OMG! Does Chocolate Really Cause Acne?

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 Valentine’s 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.