Is Whole Milk or Skim Milk Worse for Acne?

 Association between milk consumption and acne

I recently came across some interesting findings about milk consumption. It turns out that there is a correlation between milk consumption and acne, especially in teenage boys who consume skim milk. This is likely due to the hydrophilic protein fraction in cow's milk, which increases insulin/IGF-1 signaling. Cow's milk contains active IGF-1 and IGF-2, which can survive digestion and remain bioactive in milk consumers' plasma. High milk consumption is associated with increased circulating IGF-1 levels, which can impact the GH/IGF-1 axis in children who consume overwhelming amounts of ultra-heat-treated (UHT) milk.

Additionally, milk has a powerful insulinotropic effect, meaning it can cause a significant increase in insulin levels, even with a low glycemic index. Skim milk has been identified as a potent insulin secretagogue in type 2 diabetic patients. Prospective cohort studies of 4273 teenage boys and 6094 teenage girls in the United States demonstrated a correlation between milk consumption and acne. In boys, the strongest association between intake of skim milk and acne. Thus, not the lipophilic androgenic steroids enriched in milk fat but more likely the hydrophilic protein fraction in cow's milk, which increases insulin/IGF-1 signaling, might have a stronger influence on the milk-induced aggravation of acne.

Cow's milk contains active IGF-1 and IGF-2. High levels of IGF-1 are still detectable after pasteurization and homogenization of milk. Intriguingly, bovine and human IGF-1 shares the same amino acid sequence and thus binds to the human IGF1R. Several lines of evidence indicate that IGFs in milk may survive digestion and remain bioactive in the plasma of milk consumers. 

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Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Berkey CS, Danby FW, Rockett HH, Colditz GA, et al. Milk consumption and acne in teenaged boys. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008; 58: 787-793. 11. Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Berkey CS, Danby FW, Rockett HH, Colditz GA, et al. Milk consumption and acne in adolescent girls. Dermatol Online J. 2006; 12: 1.