Can chocolates cause acne flare-ups?

Ghirardelli chocolate

Have you ever noted pimple breakouts after indulging on your favorite brown sweets? Or have you ever associated zit eruptions with chocolates? Well, there may be truth in your observation after all.

Earlier studies revealed no direct connection between chocolate consumption and acne breakouts. Tests that were conducted before to suggest the association of diet and acne have used chocolate candies, containing added ingredients such as milk, sugar and nuts. So far only milk was proven to have a direct link to acne exacerbation.

However, at the recently concluded 69^th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology a report was presented associating acne with consumption of pure chocolate.

In a study conducted at the University of Miami Miller school of Medicine in Florida, researchers have involved 10 healthy male subjects between 18 to 35 years of age with a history of facial acne vulgaris, who had at least I, but no more than 4 acneiform lesions (blackhead or whiteheads, papule and cyst). They were instructed to consume 6 ounces of 100% Ghirardelli chocolate daily for duration of 1 week.

A significant increase in the number of lesions was found, suggesting a strong correlation between the amount of chocolate that was consumed and the amount of acneiform lesions developed.

Further studies though are needed to establish the relationship between chocolate and acne and the mechanism that is involved in it.

Source:

Chocolate May Exacerbate Acne in Men. Medscape Medical News.