Can Certain Foods Make You Break Out?

asked 4 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Laura Rosenzweig, MD
Question viewed 15,244 times
Tags: causes, diet

is it a myth that certain foods will cause acne break outs such as chocolate or greasy fastfood?

6 answers to Can Certain Foods Make You Break Out?

Many of my colleagues feel that diet does not affect...

Many of my colleagues feel that diet does not affect acne; well, science says differently. There are studies showing that natives of New Guinea and Paraguay had less acne with a diet rich in fiber and whole grains compared to Americans eating a diet rich in high glycemic index foods. In addition, studies have shown that teenagers eating a diet rich in milk and dairy products (probably due to hormonal by-products) have a higher incidence of acne than those who don’t.

Jeannette Graf, MD
Long Island City Dermatologist

Yes

For years the answer was no. I can recall scene after scene wherein the mother would ask me this question. When I would say, no the teen would vigorously nod and tell him/her mom, I told you so or something to that effect. However, now more and more evidence is surfacing that indeed acne is worsened by the typical high carb, high glycemic diet favored by teenaged Americans. Even back when I as a resident, it was felt that seafood, especially shellfish with its high idodine... more

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Virginia Beach Dermatologist

Of course!

Scientific evidence is mixed in this area. However, if you find that you develop acne after eating certain foods, such as chocolate, then you should eat them sparingly. Also in rosacea, breakouts consisting of pimples, pustules and redness can occur with spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol.

Laura Rosenzweig, MD
Charlotte Dermatologic Surgeon

Usually Food Is Not a Factor, But...

There is great information from the other dermatologists that weighed in. I agree that food is not a major factor. There is good evidence that high carbohydrate diets (High Glycemic) and caffeine can make acne worse in some patients.

Jay S. Gottlieb, DO
Fort Lauderdale Dermatologist

Food and acne

Acne is primarily a hormonal problem. This is usually genetically set and you can't change your parents. Food may play some part, but probably a small part. There are some studies that link acne to skin milk and chocolate, But these studies are extremely difficult to perform and some of the results may be false. I tell all my patients that the best diet for acne is a well balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables. Stress definitely makes acne worse, so make sure to destress on a... more

Gary Goldenberg, MD
New York Dermatologist

Foods that cause acne

The best way to answer this is to say that it is an individual response. Diet, is a controversial, cause of acne and most dermatologists feel that it is not consistent amongst patients. I generally tell my patients that usually diet does not cause acne but if you, the patient, can definitively correlate outbreaks to certain dietary patterns than perhaps it may play a role. In my experience this is rare.

Steven Hacker, MD
West Palm Beach Dermatologic Surgeon

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