Does chocolate and milk cause acne? Is makeup a pimple trigger? Our dermatologist Dr Anahita Ghorbani sets the facts straight and debunks some old myths.
Chocolate causes acne – true or false?
FALSE
Some studies have linked particular foods and diets to acne, however the link is still unclear and too controversial for it to be true. What has been proposed is that food with high glycemic index, like refined sugar in acne, can contribute to acne because it causes a rise in blood sugar that can lead to inflammation.
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Milk causes acne – true or false?
MAYBE
Intake of cow's milk has been linked to increased acne in a few studies, but it's still unclear why and more research is needed to know for sure. One theory is that some of the hormones in milk cause inflammation inside the body leading to acne.
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Makeup causes acne – true or false?
TRUE
Makeup is however rarely the main cause of acne breakouts. But makeup that contains oil can increase oiliness of the skin and worsen acne. Therefore it's important to always wash off makeup before going to bed.
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Dirty pillowcases cause acne – true or false?
TRUE
Acne is mainly caused by hormones and genetics. Less often it´s the result of material or objects touching your skin, called acne mechanica. When your pillowcase isn’t laundered or changed regularly, a build-up of dirt and oil from your skin and hair touching the pillow is transferred back to your skin. This can clog pores and cause blemishes.
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Unwashed makeup brushes cause acne?
TRUE
Just like dirty pillowcases never are the main cause of acne, neither are dirty makeup tools. However, if you´re prone to acne, make sure that everything that touches your skin is not aggravating it by transferring oils and bacteria on to it.
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Being in the sun will make acne go away – true or false?
FALSE
Sunlight may either improve or worsen acne, but there's no conclusive evidence that prolonged exposure to sunlight or using sunbeds (!) can improve acne. Most importantly ultraviolet exposure ages the skin and can cause skin cancer, therefore it should never be used as a treatment for acne. Additionally, pigmentation marks after acne may become more prominent and take longer time to fade, if you expose skin to the sun without protection.
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