Pizza and Chocolate. It’s every teen’s dream diet. But acne? That’s every teen’s nightmare! As a parent, it’s a constant struggle to make sure your kids (and my four boys) eat a balanced and healthy diet. But after a long, hard day at work, it’s so easy to stop at your local pizza joint and pick up a “pie” for dinner. And chocolate? Show me a teen (or mom!) that can resist that.
Is there a link between pizza, chocolate and acne? Will eating pizza cause an outbreak? How about chocolate?
I remember my teens trying to convince me that pizza is the “perfect” food because it contains all 5-food groups. But did you know that pizza has an acne trigger? Cheese! Yep! That yummy, gooey substance that makes pizza so delicious can also be the cause of those pre-pubescent pimples!
How can something so good be so bad? Because cheese is dairy, and scientists have shown there is a link between dairy and outbreaks. In addition to the dairy and acne link, pizza also has a high Glycemic Index. The Glycemic Index of a food refers to the effect the food has on your body’s blood sugar level. And, when your blood sugar level rises, it can lead to inflammation which plays a role in causing acne. Pizza scores a high of 80 on the Glycemic Index of 1 to 100. So, the higher your blood sugar level; the higher your chances of an outbreak are.
Now let’s talk chocolate! Is there really a link between chocolate and acne? Well, yes. Sort of. And it all goes back to that darn Glycemic Index. Chocolate itself has not been shown to have a direct connection with acne. However, many chocolate-containing products are also high in sugar and that means they are high on the Glycemic Index. And as we now know, diets high in sugar may contribute to acne symptoms.
But does this mean you can’t indulge in that cheesy slice of pizza or calm your chocolate craving with a bowl of ice cream? Not necessarily. If you or your teen is experiencing outbreaks, it’s always best to consult your health care provider. He or she can eliminate possible acne causes and can prescribe a healthy and balanced diet.
So give us a call at (719) 337-5451 and schedule your consultation. If you’re too busy to make it into our office, we also specialize in FULL treatment options, which many clients enjoy for privacy and travel reasons, via ZOOM appointments at your convenience!
