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Your skin is influenced by a number of outside factors that cause certain conditions like breakouts or dryness. Whether it be UV rays, the products you apply, or even forgetting to take your makeup off at night, your skin can take a beating each day which is reflected in your complexion. But aside from environmental factors that can damage your skin, the beverages you consume can also have a remarkable impact on your appearance. If you’ve been struggling with acne flare-ups and are unsure of the cause, there’s one beverage that dermatologists recommend avoiding.
It will come as no surprise that a high-sugar milkshake is the worst thing to be drinking for acne-prone skin. NYC Dermatologist Dr. Hadley King explains, “Studies have shown that foods (and beverages!) with a high glycemic index may contribute to acne. We think this is probably because of the blood sugar spike that results and how this affects our insulin levels and other hormones.”
While delicious, foods and drinks that are high in sugar have been known to wreak havoc on the body, with your complexion being no exception. Dr. King says, “Artificial sweeteners have been shown to be able to affect our hormones in the same way as sugar, therefore they may also contribute to acne. Milkshakes may pose a particular risk because they contain both dairy and sugar.”
If milkshakes are your guilty pleasure, there are ways to tweak the recipe at home so the dessert will have less of an impact on both your skin and your body. King recommends crafting your milkshake with unsweetened almond milk or another non-dairy milk alternative, and adding a frozen banana to give it the same creamy texture as before. Making small alterations to your favorite foods is the best way to keep them in your diet without suffering the side effects. Without dairy and other artificial sweeteners, this recipe reduces the glycemic index of your milkshake, making it less of a threat to acne-prone skin.
When it comes to your complexion, only you know which foods and products trigger it most dramatically. If you’re prone to acne, an influx of dairy and artificial sweeteners may be the culprit, so it’s safer to steer clear of milkshakes or make alterations to the recipe to enjoy without consequences. King notes that everybody is unique and may react more severely to some foods than others, so trial and error is the best method for determining if you need to cut out shakes for good, or if they can still be enjoyed in moderation without breaking you out.
