A Top Dermatologist Explains The Link Between Skim Milk and Acne

Could your morning cereal be causing you to break out? Turns out, if you’re using skim milk, it just may be! In a recent study published by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, scientists found a link between skim milk and acne in teenagers. To find out more about this hidden cause of acne, we chatted with board-certified dermatologist, and Skincare.com expert, Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali.

When we asked Dr. Bhanusali about the causes of acne that weren’t the givens—read: hormonal fluctuations due to puberty, periods, and pregnancy—he let us in on three hidden causes:

1. Going to sleep without taking off your makeup—Okay, you got us there. Ladies, never forget to take off your glam before hitting the hay!
2. Over-exfoliating your face—Stop stripping away that moisture, folks! “I have patients who use exfoliating brushes two to three times a day, plus exfoliating cleansers and harsh toners,” he says. “They usually present with ‘acne for the first time in years.’ What happens is, by over-exfoliating, they strip the good oils off of the face. The body then over-compensates by secreting more oils, which can plug pores and lead to breakouts. Remember less is more with exfoliating!”
3. Drinking skim milk—Say, what?

“Studies show that skim milk may cause acne more than other forms,” he explains. In fact, that link between pimples and skim milk wasn’t found in teenagers consuming the milk of the whole variety. Of the 225 participants—ages 14 to 19 years with either moderate acne or no acne—it was found that the teens that had higher consumptions of skim milk also had higher instances of acne.

Worried that other parts of your diet may be causing you to break out? Dr. Bhanusali says you may want to watch your processed sugar intake. “Recent literature has supported that diets with low-glycemic indexes tend to have less acne than higher counterparts,” he says. If you’re concerned with breaking out, maintain a healthy diet that is low in sugar and includes plenty of vegetables.

While more research needs to be done to make a direct correlation between sipping on skim and breaking out, if you want to keep the breakouts away it’s best to follow a good skin care routine. We share our favorites for acne-prone skin, here.