Does Dairy Cause Acne?

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A new medical study takes a look at whether dairy is associated with acne in teens.

 

 

I love love love skin and eagerly took three times the amount of dermatology training in medical school and internship than my classmates because I find skin so absolutely fascinating.

More on that in a minute.

But first, this study in particular peaked my interest because I am asked by patients all the time whether dairy is a trigger for acne.

The Study (published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in August 2016):

 

  • Researchers looked at over 220 teens (ages 14 – 19) half who had with moderate acne vulgaris and half who were acne free.
  • Acne and control groups were compared in regards to age, gender, ethnicity, weight, BMI and their diet was reported and analyzed.

The Results:

  • Low fat/skim milk was significantly correlated with having acne.
  • Whole milk consumption was not correlated with having acne.

 

The Bottom Line?

While low-fat and skim milk intake raised prevalence of acne in teens,

whole milk did not have any association to acne at all.

 

So this gives us at least one holistic tool with which to address acne:

Consider switching to organic whole fat milk in teens who consume milk but wish to decrease their acne risk.

 

And I think that is a good idea for multiple reasons, as I truly feel children (including teens) need lots of natural, organic whole fats (like those found in organic eggs, organic whole fat milk and organic butter) to help with brain development as well as hormonal balance and growth.

 

But skin isn’t just a perfunctory organ system that cranks out a pimple now and then because of one particular thing we eat or drink.

Skin is dynamic.

I love skin because it is such an interactive, immediately responsive organ system.

Skin speaks to us every day, all day.

Skin speaks to us through the location of the eczema patches we have, through acne surges, through dry tight skin, hives, changes in hair growth, pigmentation, wrinkles, stretch marks…

…and much, much more.

Skin can speak subtly through chronic messages that it whispers to you your entire life…

….or skin can scream loudly and angrily during acute transitions and times of crisis.

 

 

But no matter how your skin speaks to you, there is always a message to be appreciated.

Because our skin replicates so quickly, it is a wonderful mirror for what is going on with the rest of our body and mind:

 

  • If we are anemic, it shows us quickly.
  • If we are dehydrated, it shows us quickly.
  • If we are malnourished, our skin will lack that robust glow that healthy skin gives.
  • If we have been neglecting our selves in other ways, our skin will reveal us.
  • If we are unhappy, our skin literally sags.
  • If we have lost connection with joy, our skin tells it.
  • If we feel ugly, our skin mirrors that.

 

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Because it covers our entire body, every thought we think and every word we say and every intention we ever have passes through our skin on its way to communicate with the outside world.

So it doesn’t just protect us from the world… quite the opposite is true too:

it translates our inner being to the surface.

 

 

It is constantly in contact with and intimate with our inner workings. Because of this, skin reflects how we feel about ourselves.

Skin forms our barrier, our identity. It forms what we perceive as *us* and delineates *us* from *the rest of the world*.

Skin is our outer projection of our inner truths.

 

 

skin

In short, skin is our boundary.

 

And acne reminds us of this… acne issues are literally an invitation to re-evaluate how we see ourselves and how we believe others see us.

And often — do you notice this? — it’s not just an invitation… we are literally forced to reconcile dynamics that we have outgrown or need to confront.

 

Are there any skin issues you are ready to move past?

 

 

I literally scour the medical literature and combine the most up-to-date information on skin treatments, therapies and procedures with my intuitive understanding of just how deep skin issues can go…

… they stab right into the core of our being, to the core of our self esteem, to the core of what we think of deep down inside.

 

And I put all of that medical, holistic and intuitive information into my

5 Day Skin Happiness Bootcamp — which runs in just a few weeks!

 

Every time I run it, I add more and more detailed info as I answer every single question that my class participants bring to class.

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This time around, I have upgraded the holistic skin care goodie bag that comes with the course, so that now you get my very favorite skin serum alongside my favorite skin supplements, my favorite holistic cleanser, my favorite all natural sunscreen… and much much more.

All culminating in a live Q&A phone call where I will answer every single one of your skin care questions PERSONALLY.

Ask me anything!

I will tell you exactly what is going on with your skin and how to help, medically and holistically and intuitively.

 

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Join right now to reserve your spot in this

by-reservation-only special skin care makeover!

 

xoxoxo, Laura