Acne

Acne is no fun and most teenagers have some experience of it. It’s caused by hormonal changes but it can affect adults too.

Dairy products can cause or make it worse. Vegan actor Woody Harrelson describes how when he was about 24 years old and he had tons of acne and a runny nose until a stranger on a bus told him to quit dairy and all the symptoms would be gone in three days. She was right and he’s never looked back.

Most milk in the UK is taken from pregnant cows whose milk is packed full of hormones designed to make their young calves grow, grow, grow! These hormones can act on the skin and trigger acne. This is why body builders who use hormones and milk-based (whey) protein supplements to make their muscles bulge are more prone to acne.

To help treat or avoid acne, eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, include wholegrains and pulses in your meals, eat less processed and sugary foods and stay away from cow’s milk and dairy products. Find out what you need to eat each day here.

Find out more about acne: White Lies – Acne and Milk – spot on!

And here’s our guide on how to go dairy-free.