Is dairy causing your acne?

Acne is one of our most asked about skin concerns so we’ve been delving deeper to try and find you some answers. SkinBase treatments are fantastic for treating acne but as skin specialists, we know that to really put a stop to your acne you need to try and identify what is causing it. One of the main potential causes of acne is dairy. Here, we assess how dairy can contribute to the occurrence of acne. Does dairy cause acne? You may love eating ice cream, cheese and yoghurt but is your favourite food causing your blemished complexion? While dairy is a great source of calcium which is required by your body for building strong, healthy bones, there is a significant link between the formation of acne and consuming dairy products. So, how is there a link between the two? Milk contains a growth hormone called IGF-1 which contributes towards inflammation. This results in your acne looking red and angry. Dairy products produce a spike in insulin levels which causes the liver to make even more IGF-1, resulting in even more blemishes. Dairy products cause your skin to produce more sebum, resulting in clogged pores and more spots. Dairy products make the dead skin cells inside your pores bind together so that they can be naturally eliminated. This leads to clogged pores and acne. How can you improve your skin? If you believe that dairy products are causing your blemishes, the first step would be to eliminate dairy products from…

Acne is one of our most asked about skin concerns so we’ve been delving deeper to try and find you some answers. SkinBase treatments are fantastic for treating acne but as skin specialists, we know that to really put a stop to your acne you need to try and identify what is causing it. One of the main potential causes of acne is dairy. Here, we assess how dairy can contribute to the occurrence of acne.

Does dairy cause acne?

You may love eating ice cream, cheese and yoghurt but is your favourite food causing your blemished complexion? While dairy is a great source of calcium which is required by your body for building strong, healthy bones, there is a significant link between the formation of acne and consuming dairy products.

So, how is there a link between the two?

  • Milk contains a growth hormone called IGF-1 which contributes towards inflammation. This results in your acne looking red and angry.
  • Dairy products produce a spike in insulin levels which causes the liver to make even more IGF-1, resulting in even more blemishes.
  • Dairy products cause your skin to produce more sebum, resulting in clogged pores and more spots.
  • Dairy products make the dead skin cells inside your pores bind together so that they can be naturally eliminated. This leads to clogged pores and acne.

How can you improve your skin?

If you believe that dairy products are causing your blemishes, the first step would be to eliminate dairy products from your diet for a month. If you can’t cut out dairy completely, reduce your dairy consumption instead to see if that makes a difference. If you fail to see an improvement, it may be likely that another cause is responsible for your acne. Either way, improving your overall diet can be highly beneficial for your complexion.

Microdermabrasion

If you have eliminated dairy and found your skin improving as a result, this is a great time to invest in a course of microdermabrasion to draw out impurities and get your skin back on track.

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