Findings in males with acne-prone skin; statistically significant changes seen as early as two weeks
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WEDNESDAY, Jan. 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For acne-prone males, daily consumption of 99 percent dark chocolate can exacerbate acne, according to a study published online Dec. 29 in theInternational Journal of Dermatology.
Saivaree Vongraviopap, M.D., and Pravit Asawanonda, M.D., from the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, examined the impact of consuming 99 percent dark chocolate in regular daily amounts. Twenty-five acne-prone males were asked to consume 25 g of dark chocolate every day for four weeks.
The researchers found that as early as two weeks into the study, there were statistically significant changes in acne scores and in the numbers of comedones and inflammatory papules detected. The changes remained statistically significant at four weeks compared with baseline.
“Our study supports the notion that chocolate consumption in average daily amounts for four weeks can increase both non-inflammatory and inflammatory lesions in subjects with acne,” the authors write. “Whether chocolate can cause acne in those who are not acne-prone will have to be investigated in the future. In addition, it is interesting to find out if concomitant use of topical or systemic treatments for acne can circumvent the effects of chocolates.”