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Research suggests that certain foods may contribute to acne. This could be due to their effects on inflammation or specific hormones that affect the development of acne.

Acne is a common skin condition that affects nearly 10% of the world’s population (1).

Many factors contribute to the development of acne, including sebum and keratin production, acne-causing bacteria, hormones, blocked pores, and inflammation (2).

The link between diet and acne has been controversial, but recent research shows that diet can play a significant role in acne development (3).

This article will review 6 foods that can cause acne and discuss why the quality of your diet is important.

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1. Refined grains and sugars

People with acne tend to consume more refined carbohydrates than people with little or no acne (4, 5).

Foods rich in refined carbohydrates include:

• bread, crackers, cereal, or desserts made with white flour
• pasta made with white flour
• white rice and rice noodles
• sodas and other sugar-sweetened beverages
• sweeteners like cane sugar, maple syrup, honey, or agave

One study found that frequent consumption of foods high in sugar or fat was associated with 54% higher odds of having acne, while sugary beverages were linked to 18% higher odds (6).

This increased risk may be explained by the effects refined carbohydrates have on blood sugar and insulin levels.

Refined carbohydrates are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream, which rapidly raises blood sugar levels. When blood sugars rise, insulin levels also rise to help shuttle the blood sugars out of the bloodstream and into your cells (7).

However, high levels of insulin may be linked with several negative outcomes, including diabetes, heart disease, and acne (8, 9).

Insulin makes androgen hormones more active and increases insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). This contributes to acne development by making skin cells grow more quickly and by boosting sebum production (10, 11).

On the other hand, low glycemic diets, which do not dramatically raise blood sugars or insulin levels, are associated with reduced acne severity, according to some older studies (12, 13, 14).

While the research on this topic is promising, more is needed to further understand how refined carbohydrates contribute to acne.

Eating lots of refined carbohydrates may increase blood sugar and insulin levels and contribute to the development of acne. However, more research is needed.

2. Dairy products

Many studies have found a link between milk products and acne severity in teenagers (15).

Two studies also found that young adults who regularly consumed milk or ice cream were four times more likely to have acne (16, 17).

However, the studies conducted so far have not been high quality.

The research to date has focused mainly on teenagers and young adults and has only shown a correlation between milk and acne, not a cause and effect relationship.

It is not yet clear how milk may contribute to the formation of acne, but there are several proposed theories.

Some studies suggest that dairy products may increase insulin levels, which could worsen acne severity. However, other research has turned up mixed results (18, 19, 20).

Cow’s milk also contains amino acids that stimulate the liver to produce more IGF-1, which has been linked to the development of acne (21, 22, 23).

Although there is speculation on why drinking milk may worsen acne, it is unclear whether dairy plays a direct role. More research is needed to determine if there is a specific amount or type of dairy that may aggravate acne.

Frequently consuming dairy products is linked to increased acne severity, but it is uncertain whether there is a cause and effect relationship.

3. Fast food

Acne is strongly associated with eating a Western-style diet rich in calories, fat, and refined carbohydrates (24).

Fast food items, such as burgers, nuggets, hot dogs, French fries, sodas, and milkshakes, are mainstays of a typical Western diet and may increase acne risk.

One 2010 study in over 5,000 Chinese teenagers and young adults found that high fat diets were associated with a 43% increased risk of developing acne. Regularly eating fried food increased the risk by 17% (25).

Another older study in 2,300 Turkish men found that frequently eating burgers or sausages was linked to a 24% increased risk of developing acne (26).

It is unclear why eating fast food may increase the risk of developing acne, but some researchers propose that it may affect gene expression and alter hormone levels in a way that promotes acne development (27, 28, 29).

However, it is important to note that most of the research on fast food and acne has used self-reported data. This type of research only shows patterns of dietary habits and acne risk and does not prove that fast food causes acne. Thus, more research is needed.

Regularly eating fast food has been correlated with an increased risk of developing acne, but it is not clear whether it causes acne.

4. Chocolate

Chocolate has been a suspected acne trigger since the 1920s, but so far, no consensus has been reached (30).

Several informal surveys have linked eating chocolate with an increased risk of developing acne, but this is not enough to prove that chocolate causes acne (31, 32).

One study found that acne-prone males who consumed 25 grams of 99% dark chocolate daily had an increased number of acne lesions after just 2 weeks (33).

