While this topic continues to engage a bit of controversy, most medical researchers across the world have confirmed that an increased tendency to develop acne is directly related to regular consumption of milk. Conclusions from most research studies in this niche have concluded that milk intake can raise the ‘incidence’ of having acne.

Most of these studies observing acne development across people of similar age-group and skin-type concluded that the milk-consuming group showed a greater propensity to suffer from acne.

One such study was explained in the annual issue of Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008 where teenage boys regularly drinking milk were found to have greater susceptibility to acne.

In terms of dairy products that have been found to induce acne, cottage cheese, chocolate milk and chocolates have been found to have a detrimental effect on the skin. However, consumption of milk in the pure form seems to raise acne break-out chances to the maximum.

Milk & Acne—the Iodine Connection

A rather unknown culprit is behind milk’s acne-inducing properties, i.e. Iodine. The relation between Iodine and acne has been recorded for nearly four decades. Excessive amount of iodine intake is known to aggravate acne. In many nations, including the US, milk contains an appreciable amount of iodine. This is essentially because cows in such nations are fed with iodine-rich cattle feed. This is actually done to raise the immunity of cattle against common diseases.

Milk & Acne—the Hormonal Connection

The commercial demand for milk means that pregnant cows often have to be injected with chemical compounds that imitate a hormonal action. Traces of these hormonal compounds are often leached into the milk collected from commercial dairy farms.

Secondly, milk itself contains trace amounts of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) precursors. DHT is a metabolite involved in the creation of testosterone hormone among human beings. It is very critical to maintain rather low DHT levels or problems like increased sebum production surface. This is why DHT is often referred to as an acne-genesis compound, i.e. it stimulates acne formation.

Milk & Acne—the IGF Connection

Among the many chemical compounds injected into cows, low doses of chemicals mimicking action of growth hormones are also common which get into milk. Further, milk itself contains natural growth hormones. This is one of the reasons why calves dependent totally upon cow’s milk are able to grow rather quickly. One of the most potent growth factor hormonal compounds found in cow’s milk is IGF-1.

IGF-1 presents serious problems from an acne perspective. Firstly, it raises secretion of sebum. Secondly, it stimulates increased growth of skin cells. Greater cellular growth rate means that new cells are generated faster and older ones are shed even faster. This results in greater accumulation of dead skin cells. More dead skin cells and increased sebum levels together is a disastrous recipe, capable of causing blockage of skin’s pores.

Some people opine that the bovine IGF-1 cannot survive once it enters humans. However, research studies have repeatedly proved that bovine IGF1 and the injected type are capable of surviving digestion to a certain extent. Further, the smallest traces of IGF1 can induce problems once they enter the bloodstream.

Milk & Acne—the Immunity Connection

Many times, people suffer from acne with increased inflammation. Here, the individual might have very few acne but they tend to have a very red, easily-visible appearance. Such inflamed skin has compromised immunity, allowing acne to spread quickly.

Inflammation is essentially the body’s response to any harmful substances that enter it. This includes allergens, chemicals, toxins and bacteria. If the body is faced with a high number of such harmful entities, it develops a greater tendency to get inflamed easily. This can be understood as a state of increased sensitivity due to fighting an overwhelming number of harmful compounds. Unfortunately, milk can act as a comprehensive mixture of all these inflammation-causing agents!

Milk is often found to be contaminated with harmful chemicals like Dioxins, herbicides, antibiotics, pesticides and several types of bacteria. Sometimes, milk procured from diseased cows can even contain pus.

Pasteurization too isn’t always able to kill all the bacteria in milk. This is why some people develop an allergic, digestive problem to milk. This doesn’t refer to lactose intolerance but a generalized inability to digest milk properly. This further stresses the immune system. Lowered immunity levels mean that the skin is less capable of fighting-off the bacteria and free radicals that constantly attack it, making it more vulnerable to acne.

A Tip About Acne Prevention & Treatment

If you are suffering from an acne problem, you need to adopt the best acne solutions. This means combining effective, popular acne treatments along with an acne-prevention diet, i.e. with lesser milk/dairy. When you choose an over-the-counter acne treatment, just remember to choose acne medications that work holistically. This means that the acne treatment should be able to cure the problem and not just temporarily resolve the symptoms.