Can Coffee Cause Breakouts?
Coffee contains a lot of caffeine that makes you feel awake and contributes to stress. A large cup of coffee can double your body’s stress response. Stress does not cause acne but can make you existing ones worse. Production of stress hormones such as cortisol increases your sebaceous glands’ oil production. Furthermore, consuming late-night take a toll on our sleep. Less sleep means more stress, which could indicate worsening acne. The effects of caffeine on sleep varies from one person to another. If you are sensitive to caffeine, try to cut caffeine intake by the early afternoon to avoid sleeping problems.
Researchers believe that the hormones found in mild tends to trigger acne. In clinical studies, non-fat milk has shown to be worse than full-fat milk. Studies prove that milk triggers acne, and there is enough evidence to suggest that dairy milk plays a role strongly.
How much sugar are you adding to your coffee? If you like to put extra sugar cubes in your coffee, you are probably increasing the risk of breakouts. There is already plenty of research done that shows a link between sugar consumption and acne. Diet high in sugar increases the amount of insulin hormone produced in the body. The hormone plays a role in the development of acne. Moreover, your sugary latte with a scoop of chocolate can make this effect worse.
Should you ditch your morning cup of Coffee?
Coffee does not trigger acne, but drinking too much, loaded with milk and sugar, you can make your acne worse. If you still concerned that coffee is making you break out, there is no need to quit your cup entirely. Before you ditch your morning latte, try the following:
- Avoid putting refined sugar, sugar syrups, or your favorite chocolate syrup in your coffee
- Use skim milk instead of high-fat milk, or you can switch to coconut or almond milk
- Avoid consuming caffeinated beverages in the afternoon or at bedtime to ensure you get a good night sleep.
- Skip the chocolate cookies, pastries, or donuts that you often paired with your morning latte
Everybody reacts to caffeine differently. If you want a more concrete answer, try cutting off your cup of share for a few weeks and see the difference in your skin. Then you can slowly reintroduce coffee and see if your zits get worse again.
After trying out these tips, if you still have acne, discuss with your dermatologists about acne medications. Tretinoin 0.05% is an effective acne treatment that can help with every case of acne.