Does chocolate cause acne?

Though some people report their acne worsens after eating certain foods, there is no scientific evidence showing that chocolate -- or any other food for that matter -- directly causes or worsens acne. Instead, acne is caused when hormonal changes -- most often during puberty -- cause oil glands underneath the skin's surface to produce excess oil. In addition, skin cells lining hair follicles shed more rapidly during puberty, and when mixed with oil, clog the openings of follicles. A normal skin bacteria can multiply in the follicle and produce irritation, inflammation and the various types of skin lesions associated with acne.

But adults beware, warns Dr. Jeffrey Travers, chairman and professor of dermatology at the IU School of Medicine. Certain substances in chocolate can affect blood vessels, which can aggravate adult type acne, known as rosacea. Though the exact cause of rosacea is unknown, some scientists think genetic or environmental factors cause blood vessels to swell, which then produces flushing and facial bumps associated with rosacea.

The bottom line: chocolate doesn't directly affect teen acne but may contain substances that can trigger flare-ups of rosacea in adults. Something to consider when you're enjoying a piece of holiday fudge.

Resources:

Read all about acne -- including about its causes, scarring, and treatment -- at AcneNet, a site sponsored by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

The AAD provides a similar resource for rosacea.

December 21, 2002