We all know milk will build strong bones and even help you lose weight if drunk in the right amount every day.  But what if you heard “Got Milk and acne?”  That might turn you off a little more toward milk.  It can be said that most of us are actually somewhat intolerant to milk, and tolerance for milk is more of a mutation in genes, which could in part explain any of your body’s reactions to it.

But the American Journal of Dermatology specifically cited a connection between milk and acne.  Apparently 2-3 glasses of milk increases your chances of severe acne by 44%.  Most of these studies were naturally conducted on the largest group of acne sufferers, teenagers.  But adult studies were equally conclusive.  Quitting milk in itself can cure many cases of acne. 

Apparently it causes blood sugar metabolism problems and simultaneously causes chronic inflammation.  Swinging blood sugar levels can cause an irritation within the body and therefore hormone influxes, increased sebum production, increased skin turnover, and therefore acne.  So, stopping milk could actually cause some weight loss due to the decreased level of inflammation in the body in general.  Dairy in general can cause these side effects.

There is actually more science behind this than just the fact that the human body is naturally allergic to dairy products.  Pregnant cows have various natural hormones as well as the injected hormones, and therefore the milk has more hormones such as DHT.  DHT causes higher levels of acne   Similar hormones such as 5a-pregnanedione and 5a-androstanedione can also be found in milk. 

Holmes et al.  Dietary Correlates of Plasma Insulin-like Growth Factor I and Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 Concentrations  Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention Vol. 11, 852-861, September 2002

Salminen et al.  Blood glucose and plasma insulin responses to fat free milk and low-lactose fat free milk in healthy human volunteers
Zeitschrift für Ernährungswissenschaft Volume 26, Number 1 / March, 1987

Though there are no foods that in and of themselves cause acne, except in the case of allergic reactions, there are a few that can significantly contribute to it. Acne in some individuals can be caused by blood sugar issues such as insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Foods can contribute to acne by contributing to these already existing conditions.
First, too much fat can cause acne. This is a better known and better stated fact in countries outside the United States. But more fat in the diet produces more oils in the glands, oils harden in combination with other toxins and bacteria, cause blackheads, cause acne. But even if you did not see acne but only blackheads from this, too much fat can actually change the coloration and feel of your skin to some degree. With fat, your blood sugar swings, causing hormonal reactions and increased sebum production in short. It also slows down your body’s absorption of important nutrients, aggravating acne.
Second, dairy products. They are often high fat, and as stated above, fat can significantly contribute to acne. Second, milk comes from pregnant cows, high in hormones. And unfortunately, those enzymes and hormones get converted into DHT which increases sebum production. There are some that would say that we are all allergic to milk, but don’t necessarily show it. But the reality is most humans are at the very least lactose intolerant. Being lactose tolerant is a mutation in the genes.
Third is refined carbs. Fruits are fine, because they contain unprocessed sugars that are also tempered by the fiber found in most fruits. This regulates everything. But with refined carbs, your blood sugar spikes at too high a rate, further aggravating acne. Vitamins are also required to digest these elements, and your body can run out faster if you eat too much sugar, trying to digest sugars instead of trying to help the body.
Finally comes caffeine. Caffeine can be found in many different sources. But it triggers the adrenaline glands to release stress hormones, increasing stress and thereby increasing acne. Second, caffeine can keep you from sleeping regularly. During the deepest levels of sleep, your body works to detoxify and repair your skin. If this time is disrupted, your body cannot fight bacteria lying on the skin as efficiently.
While these things do not cause acne in and of themselves, they significantly contribute to it. If you are serious about getting rid of your acne, consider getting rid of these foods or at least significantly reducing their presence in your diet.

When most of the population suffers acne, it has to do with puberty, natural hormone fluctuations, maybe even toxic buildup in the body, all highly treatable conditions. But there are also those who suffer from acne as a symptom of an underlying disease, not just hormones. Some are more common than others. But one I found interesting is called Bearn Kunkel syndrome. Otherwise known as Slater syndrome, Bearn Kunkel a term for lupoide hepatitis. It is an autoimmune chronic form of hepatitis, mostly seen in younger women. It is characterized by cirrhosis of the liver and increased plasma cells. There are quite a few symptoms such as hirsutism, moon facies, and obesity. But it also causes acne. So if you are suffering from acne, don’t go rushing to the doctor because you think you have Bearn Kunkel. It’s a bit harder to miss.
Another common acne causing disease is known as congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It can interfere with the natural hormones in your body, which would explain its connection to acne. This would also explain why steroids are often known to cause acne, though with steroids, it has more to do with the body increasing certain hormones rather than hormones in general.
Other acne causing issues include cushing’s syndrome, copper deficiency, diabetes, Garret-Tripp syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, ovarian tumors, Fowler-Christmas-Chapple syndrome, hyperandrogenism, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Most of them affect the hormones and also cause extreme obesity in many individuals. And most of the diseases that have acne as a symptom also occur mostly or exclusively in men, because extreme levels of androgen have been specifically connected to higher levels of acne in terms of hormone imbalances. However, despite the fact that most acne can be treated using certain acne pills, acne scrubs, and acne serums, there are those exceptions.

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/a/acne/underly.htm