In general, dairy may contribute to inflammation in the body, which may lead to clogged pores. One theory is that cow's milk contains certain hormones called androgens that may be inflammatory. Androgens can stimulate androgen receptors in your body's cells. This may then trigger those cells to produce more sebum oil.
But consuming dairy milk has been strongly linked to high rates of topical acne. Applying milk to your acne may clog your pores or irritate your acne-prone areas in the long run.
Acne has many causes, and every person's skin is different. But there's significant evidence to support the idea that dairy can irritate or cause acne for some people.
How dairy can affect your skin. One of the most common skin concerns that dairy has been linked to is acne. Often, dermatologists suggest that their patients first ditch dairy for a few weeks and then start on any other medication to be able to decide if their chronic acne is being caused due to their diet.
For certain people, when they get too much dairy for their body to digest, it may come out in the form of cystic acne (hard, painful bumps under the skin) on the chin and jaw line area.
Cow's milk may lead to acne breakouts
While cow's milk (but not milkshakes) is a low-glycemic beverage, some studies suggest that drinking this type of milk may be linked to an increase in acne breakouts. In these studies, all types of cow's milk (whole, low-fat, and skim) have been linked to acne.
Getting rid of foods like milk, cheese, and ice cream is a great way to give your skin a boost, Sarika Snell, a dermatologist in Washington DC told INSIDER. "Cutting dairy improves skin texture, skin tone, and acne," she said. The biggest irritant of the dairy food group, though, is skim milk, Snell said.
Dairy products
Milk, butter, cheese and milk chocolate contain high levels of hormones which can lead to an increased production of oil and blocked pores. What to blocked pores leads to? Large pores!
Milk contains lactic acid that deep cleanses pores and removes acne-causing bacteria that get accumulated on the surface of the skin during the day. Using milk to cleanse the skin or as a face mask can help treat acne as well as reduce inflammation associated with pimples to give you clear and smooth skin.
Almond, cashew or any other nut-based milk is a much safer alternative to cow's milk. For starters, they're not loaded with sebum-producing hormones.
“You might see acne flares one to two days after you ingest a trigger food like dairy,” Marmur said.
More oil on your skin increases the risk of clogged pores. But lots of other things can lead to enlarged pores, including age, skin products, hair follicles and sun damage. So enlarged pores don't always lead to clogged pores.
Egg whites are an excellent solution for minimising open pores on the face. It is useful for skin tightening and also helps you to even your skin tone and to get rid of large open skin pores. It also helps in shrinking the large pores by removing too much oil or sebum from the skin.
Dairy products are mucus-forming and the protein in dairy has been found to increase inflammation in vital parts of the body such as the thyroid gland and digestive tract. Since cutting dairy, I've noticed improvements in my metabolism and energy levels — which can both be linked to thyroid health.
Based on what she's seen in her own clinic, Dr. Kassouf said, “you have to commit to at least three months and maybe closer to six to really see a positive benefit.” Still, keeping your skin acne-free may require more than a diet change, said Dr.
One theory is that cow's milk contains certain hormones called androgens that may be inflammatory. Androgens can stimulate androgen receptors in your body's cells. This may then trigger those cells to produce more sebum oil. Extra sebum oil may then combine with dead skin cells to trigger breakouts.