CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With Halloween just around the corner, you’ll probably have more chocolate than normal lying around the house.
But before you reach for it, WCNC Charlotte's Verify team looked into if there is a health concern you’ll want to know about.
OUR SOURCES
WHAT WE FOUND
Taylor said this question is not new.
"So I've heard that as well pretty much my whole life," Taylor exclaimed.
But is there any validity to these claims?
"What we know when it comes to breakouts related to food is that when you have spikes in your sugar, so when you're eating things like sugary drinks or you're eating, you know, pastas, white rice, things like that, that really makes your sugar pull up quickly – sometimes in candy, there's lots of sugar, too – so anything that makes you have spikes in your glucose, or in your sugar in your body, makes you more likely to get a pimple," Lucas said.
Taylor said it's important to note everyone’s skin is different, so something that can cause a flare-up in one person, might not in another.
"There will be people who are more prone to having acne, and they could potentially have a worse breakout if their glycemic index gets too high," she said.
If you notice your skin is breaking out, Taylor said take note of your diet.
"For someone who breaks out all the time, if that person has identified certain foods or beverages that make their acne seem to flare up, start paying attention to that, and then just don't do those things," Taylor said. "Just avoid, avoid or minimize."
So we can verify that while chocolate itself doesn't cause acne, the sugar and other ingredients in chocolate can contribute to breakouts. Both doctors said if acne is something you’re struggling with, a licensed dermatologist can help you sort through all of these factors and come up with a treatment plan.