Can a food allergy or intolerance cause acne?

The quick answer

While some symptoms of food allergies and food sensitivities can look like acne, it doesn’t appear that they’re a major underlying cause. Acne is caused when skin pores become clogged with excess oil or bacteria, and then produce bumps or sometimes skin lesions. Allergic reactions on the other hand are mediated by the immune system in response to a specific food protein, and food intolerances are typically a digestive issue. Acne is classified as an inflammatory condition, so there could be a link between inflammatory food sensitivities and these pesky bumps, but we don’t have enough research right now to know exactly how that works. 

Food allergies may not be the cause of your acne, but diet does play a significant role in skin health and maintaining clear skin. A few foods that have been linked to acne are dairy products, refined carbohydrates and fast food, however more research is needed to truly define the relationship. 

The whole story

If you struggle with acne, it can feel like nothing ever really works to clear up your skin. Drug stores are full of face washes and treatments that claim to reduce breakouts, but sometimes they just seem to make things worse. One topic that has become more popular in recent years is the impact of lifestyle on skin health, and particularly our diet.

Nutrition and skin experts have identified a number of foods that can provide the right nutrients for glowing skin, but what if foods are causing the issue to begin with? Could acne be a symptom of an underlying food allergy or intolerance? In this blog post I’ll go over some quick definitions of acne and its causes, and then we’ll get into what research tells us about how it relates to food sensitivities.

Are you struggling with another food allergy symptom? Make sure to check out these other articles:

What is acne?

Acne, or acne vulgaris, is a pretty broad term used to describe a variety of skin blemishes and legions. A few of the most common types of acne you might be familiar with are whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and cystic acne. I’m not a dermatologist, but I’m sure I’ve experienced every type of acne I just listed throughout my life. 

Why does acne occur? The biggest reason we end up with these bumps and lesions is clogged pores. In fact, whiteheads and blackheads are defined simply as clogged pores on the face. Our faces are full of oil glands, called sebaceous glands, and the oil they release is called sebum. An overproduction of sebum can clog pores, leading to pimples and bumps. 

Pores can also become clogged with bacteria and dead skin cells, and when it comes into contact with air it appears brown or black (hence the term blackhead). Inflammation of hair follicles can also appear as bumps, and if those become infected with bacteria they can result in cystic acne. Cystic acne, as well as pustules and nodules, can be very painful and frustrating to get rid of. 

Causes of acne

Acne is only a problem for teens, right? Well unfortunately for everyone, that’s not the case. 

Acne is often associated with the teenage years because besides seeing PG-13 movies and getting driver’s permits, another important life stage is beginning: puberty. During puberty, teens experience a significant increase in hormone levels, specifically androgens. Androgen hormones are a group of sex hormones that include testosterone. Both men and women produce androgens, but men produce more testosterone. 

Androgens are a really important part of development as they help with bone density and muscle development. However, they also promote increased production of oil on the skin and this contributes to more clogged pores, which can in turn trigger acne. 

Besides age and hormones, a few other potential acne triggers are stress, medications and diet. These can lead to adult acne, which is acne experienced anytime after adolescence. For stress and medication, a person is typically able to identify the cause of their sudden breakouts but diet can be a lot trickier. And this brings up the question, could acne be a symptom of a food allergy or intolerance? 

Food allergies and food intolerances

Before we talk about where acne can fit in with symptoms of food allergies and intolerances, let’s do a short recap on what these two conditions are. 

Food allergies are an immune reaction typically mediated by immunoglobulin E, or IgE. Humans normally have a small amount of IgE circulating in our bodies, however, during an allergic reaction, levels of this antibody sky rocket. The triggers for allergic reactions are called allergens, and an allergen is a non-threatening substance that produces an inappropriate immune response for certain people.

On the other hand, food intolerances are digestive issues that can cause some similar symptoms to food allergies but are not the same. Some food intolerances, such as to dairy products, are caused when a person doesn’t have enough lactase, which is the enzyme needed to break down lactose, the sugar in milk. Another common intolerance is to gluten which can have a few different causes. Symptoms of food intolerances include abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. 

Alright we’ve established the differences between food allergies and intolerances, so where does acne fit in?

From my research, I wasn’t able to find anything that definitively pointed to acne being a symptom of food allergies. With many IgE-mediated food allergies, the reactions come on quickly, or at least within a few hours after exposure to the allergens. Allergy symptoms need to be treated immediately, but with either antihistamines or epinephrine auto-injectors they can usually be resolved quickly. 

Allergic reactions can produce a wide range of symptoms, and many do involve the skin. One classic symptom I know I have experienced is hives, however others include inflamed, red skin, red bumps and even dry skin. I don’t think these would classify as acne considering they aren’t caused by clogged pores, but they sure look like it. 

