Chocolate is awesome. It’s a food that’s not just a staple in most households not just in America, but is loved all over the world.
However, while chocolate may be close to perfect, there are some downsides to eating it. One of the rumors out there by some people is that chocolate causes acne.
So does chocolate cause acne or is that just a bad rumor started by Big Vanilla to try to get people to eat less chocolate? Let’s look at the science and find out.
Does Chocolate Cause Acne?
No, chocolate does not necessarily cause acne. Despite what a lot of people say, chocolate is not to blame for acne.
Or rather, the cocoa beans itself does not cause acne. (As we all know, cocoa beans are where chocolate originates from. It is the main ingredient of most chocolate bars.)
In fact, there are no studies or evidence that cocoa beans can cause acne. However, other ingredients of chocolate may result in your acne, if you happen to get it, after eating a chocolate bar.
High Glycemic Foods and Acne
There are studies that suggest that high glycemic index foods (or foods that are high in refined carbs and sugar) can cause acne. That is especially true if your skin is acne-prone.
Eating high glycemic foods can cause a spike in blood sugar. This is where your body will react by producing more insulin, insulin-like growth factor, and hormones known as androgens.
And these androgens then stimulate the production of sebum. Sebum is an oily substance that is secreted by sebaceous glands.
Thes glands help keep the skin moist. However, if too much sebum is produced and it mixes with the dead skins in your body and gets trapped in pores, then it may cause acne. It may cause acne such as blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples.
What Foods Cause Acne?
Rather than pure chocolate or cocoa, foods that are high in refined sugar are the cause of acne. Other unhealthy foods and beverages can also cause acne such as french fries, soda, and potato chips.
Dairy products and foods high in carbs can cause acne too.
However, certain studies point out that even unsweetened cocoa may cause acne.
A study from 2014 suggests that pure unsweetened powder and gelatin powder or a combination of 2 can cause acne. In that study, 14 acne-prone men took capsules that consist of 100 percent unsweetened cocoa, gelatin, or a mixture of both. The study has found that unsweetened cocoa can cause acne.
But aside from foods such as chocolates, there are more causes of acne.
In fact, food is not the primary cause of acne. The main causes of acne include hormones and bacteria.
That is the reason why acne is more common during puberty. Acne can also be inherited from parents.
For example, if one or both of your parents had acne, then chances are, you will get it too.
There you have it. There is little proof that chocolate is a cause of acne and it may vary case by case per individual. Concrete evidence that ties cocoa beans to acne doesn’t exist as of this writing. But be sure to check the other ingredients on the label that may cause acne such as caffeine and theobromine.
To learn more skin tips, read our article on Acne Treatments That Really Work.
