Whether or not milk is good for you is a hot-button issue these days. Some people love it and others don’t. People who drink milk have better bone health and lower cholesterol levels, but they also have a higher risk of heart disease and may gain weight.
Milk has a lot of mixed reviews. Milk is a source of nutrients that, according to Harvard Health, should be consumed in moderation. What’s more, we need to balance our milk intake with leafy greens, plenty of veggies, and protein.
So, if you appreciate milk and find that it benefits your health, keep drinking! But, before you do, keep in mind that a hidden side effect of drinking milk is that it may promote acne or worsen existing acne.
Many studies have demonstrated that there is a link between consuming cow’s milk and the development of facial acne. Adolescents aged 7 to 30 are the group most likely to suffer acne from drinking milk, according to a 2018 study published in Nutrients. Dairy-induced acne, on the other hand, can affect persons of any age group.
Even while studies have mostly agreed that milk can cause acne, the exact reason for this is still being debated. The cause, according to a paper published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, could be due to the growth hormones included in cow’s milk.
Milk from a cow is supposed to aid in the growth of baby calves, therefore it contains natural steroids and growth hormones. According to the article, these hormones could be the source of acne in humans because when we consume their milk, our systems release a hormone called IGF-1, which has been linked to acne breakouts.
The use of man-made growth hormones, which can be present in many adult cows on dairy farms, is another suspected cause of milk-related acne. The growth hormone rBGH (or Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone) is routinely used by dairy farmers to improve milk production, and this hormone may be the cause of acne, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
Finally, if you are lactose sensitive, consuming milk may cause acne. Lactose intolerance affects approximately 65 percent of the population, according to the US National Library of Medicine, and many individuals are unaware of it. After consuming dairy products, stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloating, and acne outbreaks are common signs of lactose intolerance.
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