According to Joy Bauer, the nutrition expert for the Today show, Yahoo.com and SELF magazine and author of Joy Bauer’s Food Cures, “It is entirely possible [dairy foods cause acne breakouts], although not necessarily for the reason you think. Cows are given iodine-fortified feed to help fight infection, and some of it naturally finds its way into the cows’ milk. Iodine can cause acne in some people. Some experts believe that the amount of iodine found in milk — although low — is enough to cause skin problems for some sensitive people.
In addition, the current prevailing thought is that dairy-acne connection may be caused by the hormones in milk. Apparently dairy cows are allowed to become pregnant while they are lactating, and the pregnancy hormones go into the milk.”
According to Dr. Audrey Kunin in The DermaDoctor Skinstruction Manual, “A study done at Colorado State University suggests that the Kitivan Islanders of Papua New Guinea and Ache hunter-gathers of Paraguay, are acne-free. In contrast, in North America and western Europe, 79 to 95 percent of teens struggle with acne, and 40 to 54 percent of adults twenty-five and older still break out. ” Kunin goes out to suggest that diet may in fact play a role in the development of acne.
So how do you know if dairy is causing your acne?
Bauer recommends eliminating all dairy from your diet for one month, including all milk, yogurt, cheese, sour cream and ice cream. If no difference, then dairy is not causing your acne. However, if you do see a difference, then, after the month is over, add two servings of dairy back into your diet for four or five days. If your acne comes back, then dairy is in fact boosting your acne.
One caveat mentioned by Bauer: be sure to get at least 1000 mg of calcium from calcium supplements daily when you take dairy out of your diet!