Posted by kathryn in Q & A Thursday

The next question is a follow up to my post on milk and acne. A reader has asked if it’s better to use non-dairy “milks” like soy or rice milk if you’re trying to reduce acne.

The short answer to this question is it depends on the person . . .

• Research has indicated there may be a link between cow’s milk and acne. I’ve blogged about this before here and a copy of one of the research papers can be found at Dermatology Online Journal.
• If you remove cow’s milk from your diet and notice a continued improvement in your acne, then converting to soy, rice or almond milk is a good idea.
• Nutritionally, soy and almond milks have higher protein and a lower GI than rice milk. But given variety is a key nutritional concept it can also be a good idea to vary the milks you consume.
• There are some indications soy milk may inhibit the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), thought to be one of the drivers behind acne. Therefore it’s possible including soy milk may reduce the effects of this hormone and improve acne. Although the exact effects of this are still unclear.
• It should also be noted soy is a common food for people to be allergic and intolerant to. This can manifest as skin changes. So if you’re adding soy milk in, to reduce acne, monitor your symptoms.

What is Q & A Thursday?

This post is part of Q & A Thursday – a monthly burst of blogging, where you get to dictate the subject matter. Q & A Thursday is all about simple, practical answers to food and diet dilemmas sent in by readers.

For more information you can take a look at the Q & A Thursday archives.

03 July, 2008