Coffee and Acne: Uncovering the Truth Behind the Breakouts

Updated on: 28th October, 2024

With the increase in awareness of living a healthy life, especially on social media, coffee has been the center of controversy for its negative impact on health. 

It is popularly believed that coffee can cause acne. A lot of people claim that coffee was one of the reasons for their acne breakout. 

So does black coffee cause acne? More importantly, what does science say about this? 

According to science, caffeine which is the prime component of coffee, does not directly cause acne. This leads us to the conclusion that there are different ways that drinking coffee can cause an acne breakout. 

Let’s dig deeper and find out the possible situations where your coffee causes acne

A lot of people take milk or cream in their coffee. According to studies, dairy/milk has the potential to cause acne or worsen it. It was observed that high amounts of milk consumption lead to an increase in insulin-like growth factor IGF-1, which is known to cause acne breakouts. 

It is known by all that consuming high amounts of sugar has a dreadful impact on your health, including your skin. Consuming too much sugar leads to an increase in blood sugar levels which makes your skin prone to acne breakouts.

Consuming coffee to combat stress leads to changes in sleep cycles. This causes an increase in cortisol levels in our body. Cortisol is a stress hormone which is a type of steroid or androgen and is responsible for causing breakout. Therefore it is recommended to have coffee in moderation. 

Acne is a complex condition influenced by various factors including genetics, hormones, and lifestyle. While coffee itself isn’t directly proven to cause acne, several components of your morning brew might play a role in exacerbating skin issues.

Caffeine and Stress Hormones

Caffeine is the most discussed component when considering coffee’s effects on the skin. Caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands, leading to increased production of stress hormones like cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels can increase oil production in the skin, potentially leading to clogged pores and acne breakouts.

While moderate caffeine consumption is generally safe for most people, those with a predisposition to acne might find that reducing caffeine intake helps manage their symptoms.

Other Compounds in Coffee

Apart from caffeine, coffee contains a host of other compounds that might affect skin health. Diterpenes, such as cafestol and kahweol, are naturally occurring oils found in coffee that have been shown to increase inflammation in the body. Since acne is fundamentally an inflammatory condition, these compounds might be contributing to breakouts in sensitive individuals.

Now that we know how does coffee cause acne, we can establish that one can drink coffee without any fear of acne, given that certain regulations are followed. 

If you are someone who absolutely loves coffee and can’t stop drinking it, you can practice some easy steps to make sure your cup of coffee won’t lead to an acne breakout. 

Prefer Black Coffee

As we discussed that dairy milk or cream in coffee can cause acne, it’s advised to lower your dairy milk intake and replace your regular coffee with Black coffee. 

Drink in moderation

Too much of anything is always dangerous. Limit your consumption to one or two cups a day. Be considerate of the time as well. Drinking coffee at night can hamper your sleep cycle , leading to inadequate sleeping hours and ultimately breakouts. 

It’s always advisable to consult a dermatologist for a proper diagnosis and personalised acne treatment plan.