Chocolate Can Worsen Acne?

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NEW ORLEANS (GaeaTimes.com)- Chocolate may have some health benefits for human beings but it can also have side effects on skin as a new study points out. Those who have sensitive and acne prone skin should not eat much chocolate to avoid more acne appearing on their skin. The study was conducted on a group of young men and the results that came out are quite dramatic. On eating 8 ounces of chocolate per day the men found the number of acnes on their skin jumping to 70 from 4 within weeks! The study was carried out by a University of Miami Miller School of Medicine student named Samantha Block. The students and the other team members studied the effects of eating chocolate on men aged between 18 to 35 years.

The men were given pure chocolate that had no artificial flavor or sweeteners. The study found that the more chocolate the men ate they came up with more pimples on their face. The results of the study were presented at the American Academy of Dermatology’s annual meeting and the responses are still pouring in. The difference of this study with the earlier ones is that the researchers did not use sweetened chocolate containing milk and sweeteners. The team used 100% cocoa made unadulterated chocolate for the men.

The ingredients in chocolate that may aggravate acne breakout are caffeine and theobromine. The latter is known for pore clogging properties. However, the American Academy of Dermatology authorities have said more research is needed before reaching the conclusion that chocolate triggers acne in all cases. Similar studies also need to be carried out in women.