OMG! Does Chocolate Really Cause Acne?

January

OMG! Does Chocolate Really Cause Acne?

Sarah Bellum Says:

Damn, I hate science sometimes.

Contrary to the old wives’ tales that say chocolate is bad for skin, I’ve chosen to believe the prevailing scientific evidence that says diet does NOT contribute to acne. (See our candy post from last Valentines Day). But now a new study says that those old wives may know best after all.

Australian acne study

NPR reports on an Australian research study that evaluated 54 acne patients, ranging in age from 15 to 25. Half of the patients were given a low blood sugar diet while the other half were allowed to feast on Doritos and M&Ms (and other starchy, sugary foods). After 12 weeks, dermatologists evaluated the skin of all the panelists with out knowing which diet they were on (so it was a well blinded study.) Guess what? The patients on the sugary diet had significantly worse skin.

Final proof?

This certainly contradicts what previous studies have shown. So is this proof beyond a shadow of doubt that sugar causes acne? Not quite, the report acknowledged that while this study strongly suggests a causal connection between sugar intake and acne there are other factors to consider as well. For example, the patients overall caloric intake and degree of weight loss were not the same. So there may have been other factors at play here beyond sheer sugar consumption. Still, it makes me think twice before gorging myself on my post-holiday stash of Lake Champlain gourmet chocolates.

The Beauty Brains bottom line

Looks like more research is needed. I hope they hurry up and settle this before Valentines Day!

What do YOU think? Does your skin break out when you indulge your inner chocolate demons? Leave a comment and share your sweetness with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

24 Responses to “OMG! Does Chocolate Really Cause Acne?”

tlk Says:

I have 2 have chocolate at least once a day or someone will die – lol. What triggers my breakouts seems 2 be stress and not taking my makeup off at night more than anything I eat.
Courtney Says:

This is not news to me. I found great success with a diet high in Omega 3’s and moderate in sugar for my adult acne, which I first read about in one of Dr. Perricone’s books. I recommended it to my sister, who has the same problem, and she noticed a difference, too.

I’m not paid by Dr. Perricone, FYI. I still get a breakout here and there from hormones or stress, too, so it’s not perfect.
kage Says:

i generally don’t like chocolate, it makes me feel ill so i tend to avoid it. but recently i was given a box of chocolates and to be nice i have been eating them… maybe it’s just a coincidence but i’m having one of the worst break outs of my life.

i’ve been washing my face as usual, i never leave my make up on too long.
amominred Says:

Confession: I eat too much sugar! But I don’t find that I breakout from it. However, the cheap chocolate can definitely cause a breakout. I typically don’t eat a lot of chocolate but when it is around during the holidays I will and I do notice more breakouts. ick. Also, cheap chocolate triggers migraines so I have to stick to the good stuff…oh darn!
ProductivityGoal Says:

Chocolate does not cause acne but a bad diet can however cause acne

Chocolate can either be a part of a healthy diet or an unhealthy diet it all depends on you and the quantities of fatty/oily foods.

I washed my face and body every day with dial antibacterial soap. I was careful not to use a face cloth or rag on my face. I started using my hands to spread the soap and rinse my face and stopped using a rag on it. I started using a moisturizer at night to prevent the anti-bacterial soap I was using from drying my skin out. I stopped drinking soda pop and added more water to my diet (6 to 8 glasses a day).
Lauri Says:

Like you said in the article, the sugar and starch led to the breakouts, not chocolate. I eat a low sugar, low carb diet, yet consume 85% cocoa bars regularly, at least one a week, and it doesn’t affect my skin. But before, when I consumed milk chocolate without the starches, my skin wasn’t affected.
ava Says:

Why bash chocolate? a little dark chocolate here and there won’t hurt. The people with bad skin ate refined, processed foods loaded with extra sugar and corn syrup.
Amanda Says:

No, chocolate doesn’t make my face break out. But touching my face – ie transferring dirt – certainly does!
Kilkerran Says:

