Skin Health Acne Causes & Risk Factors Does Chocolate Cause Acne? By Angela Palmer facebook Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment. Learn about our editorial process Angela Palmer Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD on November 12, 2019 Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology and works as a practicing dermatologist and clinical professor. Learn about our Medical Review Board Casey Gallagher, MD Updated on January 23, 2020 Print Chocolate has taken the blame for breakouts for decades. But is the bad rap justified? Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Blend Images / Getty Images There Is No Evidence That Chocolate Itself Causes Acne It's good news for all you chocoholics: eating chocolate does not cause pimples. There are no studies linking this sweet treat to the development of acne. There is no evidence that cocoa beans, from which chocolate is made, cause pimples. And while some point to the sugar that also makes up a portion of all chocolate treats, even that evidence is weak. That means that eating an occasional chocolate bar, or two or three, will not cause acne. Cutting chocolate out of your diet won't clear up a case of acne, either. Certain Other Foods May Trigger Acne Chocolate may be off the hook. But, these days, more attention is being paid to the link between diet and acne development. Surprisingly, it's not any of the "usual" culprits getting the blame. Instead of French fries, soda, or potato chips, it's things like dairy products and carbohydrates that are under the microscope. Does that mean if you eat one ice cream bar you'll get one pimple? And eating two donuts means two pimples? No, it doesn't work like that (thank goodness). Even the most recent research on the diet and acne connection doesn't suggest that any specific foods cause acne in an otherwise clear-skinned person. Rather, it shows that consuming these foods may make existing acne worse for some people. Got a New Breakout After Eating Chocolate? So, chocolate isn't on the shortlist of possible acne triggers. But what about that pimple you got the day after eating a chocolate bar? Most likely it's just a coincidence. You would have gotten that same pimple, chocolate bar or none. Acne waxes and wanes on its own accord. Although we would love to ascribe blame for our latest breakout, the truth is it's often impossible to pinpoint a cause. Acne is a complex skin problem, and breakouts come and go without a specific cause. There Are Many Factors That Are Proven Acne-Triggers Food isn't the most likely culprit for your acne. The real causes of acne are a buildup of dead skin cells within the pore, an excess of skin oil (called sebum), and a proliferation of acne-causing bacteria. Hormones also play a role in acne development. That's why acne is so common during puberty and, for ladies, around the time of your period. The predisposition for acne is also hereditary. So if your parents had acne, you probably will too. If a particular food seems to cause more breakouts for you, avoid eating it. But remember, there is no direct link between any specific food to the development of pimples. So go ahead and enjoy that piece of chocolate or order of fries (in moderation, of course. A healthy diet is still important.) Your skin will be no worse for it the next day. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with acne can be frustrating. Our free guide provides expert tips to help you take control. Sign up and get yours today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Acne. Updated September 2016. Manmood SN, Bowe WP. Diet and acne update: Carbohydrates emerge as the main culprit. J Drugs Dermatol. 2014;13(4):428-35. Ismail NH, Manaf ZA, Azizan NZ. High glycemic load diet, milk and ice cream consumption are related to acne vulgaris in Malaysian young adults: A case control study. BMC Dermatol. 2012;12:13. doi:10.1186/1471-5945-12-13 American Academy of Dermatology. Can the right diet get rid of acne?