Does Chocolate Cause Acne?

What are the effects of dairy products, sugar, and chocolate on pimple formation?

Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM

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[Dannysmith-pn]

I stopped drinking milk and my acne got a lot better.

[LexiePersonForever]

that's my one problem with dr. pimple popper. i love her to bits, but she keeps telling patients in all her videos that diet has no impact on acne, when that's just not true

[TheOnlyFairee]

Wish going vegan, cutting out gluten, sugar, oil, or all processed foods cured my acne. I've tried every diet or skincare routine under the sun, nothing has made it better or worse in any way :(

[Artilectual]

Can I just take a moment to give thanks to Dr. G. He has been such an inspiration, and has helped me learn how to take control over my health. My prayers go out for your prosperity and happiness Doc. You are a great example of what a truly beautiful human is.

[alia-cscr]

I think the chocolate and whey theories are true. I used to be a hardcore chocolate binger (milk chocolate) before going vegan. I could eat a whole chocolate bar in one sitting. My acne was terrible. I still notice that I get pimples sometimes after eating cocoa-heavy meals. Also my face looks best when I eat lots of fruit and get more sun (with reasonable SPF ofc), so during summer.

[janhradecky]

To be continued damn... The suspense is killing me!

[anealin]

I had terrible cystic acne after consuming vegan chocolate last fall. Cocoa oil, I guess. Yesterday I ate it and no bad effect. I really think that food is trigger, but it is different all the time, so the question is what in me chooses the trigger and why...

[Mimijona]

Finally the topic of acne is being addressed apart from just milk consumption!

[rageraiden]

I stopped milk 4 years ago, 2 weeks later I was acne free.

[thefleurette]

Omg that cliffhanger! I’m addicted to chocolate, but I’m trying to cut down.

[noobbrothersgaming]

consuming milk, masturbation, excess stress, excess protein, climatic condition (hot days), genetics, sweet things in excess, consuming excess caffeine , ,, these are the reasons for most of acne and pimple

[akul_cicajlkrb]

One word people "hormones". You can lower the precent of acne by some diet regime, but, something that will work for you not might work for me, people are little bit different in that way. I am 23 year old and have an acne problem all over my back and a little bit over the chest since 15. Now I am using something called "Oranozol shampoo (ketoconazolum)" it is a shampoo for dandruff, but it also works for acne, dermatologist prescribe me this a few month ago, but it is a temporary solution. A lot of people in medical fields told me that only after your hormones got balanced your acne problem will go away to and in every human being is about until 25-30.
Thats what I had been told

[mskittygemma]

Stress can cause acne. I've noticed that I've been more stressed and more depressed for the past month and my acne on my face has appeared.
I do think that chocolate can cause acne depending on the type and the ingredients.
I've noticed that if I consume a high cocoa content chocolate [90% or higher] I get less acne compared to a lower cocoa content.
Don't seem to get more acne if I consume raw cacao nibs

[NataschaO]

My guess is that >70% cocoa chocolate is going to be okay, even beneficial for acne conditions, due to cocoa's anti-inflammatory properties. Milk chocolate will be problematic because of the dairy component. :-D

[ninjanerdstudent]

I am trying to figure out the relationship between food and libido. When I eat whole plant-based food, I am realize how high my libido is. I masturbate about 10 times per day. But as soon as I eat some raw, cold cheese, my libido becomes lower to a point which is tolerable, and I can continue doing my everyday activities. I also like to compare this to a time when I tried a single tablet of xanax about 6 years ago, and my libido was at its lowest point ever; it was basically gone. My libido was virtually indistinguishable. I'm going to continue whole plant-based food and occasionally have some cheese from time to time just so my libido stays right in the middle between these two high and low points. I really wish there was more research showing the relationship between libido and the foods we eat.

[GoustiFruit]

In my experience... nope, chocolate does not cause acne, at least not dark chocolate (no milk).

[cjalford]

My question is regarding the amount of lead and cadmium in cocoa? Is there a high or harmful amount in cocoa powder?

[gewgulkansuhckitt]

One possible complication with regards to chocolate and acne. Lots of people touch their faces. So, if they are eating chocolate and touching their faces, they are getting trace amounts of that on their face. My point is that suppose you DID find a strong correlation between eating chocolate and acne, it might actually be a result of face touching, not ingestion.

[andongtorresmusic]

Wow amazing thanks for sharing my friend Merry x mas to all.

[LeadmareLibertad]

Thank you Dr Greger for touching this subject again. I can’t wait to see you do more videos on pcos. Even after changing to a healthier diet and face products, still struggling with cystic acne and I know is due to my pcos.