Another 2014 study found that males who were given capsules of 100% cocoa powder daily had significantly more acne lesions after 1 week compared to those given a placebo (34).

Exactly why chocolate might increase acne is unclear, although one study found that eating chocolate promoted skin peeling in the outermost layer of skin and increased bacterial colonization, which could contribute to acne (35).

While recent research supports a link between chocolate consumption and acne, it remains unclear whether chocolate actually causes acne.

Emerging research supports a link between eating chocolate and developing acne, but the reasons why and strength of the relationship remain unclear.

5. Whey protein powder

Whey protein is a popular dietary supplement (36).

It is a rich source of the amino acids leucine and glutamine. According to some older research, these amino acids make skin cells grow and divide more quickly, which may contribute to the formation of acne (37, 38).

The amino acids in whey protein can also stimulate the body to produce higher levels of insulin and IGF-1, which has been linked to the development of acne (39, 40).

Several older case studies have reported a link between whey protein consumption and acne in male athletes (41, 42, 43).

Another 2013 study found a direct correlation between acne severity and the number of days on whey protein supplements (44).

These studies support a link between whey protein and acne, but much more research is needed to determine whether whey protein causes acne.

A small amount of data suggests a link between taking whey protein powder and developing acne, but more high quality, recent research is needed.

6. Foods you’re sensitive to

Acne is considered an inflammatory disorder (2, 45).

One way that food may contribute to inflammation is through food sensitivities, also known as delayed hypersensitivity reactions (46).

Food sensitivities occur when your immune system mistakenly identifies food as a threat and launches an immune attack against it (46).

This results in high levels of pro-inflammatory molecules circulating throughout the body, which could theoretically worsen acne (46).

However, while there appears to be a link between inflammation and acne, no studies have directly investigated the specific role of food sensitivities in its development.

Completing an elimination diet under the supervision of a registered dietitian or nutrition specialist may help you determine if you’re sensitive to any specific foods.

Elimination diets work by temporarily restricting the number of foods in your diet in order to eliminate triggers and achieve symptom relief, then systematically adding foods back while tracking your symptoms and looking for patterns.

While more research is needed, this remains a promising area of research to help better understand how food, the immune system, and inflammation affect acne development.

Food sensitivity reactions can increase the amount of inflammation in the body, which theoretically may worsen acne. However, no studies to date have been conducted on the topic.

What to eat instead

While the foods discussed above may contribute to the development of acne, there are other foods and nutrients that may help keep your skin clear. These include:

• Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3s are anti-inflammatory, and regular consumption has been linked to a reduced risk of developing acne in some older studies (47, 48, 49).
• Probiotics: Probiotics promote a healthy gut and balanced microbiome, which is linked to reduced inflammation and a lower risk of acne development. More research is needed to determine which strains may be most beneficial (50, 51).
• Green tea: Green tea contains polyphenols that are associated with reduced inflammation and lowered sebum production. Green tea extracts have been found to reduce acne severity when applied to the skin (52, 53).
• Turmeric: Turmeric contains the anti-inflammatory polyphenol curcumin, which can help regulate blood
  sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, and inhibit the growth of acne-causing bacteria, which may reduce acne (54, 55).
• Vitamins A, D, E, and zinc: These nutrients play crucial roles in skin and immune health and may help prevent acne (56, 57, 58, 59).
• Paleolithic-style diets: Paleo diets are rich in lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and nuts and low in grains, dairy, and legumes. They have been associated with lower insulin levels, which could be benefit acne (60).
• Mediterranean-style diets: A Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grain, legumes, fish, and olive oil and low in dairy and saturated fats. It has also been linked to reduced acne severity (61).

Consuming a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, green tea, fruits, and vegetables may be protective against the development of acne. Vitamins A, D, and E, as well as zinc, may also help prevent acne.

The bottom line

While research has linked certain foods to an increased risk of developing acne, it is important to keep the bigger picture in mind.

Overall dietary patterns are likely to have a larger impact on skin health than eating — or not eating — any one particular food.

It is probably not necessary to completely avoid all the foods that have been linked to acne but rather consume them in balance with the other nutrient-dense foods discussed above.

The research on diet and acne is not strong enough to make specific dietary recommendations at this time, but future research is promising.

In the meantime, it may be beneficial to keep a food log to look for patterns between the foods you are eating and the health of your skin.

You can also work with a registered dietitian for more personalized advice.