Beauty Myth: Chocolate Makes You Break Out

With Valentine’s Day having just passed, we know we all may have overindulged in chocolate, and all of it’s sweetness and deliciousness! You might be feeling a little guilty, because aside from its high fat and sugar content, chocolate will make you break out…right? To be fair, this isn’t entirely true. It is not chocolate that will cause you to break out!

Break outs, in fact, are caused by inflammation of your sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands secrete sebum, or as you probably know it, oil. When there is an over abundance of this oil, and the ducts of your sebaceous glands become plugged, blackheads and white heads can form, and bacteria can infect them to cause pimples. Hormone levels also play a key role in acne formation. During puberty, there is an increase in the hormone Androgen, which is especially active in stimulating the amount of oil produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. This is the same for women who are experiencing peri-menopause. During this time estrogen levels are lowered, and androgen levels increase, which can lead to breakouts. We know this is a time period when the chocolate cravings are sky high, so maybe this is one of the reasons why this myth is on-going!

Although there is no linkage between chocolate and breakouts, we do suggest sticking to a diet full of fruits and veggies over high fat and high sugar foods. Fruits and veggies possess antioxidants and vitamins that your body needs, and have properties that your skin can benefit from as well. As always, if you do experience a break out here and there, don’t fret! Apply Repêchage Hydra Medic® Clear Complexion Drying Lotion as an on-the-spot treatment to zap that zit away! Simply apply it overnight if you feel a pimple about to form, or if one already made it’s way. If you find you’re skin is acne prone, try incorporating a regime that specifically caters to this skin type, such as our Hydra Medic® Acne Prone Skin Care collection for acne at any age! This line is composed of natural ingredients, including a synergistic anti-oxidant tea blend, and works to soothe inflamed skin to leave it noticeably healthier and smoother.

So, the next time you pop a piece of chocolate into your mouth, enjoy it, and don’t be scared for your skin!

How do you control break outs? Tell us in the comments below!