While whey protein powder builds muscles, it may be the cause for unruly breakouts, especially in women, dermatologists warn.
Dermatologists
have seen an increase in hormonal acne in women who add the popular
post-workout regimen to their smoothies and shakes, a doctor told
Women's Health.
Whey protein is a dairy product that contains hormones which produce oils that can clog pores.
Since
women are more inclined to experience hormonal acne, a relationship
between the protein and breakouts have been suggested by researchers,
though few studies have been conducted to prove a direct link.
A growth hormone called
IGF-1 is present in dairy and causes an increase in insulin, triggering
sebum oil production that clogs pores and leads to acne. Though
there is extensive research that shows dairy products and acne are
connected, there have been few studies on the relationship between the
use of whey protein and acne to prove they are directly linked.
But
one study on 30 participants showed the onset of acne in those who used
the supplement over a two-month period were more prominent in women
than men. Acne is caused by excess oil production, clogged pores, bacteria and hormones.
New York dermatologist Dr Morgan Rabach said: 'Hormonal acne is much more of a thing in women than men.' She
suggests that whey protein throws women's hormones off, including
testosterone, but other factors come into play when diagnosing acne. 'I
have advised patients to stop using whey and everything from the kinds
of cleansers and lotions they use to cleaning their cell-phone with
alcohol pads to get rid of oils,' she said.