When it comes to food intolerances and sensitivities, I found a number of anecdotal stories about people successfully using elimination diets to clear their acne. While these stories are important, there really isn’t any research suggesting that there is a link. As I mentioned above, food intolerances are typically limited to the digestive tract, as it’s a problem where the body can’t properly digest the food. 

However, if you start developing inflammation from eating a food you are sensitive to, there is a possibility that inflammation could lead to acne. Unfortunately the jury is still out on this one, but if it’s something you’re really concerned about I’d recommend talking to your doctor about food sensitivity tests or an elimination diet.

Just because there isn’t an identified link between food allergies and intolerances and acne, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be looking to our diet for ways to help treat this skin condition. 

Diet and acne: the bad

The foods we eat impact pretty much every organ in our body, and our skin is no different. A few foods in particular have been studied to determine their relationship to acne, but it’s worth noting that many results were inconclusive. 

One quick note before I explain some foods that could be causing your acne: please remember that all foods can be included in a healthy diet, barring ones you’re allergic to. Just because research has found some links between these foods and acne doesn’t mean you should never eat them again, especially if you like them! This information is just to help you understand why certain foods might cause acne, not to tell you to remove them from your diet. 

Dairy products

The first big group researchers have looked into is dairy products, such as cow’s milk, skim milk and even yogurt. A few studies about this topic have found that participants who regularly drank cow’s milk were more likely to develop acne. No relationship between other dairy products (cheese and yogurt) and acne breakouts was found. Researchers hypothesize that the reason could be due to hormones found in the milk leading to inflammation in humans, however we’d need more research to prove this theory. 

Refined carbohydrates

Another major food group that has been linked to acne are carbohydrates, but specifically refined grains and sugar. This is the type of carbohydrates found in white bread, sugary drinks and other sweet treats. Similar to the dairy research, studies found that participants who consumed higher levels of refined carbohydrates experienced acne at higher rates. 

So, what’s the reason here? Well one potential reason is the impact of refined grains and sugars on insulin levels. Drinking a Coke or eating a brownie leads to an immediate increase in blood sugar levels, and in response a hormone called insulin also rises. While insulin helps bring blood glucose levels down to a normal range, they can also impact production of androgens, and in turn lead to excess sebum production. And as we talked about earlier, more sebum means more clogged pores, and then you’ve got acne. 

Fast food

Another type of food that is commonly associated with acne is fast food. A few key characteristics of fast food include high levels of saturated fat (think meat and cheese), lots of refined sugar and a lack of fresh foods. 

Research about fast food and acne hasn’t shown a definitive link, but I think it’s worth noting that highly refined carbohydrates make up a considerable amount of fast food in general. These foods tend to have a high glycemic index value, meaning they have a quick and significant impact on blood sugar. Maybe the reasoning behind refined carbohydrates and acne is the same for fast food.

Diet and acne: the good

We’ve established that some foods can promote skin problems, but what about foods that help our skin? Here are four nutrients, and some common food sources, that you can include in your diet to help your skin thrive.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 is the original “good fat” in my mind. Remember when I mentioned acne can be the product of inflammation of hair follicles? Well omega-3 fatty acid is a powerful anti-inflammatory nutrient, meaning it will help alleviate acne and prevent future outbreaks. Omega-3s are also great for controlling cholesterol, so it’s a win-win. A few great sources of Omega-3s are:

• Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, herring)
• Flax seeds 
• Walnuts

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, meaning it fights free radicals in the body. Free radicals cause a number of issues, but they especially contribute to cell damage. Tons of food have vitamin E, but here are a few you could include in your diet:

Vitamin C

We typically hear about vitamin C helping with our immune system, and while that’s true it is also important for skin healing, preventing wrinkles and the production of collagen. Here are a few great sources:

• Bell peppers
• Citrus fruits
• Strawberries

Polyphenols

Lastly, polyphenols are a compound that helps with reducing inflammation, but has also been linked to decreased sebum production. Excess sebum is one major contributor to clogged pores, so polyphenols are a great way to attack acne at the source. Here are two ways to get more polyphenols in your diet:

So, can a food allergy or intolerance cause acne?

Probably not in the technical sense, since acne is caused by clogged pores. Allergic reactions and food intolerances can however produce skin-related symptoms that appear similar to acne, but they usually fade away with medication. Some research suggests that acne could be a sign of inflammation from a food sensitivity, so if you want to pursue food sensitivity tests or an elimination diet contact your doctor.

Just because acne isn’t a direct product of allergic reactions, diet overall plays an important role in the health of your skin. A few foods that have been linked to acne are dairy products, refined carbohydrates and fast food, so if you’re noticing unusual acne flare-ups, it might be a good idea to look at your diet over the past few weeks.