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Will drinking milk make you greasy, grimy, and pimply? Some doctors suspect that the fat, animal protein, sugar, and hormones in milk irritate the skin, causing break-outs.

Dr. Jerome K. Fisher conducted a clinical study of 1,088 teen-age patients over 10 years and reported to the American Dermatological Association that milk was a principal contributor to some patients' acne. Dr. Fisher found that their acne tapered off as their milk consumption did.

Dr. Fisher noted that dairy products often contain large amounts of butterfat and milk sugar, both of which, he believed, aggravate acne. He also suspected that the high volume of hormones produced naturally in the milk of pregnant cows may break down into androgen when consumed, which in turn stimulates the production of sebum, the waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands that clogs pores and creates acne when the pores become infected.

Milk may also contain excessive amounts of iodine, which can irritate pores, bringing on acne flare-ups. According to James E. Fulton JR, MD, head of the Acne Research Institute in Newport Beach, California, "In some who are acne-prone, I'd say 1,000 micrograms or one milligram of iodine a day could be a problem." A 1997 survey carried out by MAFF's Joint Food Safety and Standards Group on the nutrient content of milk showed iodine levels in British milk to be as high as 480 micrograms per litre. (The iodine gets into the milk through supplemented cattle feed as modern dairy cows spend little time at pasture.)

Other health-care providers agree that clearing refrigerators of dairy products can help clear up skin:

According to Dr. Laura E. Skellchock, Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, and dermatologist at Kaiser Permanente, "Some people find that consuming large quantities of dairy products may worsen their acne."

Gynecologist Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom , believes that acne is associated with the consumption of dairy foods.

Australian naturopath Dr. Russell Setright advises: "It is important to stay away from…dairy products" in order to prevent acne.

Columbia University's Health Education Program offers these dietary tips to avoid acne:

Eat a diet high in fiber–salads, bran, complex carbohydrates and drink lots of water. Fiber helps the digestive tract eliminate wastes, so the skin doesn't have to.

Keep your diet low in fat and sugar. Eating healthier foods ensures that your skin gets all the nutrients it needs.

Food allergies may also aggravate acne. Common allergenic food substances include dairy products, wheat, andpreservatives.

For more information on the link between dairy products and acne, visit http://www.notmilk.com/gotzits.html .

For information on alternatives to dairy, visit http://www.milksucks.com/uk/free.html .