Ah, the age-old question. And one that is particularly relevant at this time of year. It feels like—as soon as the festive season is out of the way—we are bombarded with Easter eggs from every angle. Not literally, of course.
But they do, however deliciously, have a nasty habit of derailing our carefully laid plans to eat well in the New Year. So, does chocolate actually cause spots and pimples—or is that just a lie our parents told us to get us to finish our vegetables?
Fortunately, our dermatologist expert Dr Sonia Khorana is here with some impartial advice on eating well to support your skin—and on what to do if you suffer a breakout (hint: you might need a reliable pimple patch).
Does chocolate actually cause spots?
Drum roll please… yes, and no. Don’t worry, we’ll explain. Or rather, Dr Sonia will…
‘There is no evidence that chocolate alone causes acne—but high-glycaemic index foods, processed foods and sugar are thought to be triggers for acne and blemishes. Chocolate with high milk and sugar content falls into this category—so it’s not just chocolate alone, it’s the group of foods that it belongs to as a whole.
This suggests that eating your own bodyweight in milk chocolate probably isn’t going to be great for your skin—which probably isn’t too much of a shock—but what’s the science?
According to Dr Sonia, whey protein isolates bind themselves to insulin-like growth factors, causing higher blood sugar levels, which triggers an inflammatory cascade. And yes, this is as bad as it sounds, as it causes the amount of sebum your sebaceous glands produce to increase, which can increase your chances of having a breakout.
Are there ever any health benefits to eating chocolate?
Finally, some good news! Over to Dr Sonia: ‘There are some benefits to eating dark chocolate—it has antioxidant properties that can help neutralise free radicals brought about by UV light and pollution’.
Sadly, she only recommends eating a few squares a week (boo!), but studies have shown that polyphenols found in the cocoa plant have anti-inflammatory properties as well antioxidant ones—so it’s well worth adding it to your shopping list!
Are there any foods that are really good for your skin?
Your skin loves moisture—so drinking lots of water is a must (other sugar-free drinks are allowed if you’re not a fan of water by itself).
In terms of food, Dr Sonia recommends eating foods that are rich in skin-friendly nutrients. These include antioxidants, which can be found in blueberries, cranberries, spinach, acai, oranges, broccoli and dark green leafy vegetables. Carotenoid-rich foods like carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit are also recommended.
You should also look to include foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids—oily fish, flaxseeds and walnuts—in your diet, alongside zinc-rich foods like shellfish, eggs, lean red meat, pumpkin seeds, lentils, yoghurt and cashew nuts.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the first half of that list sounds exactly like those vegetables your parents told you to eat. And, while you’d be right in that assumption, it sounds like they were pretty wise words—as far as your skin is concerned anyway.
What if, despite my best efforts, I still end up with a breakout?
Sadly, if you’re prone to acne, even eating nothing but broccoli (yuck!) probably won’t protect you from a breakout. This is not cause for despair—and definitely not a reason to give up and run to the corner shop for chocolate—as you’ve got us in your corner, and we’ve got Hero Pimple Patches.
We think our pimple patches are a delicious selection box of everything you need to tackle a pimple when one pops up (although, as our legal department has asked us to say, you can’t actually eat them).
Take the Hero Mighty Patch Original for example. Designed for overnight use, it takes around 6–8 hours to absorb the gunk from your pimple. Just like the rest of the patches in the range, it’s made from medical-grade hydrocolloid—which has been used to heal wounds in medical settings for some time.
Or the new kid on the block, Hero Mighty Patch Nose. Specially designed to tackle acne on and at the sides of your nose – including in the creases – it’s thin and flexible, which means it will contour to your nose for a perfect fit. Much easier than using multiple smaller patches or strips, it’s gentle and effective – plus peeling it off is oddly satisfying!
So, while a balanced diet can help keep your skin healthy, and be tasty too (we promise), there’s no substitute for a pimple patch when a breakout strikes. Now excuse us, all this talk of food is making us hungry…