I did some digging, and found some studies which claim that dairy products can aggravate acne. I even found some writers who advise cutting out all dairy products if you suffer from acne or want to prevent it. In fact, one study concluded that girls that consumed three or more servings of milk each day were 22% more likely to suffer from severe acne.
I'm happy that this email got my attention. The question do dairy products cause acne has never really crossed my mind. Apparently some studies have confirmed a link between dairy product consumption and acne. Many people have mild intolerances to dairy without knowing it. For these people, acne can be one of the reactions they experience.
There wasn't any conclusive reason found as to why milk may cause acne, but some theories have been proposed. Some believe that the hormones in milk(from the pregnant cow) aggravate acne in teenagers as your teenage years are a time when your hormones are very active.
There have also been numerous claims that the fat and sugar in milk is the reason for the link. Whatever the reason, it does appear that there is some truth to the claim.
It is difficult for me to just suggest you cut out milk completely. It's one of my favorite drinks, not just because of the taste, but because of the many health benefits. It's one of the best sources of calcium you can get and a valuable source of protein.
My first piece of advice if you are concerned is to switch to skim milk. This has no fat which would help to prevent acne if it is true that the fat in milk can aggravate acne.
Second, make sure that you actually have a reason to cut out the milk. Try cutting it out for 3 or 4 weeks and see if there is any improvement in your acne. If there isn't, then you know milk isn't causing you a problem and you are fine to drink it. There's no point in cutting out a healthy part of your diet if you don't need to.
If you do cut out milk from your diet, then try to consume other calcium rich foods to make up for the lack of dairy products. These include orange juice, soy products and rice beverages. It's not a bad idea to consider a calcium supplement as well to make sure your body and bones get the calicum they need.
I enjoy receiving emails that lead me to a new discovery - the email I got asking "do dairy products cause acne" did exactly that. Obviously, just changing your diet isn't going to completely eliminate your acne, but you may want to consider cutting back on dairy products and seeing if there is a difference. Although you still have to look for a reputable acne treatment to completely eliminate your acne, making certain lifestyle changes can help you meet your goal of clear skin.
Good luck!