Alternative Milks and Your Skin

Written by Kathleen Hernandez

Have you ever consumed dairy milk, only to wake up the next day experiencing a breakout? It might surprise you to learn that specific milk alternatives are not better for your skin than dairy milk. In fact, many plant-based milk alternatives contain sugars that can lead to inflammation and acne breakouts.

It’s not unusual for people to get breakouts from milk. Dairy products, specifically dairy milk, are among the worst when it comes to acne. Those with lactose intolerance also suffer digestive problems from dairy foods.

But what about alternatives to milk, such as almond, soy, coconut, hemp, oat and flaxseed milk? Despite what you may think, these milk alternatives could be harming your skin.

How Dairy Breakdown Affects the Skin

Proteins in milk, such as whey and casein, drive growth and hormone production when we drink their milk. As a result of digesting these proteins, IGF-1 is released, a hormone similar to insulin. The release of this hormone is believed to cause acne breakouts since it’s known to clog and block pores. Most dairy products also produce a large amount of insulin (an acne-causing hormone) and casein A1, which can damage the gut and cause acne. Milk is also extremely high in lactose and whey, triggering acne in certain individuals.

Dairy is also high in calcium, which prevents zinc, a crucial nutrient for clear skin, from being absorbed.

Lactose is the natural sugar found in milk. As we grow older, it becomes more difficult to digest lactose. Thus, your acne-related breakout could result from lactose sensitivity or an allergic reaction if you are among the 65% who are lactose intolerant.

The Best Dairy-free Milk Substitutes for Acne-prone Skin

The dairy-free milk alternatives that will give you great skin are made of coconut, almond, macadamia and cashew. It’s good to always go for sugar-free, natural milk alternatives with the least amount of added ingredients possible.

Alternative Milk Alternatives for Your Skin

Coconut Milk

Instead of dairy milk, drink coconut milk to help reduce acne breakouts. Coconut is low in protein and lactose, which means fewer hormones that can clog pores. Also, coconut meat has been proven to balance hormones that affect the endocrine system. It’s especially beneficial for those who suffer from digestive problems.

Coconut can be used to moisturize dry skin and soothe acne. It contains lauric acid, which helps restore the skin’s protective barrier against bacteria, viruses and fungi while minimizing acne breakouts at the same time. Coconut milk also balances your skin’s natural pH level while hydrating it with vitamins and minerals.

Almond Milk

If you are lactose intolerant, almond milk is the obvious choice. Almond milk is much lower in sugar than other milk alternatives and can help control acne-causing hormones. It’s also beneficial to your heart health since it contains monounsaturated fats that decrease LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels while increasing HDL levels.

Macadamia Milk

Macadamia milk is low in protein and fat content but high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), which means less bad cholesterol and more healthy cholesterol. Furthermore, macadamia nut oil acts as an emollient to trap moisture inside the skin and improve elasticity.

Raw macadamia nuts contain high selenium levels, which is an antioxidant that protects our cells from damage by free radicals and prevents acne breakouts. Macadamia milk also contains vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps to regenerate skin cells, keeping your skin looking young and fresh.

Cashew Milk

If you’re not allergic to cashews, straight-up cashew milk is one of the best choices for clear skin since it’s low in carbs and sugar content compared to other dairy-free options. It also contains nearly double the amount of monounsaturated fat as almond milk, which reduces LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels while increasing HDL levels, keeping your heart healthy.

Cashew milk is also higher in vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, copper and manganese than all other non-dairy kinds of milk. These are essential vitamins and minerals for beautiful skin, so tiny pimples aren’t going to stand a chance.

An entertaining fact about cashews is that they are the highest fruit source of tryptophan, the amino acid that helps fight against depression by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. So drinking cashew milk will not only clear your skin but also make you happier!

What Else Could Be Causing Your Breakout?

If your breakouts are caused by dairy, changing your diet will clear things up very fast. But if you break out even though you don’t eat milk or milk products, you may want to take a step back and evaluate your diet.

Numerous factors can cause breakouts. For example, breakouts can result from allergies to particular makeup and hair products ingredients. There is also a possibility that sensitivities to cocoa and coffee beans play a role.

During puberty, pregnancy and the menstrual cycle, hormone levels may fluctuate, thus causing acne. Acne and stress have been linked, so outside factors might be contributing to breakouts as well. Acne does have a genetic component, so your family may have passed it down to you.

A Parting Reminder

If you’re planning to change your diet for acne or any other reason, talk to your healthcare provider about how to do so without compromising your health. Acne is a complicated condition that can be hard to treat, so you may need to do more than make a few dietary adjustments.

Bring it up with your healthcare provider if you are having trouble managing your acne or it’s affecting your life. Your skin may improve, and you may feel better about yourself if you see a specialist or change your treatment.