[SKIN TRUTH] Is Chocolate a Trigger for Acne?

The signature sweet for popular holidays such as Chrismax a beloved flavor in all realms of desserts, and just a treat in and of itself, chocolate, as delicious as it is, is not known to be the best for the body, including the skin. However, is chocolate really a trigger for acne? 

The majority of chocolate sold in stores are not made up purely of cacao beans and cacao butter but rather, include other ingredients such as sugar and fats in order to produce its classic sweet flavor. So over ingestion of chocolates with lower cacao percentages will lead to high blood sugar and insulin. An increase in insulin will also lead to the increase of androgen, which is a component linked to sebum production. So, as the amount of sebum may cause acne, it can be said that chocolate does indirectly lead to acne through its effects on insulin and thus sebum. 

That being said, however, eating chocolate occasionally in moderate amounts will not immediately lead to acne and breakouts. Rather, issues will only arise when one is constantly ingesting chocolate or similarly sweet foods, causing an overabundance of insulin. Ultimately, it can be said that the effects of chocolate will vary depending various factors, such as the amount taken in combination with one’s daily diet of carbohydrates and its balance with that. 

In the past, the Mayans noticed positive effects of chocolate, which is why they began to cultivate cacao and develop chocolate. The raw component in cacao is polyphenol, which increase endorphins and serotonin, the pleasure hormones of the brain, resulting in happier dispositions and better moods. Chocolate definitely has these positive effects as well but like all things, only in moderation.