Do you love whey protein but suspect that it might be the culprit of major breakouts on your face and body? If so, this post is for you. Veganism has gotten a lot of attention for its supposed ability to clear acne, but what about plant-based protein? Does plant-based protein cause acne? Join us as we explore the details concerning several possible causes for your acne, as well as whether or not plant-based protein will make your acne worse.
Table of Contents
- Will Plant-Based Protein Cause Acne?
- Plant Proteins
- How to Prevent Acne from Whey Protein
- Is Plant Based Protein Bad for You?
- Can Going Plant-Based Cause Acne?
- FAQs
- So Does Plant-Based Protein Cause Acne? Not Usually
Will Plant-Based Protein Cause Acne?
In a nutshell…No.
Plant-based protein is derived from plants, and as such, has more of a propensity to clear your skin than to cause breakouts. Unlike milk-based protein products, plant-based shakes and protein sources won’t cause excess sebum to accumulate within your pores, which is often a culprit of acne caused by typical protein shakes and powders.
Is Plant-Based Protein Bad for Acne?
Plant-based protein is hardly ever a cause for concern when it comes to acne. Rather, it is dairy-ridden milk based protein powder varieties you should be worried about.
Studies have shown that dairy products cause the skin to secrete more sebum which will make you more prone to acne breakouts.
Not only that, but the intake of dairy can also lead to rapid growth of skin cells and hormone fluctuations that can also cause flare ups and breakouts.
Plant Proteins
Does Rice Protein Cause Acne?
In order to stop acne in its tracks, many have sought to eliminate dairy and milk products in their protein shakes and to opt for rice-based protein instead.
So, does this work? It certainly can!
But like anything else, you’ll want to be careful.
When mixing your protein shakes, opt to use water instead of milk or other dairy containing products. You’ll also want to examine your life for other known acne-boosters including stress, lack of sleep, fatigue, poor hygiene, low quality makeup and more.
Remember, while nixing dairy from your diet can certainly help promote clear skin, it isn’t always the only piece to the puzzle.
Still, rice protein may help you achieve clearer skin faster than a traditional whey protein powder.
Does Brown Rice Protein Cause Acne?
Similar to white rice, brown rice protein has the potential to advance you on your journey to clearer skin as long as it isn’t mixed or blended with other dairy containing products.
However, as mentioned before, simply nixing dairy may not always completely banish your acne flare ups. You will always want to examine your diet and lifestyle and also stop drinking brown rice protein if you notice an immediate change that seems directly correlated to the start of your consuming brown rice protein.
Does Whey Protein Cause Acne?
Does whey protein cause breakouts?
It is well-known that whey protein can actually cause acne flare ups, especially for those particularly sensitive to dairy.
The cause of this is linked to the fact that many dairy-containing products produce excess skin cell growth and oil production, and, as you might imagine, this could wreak havoc on face and body skin.
For this reason, many have sought to try veganism, or at least a plant-based protein, to nip problems with acne in the bud. By and large, these methods of avoiding meat and dairy seem to work, but it may not be the ultimate solution for everyone who tries it.
How to Prevent Acne from Whey Protein
One of the best ways to prevent acne is to locate the source.
Sure, that is easy enough to say, but how can that be done?
First, we’d recommend making the switch to a plant-based protein diet to see if that does, indeed, eradicate your acne problem.
If not, you should also try the following:
- Shower Immediately After Working Out
- Avoid Low Quality Makeup
- Use Skin and Hair Care Products Marketed as Non-Comedogenic
- Eliminate Stress
- Avoid Excessive Sugar
- Limit or Avoid Fried Foods
- Limit or Eliminate Dairy
Is Plant Based Protein Bad for You?
Actually, plant-based protein diets can be much healthier for you than animal or dairy-derived protein products.
Oftentimes, the overconsumption of dairy and meat leads to weight gain and can contribute to unsavory health complications later on in life. A plant-based diet, and more specifically, plant-based protein can be an extremely healthy replacement, especially given its similar nutritional profile to that of meat and dairy.
Can Going Plant-Based Cause Acne?
Why does vegan protein powder make me break out?
As previously mentioned, going vegan or plant-based may not be the end all be all to your acne woes. Actually, many people who have gone the route of veganism can still experience routine breakouts.
So, what gives?
Remember that there can be a variety of factors that attribute to acne breakouts apart from consuming meat and dairy.
It could be that you have a sensitivity to something within the shake, and even a plant-based shake, that is causing breakouts for you.
If this is the case, your best bet is to eliminate the plant-based protein and watch to see if your flare ups continue.
If they do, there might be another cause for your acne. Consider trying the steps mentioned in sections above to rid yourself of acne, or see a dermatologist for additional assistance.
FAQs
What protein causes acne? What type of protein gives you acne?
Acne is most commonly associated with whey-based protein although this isn’t always the case. If you suspect that whey-based protein is causing your breakouts, you may wish to try a plant-based protein instead.
Can protein cause acne breakouts?
Whey-based and meat containing proteins can cause acne breakouts, but this isn’t always a problem for everyone.
What protein does not cause acne?
For the most part, it appears that plant-based proteins will do little to cause acne. If you do notice flare ups, check the label of your plant-based protein. If it is full of additives, colors and synthetic ingredients, it may be that you are sensitive to these and may need to try a purer, higher quality powder.
Does protein powder cause acne?
Protein powder, and especially those that contain whey, can certainly cause acne. Whey and dairy containing products tend to promote the secretion of sebum and skin cell production making breakouts more likely.
Can drinking protein shakes give you acne?
Drinking protein shakes of whey variety can cause acne, but not always. Plant-based protein powders aren’t as likely to cause acne. Any protein powder with excessive additives and synthetic ingredients may have the propensity to cause acne.
So Does Plant-Based Protein Cause Acne? Not Usually
So, to answer the question of, “Does plant-based protein cause acne?” the answer is usually no. However, if you notice yourself still breaking out after making the switch to plant-based protein you may wish to examine your lifestyle habits and speak to a dermatologist for further advice.
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