Long suspected to trigger acne, chocolate has obtained a pass until just lately. One small study by the Netherlands printed in 2013 found a link between chocolate and skin changes leading to acne. For the study, the scientists collected blood in seven healthy people before and then they ate 1.7 oz of chocolate, daily, for four times.
Researchers then subjected the blood cells to bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes--that bring about acne when they develop indoors clogged pores--and to Staphylococcus aureus, another skin bacteria that can aggravate acne.
After eating the chocolate, the participants' blood cells produced more interleukin-1b, which can be a marker of inflammation, when subjected to Propionibacterium acnes. Eating chocolate also increased production of another immune system variable called interleukin 10 after exposure to Staphylococcus aureus. Interleukin 10 is thought to lessen the body's defenses against microorganisms so higher levels can allow bacteria to infect pimples and worsen them.
This implies that chocolate can increase inflammation and encourage bacterial infection, making acne worse. This was a very small study, however, and more research is needed. Dark chocolate contains health-promoting antioxidants, so depending on how much you consume per day, you may choose to wait for additional evidence. In the meantime, to see if you might be allergic to chocolate, try removing it for a week, by itself, and see if you notice a change in your skin.
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