Like many coffee-drinking millennials, Im a big fan ofoat milk.
(Heresthe full storyif youre interested.)
That said, my skin is in a pretty good place at the moment.
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As Pavitt explained on the podcast, many popular oat milks contain seed oils, which can cause acne.
A compelling result indeed!
Like any good scientist, I must point out the variables in my informal experiment.
(If you have acne, you get what Im saying.)
The Dairy-Acne Connection
But wait!
you may be asking.
Arent people with acne supposed to stayawayfrom dairy?
Dr. Campbell tells her acne-prone patients to avoid dairy and whey or creatine supplements for this reason.
Why might oat milk cause acne?
I had to know more, so I gave Pavitt a call.
I think [diet] has an impact, says Dr. Penzi.
Do I think its the main component?
Its a piece of the puzzle, but its hard because some factors play a bigger role.
Oat milk itself could be contributing to my acne, but its likely not theoatsthat are to blame.
Registered dietitianJaclyn Londoninstantly flagged one word in our conversation: creamer.
Her specific concern was around thesugarin that creamer.
Its a little early to blame it all on the oat milk, she says.
Manufacturers have added extra ingredients to give it a more desirable taste or a better texture.
(Or maybe not so sneaky: I buy vanilla-flavored oat milk specificallybecauseit makes my coffee sweeter.)
(The label on the oat milk creamer I use says it contains four grams of added sugar.
Regular old cows milk, by contrast, typically does not contain added sugar.)
Is oat milk spiking my glucose levels?
In a word: yes.
But stay with me.
Its a perfectly fine thing at the end of the day, she confirms.
When you ingest glucose, your body releases insulin as a reaction.
London says frequent spikes like these could also increase sebum production.
So, should I stop drinking oat milk?
Dr. Landrys pick is soy milk, which he says is closest to cows milk from a nutritional standpoint.
So is my love of oat milk causing my skin issues?
The answer is … maybe.
If youve been sipping on oat milk without any signs of skin struggles, keep sipping and enjoy it!
After all, current science seems to indicate thatoat milk is one of the least-worst milksfor our planet.
Diet plays a significant role in hormone regulation, and hormonal imbalances can contribute to skin problems like acne.
A balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants is essential for maintaining healthy skin.
More skin-care science:
Do You Really Need a Whole Body Deodorant?
The Myth of Preventative Botox
Let’s Unpack the Latest Discourse Around SPF
Now, watch this:
