Can Diet Affect Acne?

One of the most common questions I am asked is if diet can affect acne.   There has been quite a bit of research into this very question, and a few possible links have been discovered.  Some studies have shown a link between diets high in dairy products, especially cow’s milk, and the severity of acne.  This may be explained by normal steroid hormones found in all types of cow’s milk, which can lead to an increase in testosterone and therefore acne.  There is also an association between high-glycemic-index foods and a longer acne duration, possibly as a result of insulin resistance.  Unfortunately, no study has shown a cause and effect between chocolate, saturated fats, or salt and acne.