Well, for one thing I’ve been on sugar and carbs all my life and it hadn’t been affecting me until recently. My sisters basically live on sugar and starch but it doesn’t affect neither of them. Why am I the only one that breaks out crazy? I started changing my diet, eating fruits and vegetables, cut down meat a little bit, been restricting myself from chocolate and been drinking water everyday. What’s wrong?
Left Brain Says:

@Kilkerran. If you had been on sugar and carbs all your life, why would you conclude that it is what is making you break out now? It’s more likely some other factor. Your best bet is to see a dermatologist. They’ll be able to tell better than anyone else.

good luck.
Mousumi Says:

Chocolate is the best thing in dee world. I really don’t think it is the cause for acne. I guess it just has an effect when not eating properly or something. That is what I say. Chocolate is just too sweet to be bad.
tylerr Says:

chocolate is a major culperate in the cause of acne.
There is a type of wax in all chocolate(not coco) that causes the chocolate to harden. When you consume wax, your skin, mainly cheeks, begin to produce clogged pores. This is why chocolate tends to make your skin break out. Drinking water helps too.
Hope this helped.
Hurs Says:

Hey guys, think the best thing to do is to all go on a healthy food diet!

I find that 2 letres of water a day works a treat!! and my skin glows when i can be bothered to eat fruit so every1; as of monday the 24th of Nov (sundays my b’day so ill be eating alot of choc cake)we should all try 3 weeks solid of drinking 2 letres of water per day, at least 4 pieces of fruit, AND NO CHOCOLATE!! DEAL??

Everyone come back on after the 3 weeks have elapsed an see if it works. I bet u it does!!

Im betting by about thursday will be the most peoples relapse day (thats usually mine) because being a poor student i run out of food to take to uni so i tend to increase cadbury’s vending machine profits 2fold!! But stay strong!

Hurs x
Best of the Beauty Brains 2008 | The Beauty Brains Says:

[...] What’s the difference between alpha & beta hydroxyl acid? 2. Does chocolate really cause acne? 3. What should a 20-something do about aging skin? 4. Are silk pillowcases good for your skin? 5. [...]
Sara Says:

Yeah!
A BAD ( unhealthy ) diet causes acne. taking care for your skin comes from the inside not the outside.
jessica Says:

I never touch chocolate, mainly because of this and it is too heavy on sugar…end result–> making you blow up.
stress acne | The Beauty Brains Says:

[...] Of course heredity is important. Hormonal swings and medication changes are potential factors. Diet may also play a factor, but the jury is still out on that one. And now, according to one dermatologist, we may have [...]
Is Stress Acne Caused By The Recession? | 1800blogger Says:

[...] Of course heredity is important. Hormonal swings and medication changes are potential factors. Diet may also play a factor, but the jury is still out on that one. And now, according to one dermatologist, we may have [...]
Is Stress Acne Caused By The Recession? | Beauty Secrets Blog Says:

[...] Of course heredity is important. Hormonal swings and medication changes are potential factors. Diet may also play a factor, but the jury is still out on that one. And now, according to one dermatologist, we may have [...]
Is Stress Acne Caused By The Recession? - Beauty - Salons.com Says:

[...] Of course heredity is important. Hormonal swings and medication changes are potential factors. Diet may also play a factor, but the jury is still out on that one. And now, according to one dermatologist, we may have [...]
ashley Says:

i very rarly ever eat chocolate, and i get break outs all the time!! it is just touching you face when your hands are dirty and it also has to do with being lazy and not washing your face!! not choco;ate..
Geena Murphy Says:

I must say great article and well thought of as some acne articles are the same but this was a good solid read!
prom beauty | The Beauty Brains Says:

[...] sugar or fatty foods really cause acne? It seems scientists just can’t make up their [...]
Nate Says:

I’m a guy and I don’t wear make up and I do wash my face frequently…although everytime I eat chocolate I always get an acne out break. The main two things that give me acne are chocolate and nuts, don’t know why, but thats the way it is. The best cure for this is to drink atleast 6 liters of water every day for three consecutive days, it works like magic.