--- title: "Does Greasy Food Cause Acne? The Research" description: "The truth about diet and acne — greasy food isn't the villain, but your diet does affect your skin." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Eating greasy or fried food directly causes breakouts.", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Greasy food does not directly cause acne through skin contact but high glycemic foods and dairy have legitimate research linking them to increased breakouts in some people." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://schoolofdermatology.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Myth vs Fact", "item": "https://schoolofdermatology.com/myth-vs-fact" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Greasy Food Causes Acne", "item": "https://schoolofdermatology.com/myth-vs-fact/greasy-food-causes-acne" } ] } ] --- [![School of Dermatology](/assets/logo-AGZDufdq.svg)](/) Articles [Skin Types](/skin-types) Tools [Glossary](/glossary) ![Greasy Food Causes Acne](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1561758033-d89a9ad46330?w=800&h=400&fit=crop&fm=webp) [Myth vs. Fact](/myth-vs-fact) # Greasy Food Causes Acne PARTIALLY TRUE By Jamie Reeves, Licensed Esthetician May 14, 2024 5 min read ## The Claim "Eating greasy or fried food directly causes breakouts." ## The Science The relationship between diet and acne is more nuanced than the old 'greasy food causes pimples' claim suggests. Eating a burger or fries does not directly cause acne through some mechanism of grease traveling from your stomach to your face. The oil you eat and the oil your skin produces are regulated by entirely different systems. However, there is legitimate research linking certain dietary patterns to increased breakouts. High glycemic foods — those that spike blood sugar quickly, like white bread, sugary snacks, and yes, many fried foods — can trigger a hormonal cascade that increases sebum production and inflammation. Multiple studies have shown a correlation between high glycemic diets and acne severity. Dairy is another dietary factor with growing evidence behind it. Several large studies have found associations between dairy consumption, particularly skim milk, and increased acne. The mechanism is thought to involve hormones and growth factors naturally present in milk. So while the specific claim about greasy food is mostly a myth, the broader connection between diet and skin is very real. ### Key Takeaway Greasy food does not directly cause acne through skin contact but high glycemic foods and dairy have legitimate research linking them to increased breakouts in some people. ## Related Articles [ ![Why You Still Have Acne in Your 30s (And What to Do About It)](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1616394584738-fc6e612e71b9?w=800&h=400&fit=crop&q=80&fm=webp) Skin Concerns ### Why You Still Have Acne in Your 30s (And What to Do About It) You thought acne was a teenage problem. So why is your skin still breaking out at 32? The causes of adult acne are different — and so are the solutions. Jamie Reeves · 9 min read ](/articles/skin-concerns/acne-in-your-30s)[ ![Why Stress Breaks Out Your Skin and What to Do About It](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1541199249251-f713e6145474?w=800&h=400&fit=crop&q=80&fm=webp) Skin Concerns ### Why Stress Breaks Out Your Skin and What to Do About It Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and it responds to stress in measurable, physiological ways. Here's the science behind stress breakouts — and what actually helps. Jamie Reeves · 9 min read ](/articles/skin-concerns/why-stress-causes-breakouts)[ ![Closed Comedones: Why They're Harder to Treat Than Regular Acne](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1552693673-1bf958298935?w=800&h=400&fit=crop&q=80&fm=webp) Skin Concerns ### Closed Comedones: Why They're Harder to Treat Than Regular Acne Those tiny, flesh-colored bumps that refuse to come to a head? They're closed comedones — and they require a completely different treatment strategy than inflammatory acne. 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