Acne vulgaris, commonly known as acne, is an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands of the hair follicle. At present, the medical community generally believes that acne is the result of relatively elevated androgens, increased sebum secretion, excessive keratosis of hair follicles, propionibacterium acnes infection and other factors. However, if the general public encounters acne, they usually look for the cause from the perspective of diet, and experienced people will say that it is the trouble caused by fried chicken and desserts. There is also a theory that drinking milk is the root cause of acne. So, what is the connection between dairy products and acne? What do you need to pay attention to in your daily life? Let's solve your doubts now.
Why is acne related to dairy products? The source of this problem is that studies in recent years have shown a close relationship between acne and insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. For example, studies have found that acne patients have increased insulin levels on an empty stomach, as well as elevated levels of cholesterol, LDL, and apolipoprotein. People with acne during adolescence are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood. The academic community believes that the insulin-like growth factor IGF-1 plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of acne.
Studies in recent years have shown that acne is not a simple disease of the hair follicle sebaceous glands. Studies have found that higher levels of IGF-1 can promote the synthesis process of sebaceous glands. IGF-1 and insulin can affect the expression of related binding proteins, thereby stimulating the secretion of sebaceous glands, resulting in an increase in the content of unsaturated fatty acids, inducing Propionibacterium acnes infection, and producing acne. In addition, IGF-1 can promote adrenal androgen production, and exacerbate inflammation, aggravating acne symptoms.
Drinking milk and eating sweets can indeed aggravate acne. Related studies have confirmed that milk and high-sugar diets can raise serum IGF-1 levels. Cow's milk protein can greatly promote IGF-1 signaling, while a high-sugar diet can quickly raise blood sugar levels and stimulate an increase in insulin signaling, which can aggravate acne. Studies have shown that the insulin-stimulating component in milk is mainly present in whey protein, which has a stronger stimulating effect than whey protein, and ordinary milk and dairy diets can increase serum IGF-1 levels by 20% to 30%. In addition, the branched-chain amino acids in milk, especially leucine, can activate related signaling pathways and promote the development of acne. Scholars believe that the ancestors of humans in the Paleolithic age almost never had acne, and the root cause is the lack of dairy products and grains in the diet.
Dairy products affect the progression of acne, and another factor is that milk contains a variety of steroid hormones, such as androgen precursors. Many hormones are precursors of DHT and are reduced to DHT in the body, directly leading to the development of acne. It's worth noting that the main ingredients of flavored yogurt are added sugar, as well as whey protein and fruit grains, which promote acne. However, there is currently no direct evidence that yogurt or cheese without added ingredients causes acne.
The mechanism of acne is caused by a large amount of sebum blocking in the narrow space of the sebaceous glands. The main causes are excessive sebum production, hyperkeratosis of sebaceous glands and obstruction, and irritation of infection and inflammation of sebaceous glands. The intake of dairy products and sweets will also bring excess sugar, stimulate insulin production, reduce the body's sensitivity to insulin, and stimulate the secretion of androgens, resulting in a decline in lipid metabolism, sebaceous glands will over-secrete sebum, provide more nutrients to bacteria, accelerate the reproduction of pathogens, resulting in a serious inflammatory response, acne symptoms will be aggravated.
The dairy products and desserts we can buy now contain a lot of added sugar, which is an important reason for the increase in the incidence of acne. Studies have shown a correlation between the incidence of acne and dairy intake and high-sugar dietary loads. Therefore, to prevent and treat acne, it is necessary to limit the intake of dairy products and sweets, and increase foods rich in B vitamins and vitamin C, such as green vegetables, whole grains, etc. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to changing life behaviors, avoid staying up late, reduce psychological pressure, pay attention to skin maintenance, and avoid dry skin.
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