk, indicating that the fat content of milk may not be the reason for
acne flare-ups. Similar observations were made among high school teenagers in
other studies as well.
How Does Milk Affect Acne?
The reason for the negative effects
of milk products on acne is thought to be due to the presence of hormones and
biologically active substances in the diary products. Most of the consumable
milk is produced from pregnant cows; the main reason for high levels of
hormones in milk. Hormonal levels are also high in just delivered cows and cows
treated with bovine growth hormones.
Allergy to milk protein resulting in
an inflammatory reaction and blockage of the hair follicle and sebaceous glands
has also been cited as a contributing factor for worsening of acne following
consumption of milk.
Iodine fortified food is given to the
cows to fight infection and iodine solutions are liberally used to cleanse the
udders and milking equipment in the dairy farms. This may result in higher than
normal levels of iodine content in the milk and other milk products. For acne
sufferers this is bad news, as iodine, iodides and other halides have been
shown to worsen acne eruptions in a number of studies.
It is now clear that milk contains a
number of substances, which act as acne triggers.
Hormones in Milk Responsible for Acne Flare Ups
Milk, especially those from pregnant
cows and just-delivered cows, contains high levels of hormones like progesterone and
precursors of di-hydro-testosterone. Increased levels of these
hormones increase the sebaceous gland activity and the oily sebum output,
resulting in aggravation of acne in teens.
Other hormones present in milk are
also implicated as culprits in worsening of acne. The most frequently involved
hormone is the IGF-1(insulin-like growth factor). This is
present in organic milk and milk from cows treated with bovine growth hormone.
IGF-1 levels are increased in the body in response to increased secretion of
insulin. IGF-1 has a stimulatory effect on the sebum production in the
sebaceous glands, one of the main events in the development of acne.
The effect of IGF-1 in response
to increased insulin levels in the blood is also thought to be
the cause of high incidence of acne following consumption of refined carbohydrates,
the so-called high glycemic index foods. The same mechanism is responsible for
the increased prevalence of acne among women suffering from the polycystic
ovarian syndrome.
It will be interesting if a few
studies are undertaken to see whether milk derived from home grown cows fed on
natural feeds and grass has any adverse effects on the natural course of acne.
As the food-acne relationship is
no more a myth, acne affected teenagers would do well to avoid excessive intake
of diary products and other food items that affect acne.
References:
•
Bowe PW, Joshi SS, Shalita AR. Diet
and acne. J Am Acad Dermatol 2010;63:124-41
•
Robinson HM. The acne problem. South
Med J 1949; 42:1050-60.
•
Adebamowo C, Spiegelman D, Danby F,
Frazier A, Willett W, Holmes M. High school dietary dairy intake and teenage
acne. J Am Acad Dermatol 2005;52:207–14.
For more information about how to get clear skin, go to UtahAcneClinic.com. Our Skin Therapists will also go over other food and supplements to avoid during your consultation.
