If you have ever struggled with skin problems and went to a dermat, chances are they suggested you to avoid certain unhealthy foods like sugar, fried snacks and sodas. However, there is one food item that is considered super healthy (that’s what our mom has been telling us) but is actually bad for skin, according to skin experts. It’s dairy products like milk. 

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We got in touch with Dr Sushma Yadav, Dermatologist, Cosmetologist, Hair Transplant Surgeon and Founder of Skinology, Bangalore to bust this myth. She says, “Recent studies add to mounting evidence that what you eat can determine your skin health. Talking about dairy in specific, while it’s been advised that dairy products play a vital role in developing/ exaggerating skin conditions such as acne, the current evidence is actually very limited.”

She also stresses that dairy can be a trigger to some, but not all acne is caused by it. Talking about how dairy products worsen skin issues, here are all the deets from the skin expert herself. 

Dairy products are full of casein and whey protein and a lot of artificial hormones which are expected to increase levels of insulin-like growth factor-1, or IGF-1 that is linked with increased production of sebum, the oily substance produced by our skin, which ultimately can lead to acne. 

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When we intake dairy products with other substances such as processed foods or sugars, it disrupts our insulin levels. The higher our insulin levels, the more prone we are to infection and inflammation. This eventually leads to uneven skin, acne, other skin disorders like acanthosis nigricans, amyloidosis, pigmentation, xerosis(dryness). Dairy products like milk, soya milk butter, cheese, paneer may be a regular part of most people's life but indigestion of dairy can lead to high levels of insulin.

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People with intolerance or allergy towards lactose can suffer from inflammatory reactions like irregular skin texture and mess up overall skin health by disrupting the skin barrier and causing skin sensitivity. 

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Not everyone’s skin issues arise due to dairy consumption but it can definitely aggravate any underlying condition. Of course, we all have different bodies that react differently to the same products so what might suit one person can be harmful for other individuals.

It is also important to remember that not all dairy products show a negative effect on our skin. For example, normal milk and milk chocolates can have a negative impact on the skin and cause acne but fermented dairy, such as kefir and live yoghurt, curd, cottage cheese and cheese are actually quite healthy and do wonders for skin.  

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That being said, topical application of milk products like malai and raw milk on skin is totally fine and has many benefits for skin.

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