Does Cocoa Powder Cause Acne?

Is the link between chocolate and acne from the sugar, the milk, or the cocoa? Researchers put white chocolate, dark chocolate, baking chocolate, and cocoa powder to the test to find out.

What about the effects of cocoa powder and/or chocolate on other health aspects? Check out my other chocolate-covered videos:

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

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Image credit: thecakeschool / Wikimedia

[Battlefield]

I put cocoa powder in my oatmeal,

[nigel]

Not at all what I expected. Thank the baby jesus I don't get acne anymore.

I still believe animal fats, vegetable oils and dairy products would be the worst offenders if put to the test though.

[StarFlower]

Thank you. I have never had a problem with acne, but for the last month I have been getting acne horribly. I knew it was something in my diet but I failed to realize what it could
NOW.

[herman]

I am vegan. I put about a tablespoon of dairy free dark chocolate chips in my steal cut oats every morning. They have a few grams of fat and a few grams of sugar. I also toss in cinammin, cloves, tumeric, pepper, allspice, nutmeg, and sometimes some other fun stuff. So I have a zit that kinda travels around my head, face, neck area at any given time but not really an issue. I guess I can cut out the chips and see if it goes away. Naaahhh...screw it!!!

[Joseph-eqod]

I'd be interested to see if the acne is due to the cocoa powder itself, or the high levels of cadmium and lead often reported to be in cocoa.

[peterscott]

The biggest surprise for me is not the result, but instead all the comments that people put cocoa/chocolate in their oatmeal. I never had any idea this was a common thing to do. I put flax/almonds/berries in mine. Super Oatmeal...

[haute]

Would really love to see a study that includes females and varies the dose of cocoa powder/bars.

[TheRealRealOK]

I don’t have a history of acne, and I have never experienced breakouts after using cocoa powder (mostly with my oatmeal). The study is about people with acne problems, so I think I am fine using it in moderation. Anyway, the information in this video is great. It’s a shame that we listened to garbage studies for so long.

[Boogieforme]

Thank you doc, *secretly cries in corner*.

[veggiequeen]

Maybe the acne was caused by the gelatin capsules. (Grinded up animal bones.)

[LexiePersonForever]

awww man :( i put cocoa powder in my oatmeal every morning, and i do have moderate acne :( i'll have to find another way to prepare it now i guess

[gvas]

I do break out when I eat chocolate. Specially dark chocolate. I have done my own research study with my self and stay away from chocolate for 2-4 months at the time and break outs come back as soon as a couple of days after the consumption of chocolate. Based on my own experience, I have to agree with the title of this video. Thanks Dr. Greger, now I know is not just me :)

[danielrubens]

Can confirm: I've been adding 1/2 tbsp of cocoa powder (unsweeted) in my smoothie in the last 2 weeks... now my acne got way more worse than when I wasn't using it in my smoothie

[MTRK]

1 tbsp in my morning oatmeal should be fine :). Thats like 1/5 of an oz. The people in the study were eating 6 oz

[laurastacey]

Wait, WHAT? This is NOT okay. I thought cocoa powder was healthy. It's a (more or less) whole plant food. It's full of antioxidants. What would be the mechanism for this?

[junglecamps]

I’m here first 😍 please do a video on ACNE vs ovarian cysts; PCOS; hormonal balancing (*and how to heal the follicles)

Tx!

[lollsazz]

Hahaha, I KNEW someone would eventually do this study! I have known that I break out from chocolate for years, and I've already tested sugar, oil and milk alone - none of these give me bad acne. 3 squared of dark chocolate though, and 12 cystic pimples. I've been testing this out on myself for the past 3-4 years. Coffee doesn't break me out at all though, but cocoa does. If it's possible to replace cocoa with coffee in a recipe, that's what I do - just a tip to those who like the taste ;)

Now I'm waiting for someone to figure out the mechanisms of action, and expecting it to have to do with hormones, as I didn't break out from chocolate when I was on strong hormonal contraception, interestingly enough

[ritazou]

I've been adding turmeric to my breakfast but since I can't stand the taste I started adding cocoa as well to mask it. I gotta say my skin has never been better, and I'm acne prone. Perhaps the turmeric is helping?

[vaylon]

Back in college I read some studies of juvenile asthma also being caused by cocoa. So we put it to the test by using the jock class of Reading 101. All the jocks got to eat pure cocoa for 3 days and see what effects it had on their stamina during workouts. Most reported it being harder to breathe as well as a few saying that it felt like they couldn't get their breath back fast enough.
One noticeable side effect was how bad all of the acne breakouts were. Guys with even a couple of pimples had a huge increase in breakouts, while those that had none, to begin with, had none after the test.
Cocoa has lots of amazing benefits, but its all about moderation. Just like everything else in life.

[chervenovino]

Darn it! I have just finished a bowl of oats with cocoa powder sprinkled on top and have been trying to get my acne under control :-(