According to research, dark chocolate contains antioxidants called flavonoids, that are good for lowering blood pressure and inflammation in the body. It’s also good for the heart, and it helps reduce symptoms of depression. But, does it affect our skin? Is there a link between chocolate and acne?

It has been a very long debate and a whole lot of research just to know if chocolate contributes to acne or not. Since 1969, studies after studies were made and a lot of factors were considered. But there really isn’t enough evidence to point out the culprit of these blemishes.

Chocolate And Acne

Some studies show there is no link at all between chocolate and acne. While there are also some studies that suggests that people who consumes a lot of sugar and carbohydrates are more prone to develop acne.

It’s also best to keep in mind that theses studies were mostly conducted to male participants, since women’s acnes are often affected by menstrual hormones and thus can nullify results.

You may be thinking “why don’t they test 100% pure dark chocolate?”. Well, they did. A study in 2014 included 14 men who are acne-prone whom were given capsules filled with 100% unsweetened cocoa. And the results show positive correlation between chocolate and acne.

There was also a similar study conducted in 2016, where 25 acne-prone were asked to consume 99% dark chocolate every day for 4 weeks. After just 2 weeks, a significant increase in the number of comedones present were observed. However, its best to point out that the participants already had acne before testing.

Well, don’t blame the chocolate yet. There are also studies that reject the link between chocolate and acne, saying that there should be more diverse samples and variations before we can finalize anything. Only limited evidence is available to further blame chocolate and it’s definitely not enough, since acne development is already complicated on its own.

The Real Culprit

What’s really causing your acne are buildup of sebum (skin oil), dead skin cells, and bacteria. All three together, plus hormones, can clog your pores and cause an inflammation. And don’t forget that acne is also hereditary. So, there is definitely a lot going on here.

If you think certain type of food is triggering your acne, then it’s definitely best to limit eating them. As what they say, you are what you eat, and nothing beats having a healthy diet.

Each one of us may have different triggering factors for acne, and if you think chocolate is one of them, it’s totally up to you if you want to stop eating it. But remember that there is no enough evidence yet the directly links chocolate to acne development. So, we can all still enjoy a chocolate bar, or two. 😊

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Carissa Isip

Chocolate is Carissa's best friend. Whether she's sad or happy, chocolate is there for her. She believes in the saying "I'd give up chocolate, but I'm not a quitter."

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