It has been suggested that unknown dairy allergies contribute to acne.
I recently had to omit dairy from my diet since my daughter has a dairy allergy and I'm still nursing. In the month that I've taken out dairy my face has gotten much clearer. I've also noticed that times when I cheat and have a tiny bit of dairy or knowingly eat "hidden" dairy that my face tends to break out more.
It's just a suggestion for everyone that's experiencing acne to consider. Try taking dairy out for a month and see what happens!! If you're sensitive to it like me you'll have to omit all dairy and not just stop drinking milk/eating cheese. Good luck!
Dairy consumption has been positively linked to acne for many teenagers and adults. There have been numerous studies proving this association, including a portion of the landmark Nurses Health Study involving 47,355 women in 1998. Unfortunately, the reasons behind this milk-acne connection are much less concrete.
Regardless, the facts are that thousands of people have given up dairy foods only to have their acne magically disappear. The results these people have seen speak for themselves and they need no particular explanation. For those of you who are still hesitant on the trial and error method, here are a few different theories behind their success:
Milk Allergies - Like eczema, acne is an inflammatory skin condition, and can be a byproduct of food allergies. In fact, it is believed that food allergies, particularly dairy and gluten, are the top aggravator of acne. Since acne does take time to come and go, and many food allergy reactions are delayed, about two weeks off of a suspect food is typically required to begin noticing results.
__________________ Stacey-28 & John-31 Married October 15, 2004 Dx 12/03
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Thanks for the information. Cutting out dairy products is one thing that I haven't tried to get rid of acne... I had heard that there may be a link but never eating my beloved cheese again was just too difficult to imagine! hehe... but after reading your post I have not eaten daily in 2 days and am hoping to go a month before deciding if this may or may not be my problem.
I stay away from more than just milk and cheese. No yogurt, ice cream, buttermilk as well as whey, casein, and lactate in any form. It's hard sometimes b/c so much has dairy in it, even bread.
www.godairyfree.org is a nice place to check out recipes. TONS of desserts!!
__________________ Stacey-28 & John-31 Married October 15, 2004 Dx 12/03
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Wow, I wish I would have known this sooner. I've always had acne, but it got WAY worse after I had DS (in September) I had to give up dairy (because he can't have it and I'm breastfeeding) but I did this right around the time I got on prescription medicine for the acne. Now I don't really know if it's the medicine or the dairy that's helping my skin!
__________________ Andrea (22) DH(25)
Married 1/5/08
BFP 2/6/08!!
Due Date: 10/5/08
James Robert born 9/22/08 IUGR: 4lbs 15ounces 17in.
BFP July 2009!
Due Date: 4/17/09
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I totally agree and most people think I am crazy when I'd say I can't have dairy if I want clearer skin. Right now that's a moot point since acupuncturist said no dairy b/c it's dampening and PCOSers shouldn't have that, but here is what happened to me a few years ago.
I went to the derm to get my skin under control. at the time I wasn't TTC so she gave me spironolactone (best stuff ever!) and between gentle cleansers and stuff, that, and BCP my skin was soooooo clear for the first time in probably 10 years. That lasted a month or two and I started Weight Watchers to drop some weight before my wedding.
I never ate a ton of dairy before that, but some, but with WW they make you eat A LOT more dairy than I was used to and so I started consuming much more dairy than ever. My skin went CRAZY. I couldn't understand how I went from clear skin to that so I called my derm (after doing some research) and she basically said, yup, lay off the dairy. That they were just beginning to discover a huge link between dairy and acne.
I also just read in the Fertility Diet that when they make low fat or fat free dairy they take away the hormones that those of us with PCOS don't have enough off, leaving just the "male" hormones in the dairy. SO if you HAVE to eat dairy, it's actually better to consume whole dairy products, even though those will contribute some to acne as well.
__________________ ~Jenny~ TTC#1 since April 2008 3 rounds of Clomid + Metformin Now doing traditional chinese medicine (acupuncture, herbs, diet) + Metformin
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__________________ ~Jenny~ TTC#1 since April 2008 3 rounds of Clomid + Metformin Now doing traditional chinese medicine (acupuncture, herbs, diet) + Metformin
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I also just read in the Fertility Diet that when they make low fat or fat free dairy they take away the hormones that those of us with PCOS don't have enough off, leaving just the "male" hormones in the dairy. SO if you HAVE to eat dairy, it's actually better to consume whole dairy products, even though those will contribute some to acne as well.
That makes so much sense! I was eating a lot of dairy and of course, in my attempts to lose weight I was eating reduced fat/fat free dairy and my skin was HORRIBLE. Since going completely dairy free my skin has improved dramatically.
I have a friend who is experiencing infertility. She exhibits a lot of symptoms of PCOS but the drs can't figure out exactly what the problem is. They say endo, then PCOS, then oddly shaped uterus, then they just don't know. She mentioned that she hates RF/FF dairy and only eats whole, so I'll mention that she's on the right track with this one. She's REALLY depressed these days since our little group of four has a 2.5, 1.5, and 8 month old (all born within two weeks of each other, one after another over three years). Sadly she couldn't continue the trend and that just makes her CRAZY. I completely understand and it would make me crazy too!! I wish there was something i could do to help her ...
...but at least I can help y'all with acne!!
__________________ Stacey-28 & John-31 Married October 15, 2004 Dx 12/03
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This really does work. It's the milk protein that does the damage. At least that is what my derm told me. If you have acne problems, definitely give this a try. It is hard at first, but once you get in the groove it is a-ok.
well I tried it... as hard as it was to give up cheese and yogurt... and for the two weeks or so, I could hardly stand it, I was getting so excited... no new pimples... and then.... as if it were too easy of a solution... they returned. I have been off all dairy for well over a month but have still gotten a handful of nice cysts.. I was actually wishing that it were just a simple dairy allergy... add this one to my list of acne fighting strategies that just didnt' work for me!
Acne + Dairy Allergy 
