Will a dairy free diet clear up my acne?

     Will eliminating diary from your diet clear up your acne and lead to better looking skin? The verdict is still out for some, but many health and wellness advocates believe that dairy is definitely an acne causing culprit and that by going diary free you can reduce acne breakouts. Dr. Milton Mills Associate Director of Preventive Medicine with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine does not speak specifically on the link between acne and diary but does educate the public with claims and medical evidence highlighting the consequences of consuming diary. One medical consequence from consuming diary according to Mills is inflammation. Inflammation has also been reportedly linked to causing acne.

There have been several studies conducted, and the American Academy of Dermatology reports that low glycemic diets may reduce acne breakouts. The AAD also found that drinking any type of milk i.e. whole, skim, or low fat seems to be linked to acne breakouts, however just why milk increases acne is still unknown.  From our view more and more evidence points towards a correlation between acne and diary, and it doesn’t seem far off in our estimate that food products created with milk, i.e. butter, yogurt and cheese may also contribute to acne though current research has yet to confirm this point.  If you are not sure if your acne flare ups are exacerbated by diary consumption talk to your doctor and consider swapping out some of your dairy products with non-diary alternatives for a week or two and see what happens with your skin. If you are considering going dairy free in effort to prevent acne flare ups here are a few food swaps to consider.

Instead of cheese…

Try almond cheese, cashew cheese, or any number dairy free chesses available in the supermarket today.  Not all diary free cheeses melt so if you are trying to make a pizza or recipe that calls for melted cheese you may have to switch things up a bit.  One important thing to remember when buying diary free is to read the label carefully. Products labeled non-diary or lactose free may still contain diary ingredients.

Instead of milk ….

Drink almond milk, soymilk, or cashew milk. Many individuals make this swap first however it is important to note that when opting for a milk substitute such as almond milk there are usually both sweetened and unsweetened varieties with added sugar. Go with the unsweetened variety if you are on a low sugar diet and consider milk substitutes with that are enriched with vitamin D and calcium. Almond milk can be used in recipes in the same way that you would use regular diary milk.

Instead of ice cream….

Try banana ice cream. On a scale of easy to hard we find banana ice cream the easiest of the non-diary ice-cream alternatives to make. All it takes is a few ripe frozen bananas, a pinch of salt,then toss in the blender until you achieve your desired consistency, and then you’re done.  If you really want to become a banana ice cream ninja get creative and add a few mix-ins like vanilla extract, cacao nibs, peanut butter, frozen berries, or pistachios. If you are not into making your own diary free ice cream many popular brands offer diary free alternatives for customers to enjoy.

Instead of butter….

Try coconut oil.  Coconut oil is good for everything in the kitchen from baking to spreading. There is also olive oil, and an array of already prepared spreads and baking sticks to make your life easier.

Going diary free in hopes of minimizing your acne breakouts?  Make sure to have the appropriate YELLE skincare regimen on hand to support your skin journey. Choose the YELLE Brightening serum for oily skin to support your skin’s health.