Dairy milk and acne

Posted on Tue, 19 Jul 11

For some time diet has been ignored as a contributor to acne but emerging evidence suggests it plays an important role. At centre stage of the dietary acne offenders are dairy products and milk.

Simply, dairy milks purpose in nature is to promote the rapid growth of baby cows. To this end milk is naturally rich in hormones and growth promoters which stimulate cell development.

In humans dairy milk has a similar effect which may not be without negative health consequences including hormonal and cellular events in the skin linked to acne. This may include rapid cell growth which clogs the skins pores causing infection, inflammation and spotty complexion (1).

Studies link milk to acne

A large study of more than 47,000 women found that those who had reported severe acne as teenagers also had the highest level of milk consumption compared to people who rarely drank milk (2). Interestingly skim milk was a particularly strong promoter of acne (44% greater risk) which may be related to its greater potential to stimulate cell growth (3).

The same link between milk and acne was also found in subsequent large scale studies in 9-15 year old children (4-5).  Boys and girls were 16% and 20% more likely to experience severe acne if they consumed 2 or more servings of milk a day.

The clear skin diet

Dermatologist Dr William Danby suggests that avoidance of all dairy products is an essential part of acne therapy; “the list includes cheese, butter, ice cream, cottage cheese, cream cheese, cream and all forms of fluid milk, dried milk, organic milk, Lactaid milk, and whey protein– based powdered supplements.”

You could simply avoid all dairy or substitute the foods you miss with dairy free alternatives such as those made from soy, rice, nuts or other sources says Dr Danby.

Sources:

1. Melnik BC. Evidence for acne-promoting effects of milk and other insulinotropic dairy products. Nestle Nutr Workshop Ser Pediatr Program. 2011;67:131-45.

2. Adebamowo CA, et al. High  school dietary dairy intake and teenage acne. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Feb;52(2):207-14.

3. Hoyt G, Hickey MS, Cordain L. Dissociation of the glycaemic and insulinaemic responses to whole and skimmed milk. Br J Nutr 93(2):175-7 (2005 Feb).

4. Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Berkey CS, Danby FW, Rockett HH, Colditz GA, Willett WC, Holmes MD. Milk consumption and acne in teenaged boys. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 May;58(5):787-93.

5. Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Berkey CS, Danby FW, Rockett HH, Colditz GA, Willett WC, Holmes MD. Milk consumption and acne in adolescent girls. Dermatol Online J. 2006 May 30;12(4):1.

6. Danby FW. Diet and acne. Clin Dermatol. 2008 Jan-Feb;26(1):93-6.