There has been a long standing mythology that chocolate, a treat that many of us can't live without, can cause acne breakouts. This was devastating news to a lot of self proclaimed "chocoholics" who thought they needed to totally avoid the delectable indulgence in order to prevent acne.
However, the thought that chocolate avoidance is a necessary part of an acne prevention campaign has had many doubters and debunkers along the way. It has mostly been proven that chocolate itself doesn't "cause" acne. The current belief is that those that eat a lot of chocolate and experience a breakout don't break out because of the chocolate. They break out because of all of the sugar they took in.
Another thought is that the chocolate myth started because those that were consuming copious amounts of chocolate had another things going on that caused their skin to break out. People commonly consume a lot of chocolate when they are under stress, for example. It could be that the underlying cause is not actually the ingredients in chocolate, but the stress that triggered it in this case.
While it is somewhat of a cliche, chocolate also happens to be a food that is often craved by women during PMS, or by anyone in general when their hormones are out of whack. Chocolate tends to make you feel better temporarily, and is often the go-to food for hormonal ups and downs. What else comes with hormonal fluctuations? Yep- acne!
Chocolate and products that are flavored with the savory sweet are often used as a sort of comfort food for men and women alike. It can be during times of emotional turbulence or simply a period where your appetite is raging out of control. Whatever the case may be, there are often circumstances surrounding chocolate consumption that are the actual culprits of the acne breakout.
This is probably the very thing that started the presumption that some compound in the chocolate itself was the cause. However, to this day there has not been any definitive proof that chocolate in and of itself, can cause acne flare ups.
There has, however, been proof that excess sugar, found in abundance in chocolate, and perhaps even excess dietary fat, can lead the skin to break out. Excess sugar, and an unbalanced diet in general, can exacerbate acne because it causes hormonal imbalance. Hormonal imbalance is the primary underlying reason behind persistent acne.
When androgens, which are the male hormones that we all carry in our bodies (even women do), run out of control, this is when we begin to see the symptoms externally. Our skin erupts into acne lesions when there is too much androgenic activity because it promotes excessive sebum production. When our skin produces too much sebum, this causes bacteria, dirt and debris to collect and clog the pores.
It is this chain of events that lead to chronic acne. That is why there are so many different types of treatments available for this skin condition. It has many causes, although the chief underlying cause are the hormones themselves. Eating a healthful, balanced diet that is low in sugar and fat, and high in antioxidants and whole foods like fruits and vegetables is the first step in acne prevention.
Topical products such as cleansers, lotions, creams, and other treatments are only getting your halfway there. In order to truly prevent acne breakouts, a holistic, dietary and lifestyle approach must be utilized. This may include scaling back on chocolate if you indulge in too much of the decadent treat that also happens to be a hormonal disruptor in large quantities.
However, the thought that chocolate avoidance is a necessary part of an acne prevention campaign has had many doubters and debunkers along the way. It has mostly been proven that chocolate itself doesn't "cause" acne. The current belief is that those that eat a lot of chocolate and experience a breakout don't break out because of the chocolate. They break out because of all of the sugar they took in.
Another thought is that the chocolate myth started because those that were consuming copious amounts of chocolate had another things going on that caused their skin to break out. People commonly consume a lot of chocolate when they are under stress, for example. It could be that the underlying cause is not actually the ingredients in chocolate, but the stress that triggered it in this case.
While it is somewhat of a cliche, chocolate also happens to be a food that is often craved by women during PMS, or by anyone in general when their hormones are out of whack. Chocolate tends to make you feel better temporarily, and is often the go-to food for hormonal ups and downs. What else comes with hormonal fluctuations? Yep- acne!
Chocolate and products that are flavored with the savory sweet are often used as a sort of comfort food for men and women alike. It can be during times of emotional turbulence or simply a period where your appetite is raging out of control. Whatever the case may be, there are often circumstances surrounding chocolate consumption that are the actual culprits of the acne breakout.
This is probably the very thing that started the presumption that some compound in the chocolate itself was the cause. However, to this day there has not been any definitive proof that chocolate in and of itself, can cause acne flare ups.
There has, however, been proof that excess sugar, found in abundance in chocolate, and perhaps even excess dietary fat, can lead the skin to break out. Excess sugar, and an unbalanced diet in general, can exacerbate acne because it causes hormonal imbalance. Hormonal imbalance is the primary underlying reason behind persistent acne.
When androgens, which are the male hormones that we all carry in our bodies (even women do), run out of control, this is when we begin to see the symptoms externally. Our skin erupts into acne lesions when there is too much androgenic activity because it promotes excessive sebum production. When our skin produces too much sebum, this causes bacteria, dirt and debris to collect and clog the pores.
It is this chain of events that lead to chronic acne. That is why there are so many different types of treatments available for this skin condition. It has many causes, although the chief underlying cause are the hormones themselves. Eating a healthful, balanced diet that is low in sugar and fat, and high in antioxidants and whole foods like fruits and vegetables is the first step in acne prevention.
Topical products such as cleansers, lotions, creams, and other treatments are only getting your halfway there. In order to truly prevent acne breakouts, a holistic, dietary and lifestyle approach must be utilized. This may include scaling back on chocolate if you indulge in too much of the decadent treat that also happens to be a hormonal disruptor in large quantities.
Danna Norek writes for several blogs which focus on natural health, beauty and self improvement. Information on herbal and natural acne remedies, treatments and alternative products can be found at Acne Magazine Natural Acne Treatments and additional comparisons and reviews of other skin care products can be found here at Best Natural Rosacea Treatments. Your skin is the first thing you see in the mirror, and it's the first thing people notice about you. Why not wow them and yourself with a glowing, beautiful, healthy looking complexion.
