In fact, a Brazilian study of 30 patients showed a very strong association between the onset or exacerbation of acne and initiation of whey protein use – and the finding was more pronounced among women than men, and among those without a personal or family history of acne (An. Bras. Dermatol. 2013;88:907-12).
In that study, subjects were examined on three occasions and followed for 60 days.
“They went the gym, wanted to work out a little bit and get bigger, took some whey, and broke out in acne,” Dr. Keri said.
Although acne breakouts won’t happen to everyone who uses whey protein, it’s something worth considering in teens, particularly if they fail to respond to standard therapies, she said.
Although the reason for the association hasn’t yet been “teased out,” whey protein is derived from cow’s milk, and it appears to be related to activation of the insulin cascade, explained Dr. Keri.
Dr. Nanette B. Silverberg of the Mount Sinai Health System, New York, author of the case series involving the five male athletes, noted that milk is known to be associated with acne and suggested that whey protein may be the fraction of dairy products that promote acne formation.
Similarly, based on findings from a study of five adult male bodybuilders who developed moderate to severe facial or truncal acne after consuming whey protein, Dr. Thierry Simonart of Brussels noted that the observations are “in line with biochemical and epidemiological data supporting the effects of milk and dairy products as enhancers of insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling and acne aggravation” (Dermatology 2012;225:256-8).
Dr. Kerri reported having no relevant disclosures.