Can Chocolate Make your Skin Breakout?

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CLEVELAND - With Halloween around the corner, there’ll likely be plenty of chocolate around the house.

You may have heard that indulging in chocolate, candy and other junk foods can cause pimples, but is there any truth to that?

“We know eating foods that spike your glucose, or blood sugar, can make you more likely to get a pimple. This would include things like sugary candy and drinks as well as white pasta and rice,” explained Jennifer Lucas, MD, a dermatologist for Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Lucas said that’s because sugary and processed foods ultimately cause inflammation in the body, which can then lead to oily skin and breakouts.

She stressed a particular type of food like chocolate can’t be blamed for pimples – but eating unhealthy in general can make some people more prone to breakouts.

Genetics also play a role, so certain people may not experience any issues with their skin after enjoying certain foods.

If you do notice junk food tends to make you break out, Dr. Lucas said keeping up with a healthy diet can help clear up your skin.

Along with what you eat, it’s important to remember that other factors impact your skin as well.

“When it comes to figuring out what's causing your pimple, it's usually multiple things on top of your diet like your age, hormones, stress as well as the products you're using on your skin that are thick and occlusive,” Dr. Lucas said.

If acne is something you’re struggling with, Dr. Lucas said a dermatologist can help you sort through these factors and come up with a treatment plan.