Pimples or skin acne is a condition that affects the skin. Many people get pimples after eating chocolate. Once you stop taking chocolate, it can take a few months before you start noticing any changes. It is important to understand that there are also some types of foods that can cause pimples. Therefore, eliminating chocolate without watching your intake of these foods may not do much to help you with getting rid of the acne. 

Does Chocolate Cause Pimples?

Yes, chocolates can cause skin breakout. For a while now, chocolate has been linked to acne breakout. Dark chocolate is said to be the most dangerous type of chocolate when it comes to developing pimples. This is because dark chocolate contains ingredients that are linked to skin acne just like sugar and fat. Therefore, cutting chocolate out of your diet is advisable if it causes your skin to breakout.

How Chocolate Causes Pimples  

According to research, chocolate is one of the foods singled out as a cause of acne. In every 100g of dark chocolate consumed, you also consume 24g of sugar and 25g of saturated fats. When these processed sugars and saturated fats enter your body, they cause a sugar spike and this encourages the production of insulin. When insulin is produced in excess, it caused inflammation and this causes the breakout.

Other Causes of Pimples

Does chocolate cause pimples? Now that we have answered this question, there are other causes of pimples.

1.    Clogged Skin Pores

This is the most common cause of pimples. When the skin produces excess oil than it excretes, it causes the skin pores to clog. This, in turn, causes inflammation which is referred to as acne or pimples.

2.    Dandruff

Dandruff is a skin infection caused by fungi. These fungi can also cause an irritation of the skin and cause the development of pimples.

3.    Oily Skin

When your skin is oily, the oil can trickle down to your face and cause your skin to clog. When this happens, the skin develops pimples.

4.    Some Medications

Birth control is the most common type of medication known to cause pimples. It is advisable to let your medical practitioner know that you have acne before they administer any birth control treatment.

5.    Digestive Issues

If you have complications with your digestive system, it is possible that you will develop acne. This is because when your metabolism slows down, a lot of toxins are retained in the body. This causes inflammation, which leads to acne breakout.

6.    Stress

Does chocolate cause pimples? Stress is another cause of pimples. Stress is known as a cause for the development of many illnesses. When it comes to pimples, stress causes a hormonal imbalance which causes an increase in the production of natural oils. This cause blockage of the skin pores.

7.    Excessive Exfoliating

While exfoliating is good for the skin as it helps to get rid of dead cells, too much if it can cause pimples. This is because over exfoliating will cause skin irritation, and this can cause acne.

8.    Genetic Factors and Hormones

Genetic and hormonal factors are also major causes of skin acne. It is possible that to inherited skin prone to acne from your family. Also, hormonal changes which are common in women can cause your skin to flare up.

Home Remedies for Pimples 

It is possible to prevent the development of acne or treat mild acne before it worsens. You can do this at home without the need for prescription remedies.

1. Using Gentle Cleansers – you can wash your problem areas using a mild type of soap and clean water. If your acne occurs mostly around the hairline, you can ensure you shampoo the hair daily.  You need to avoid products that may irritate the skin as this worsens the acne. Scrubbing and excessive washing can also cause irritation. Therefore, be gentle on your skin.
2. OTC Acne Products – does chocolate cause pimples? Yes, it does. However, you can use OTC acne products to promote peeling of the skin and also dry excess skin oil.  
3. Keep Away from Irritants – avoid using oily cosmetic products, concealers, and sunscreens. Use products that are labeled as non-comedogenic and water based. These are gentle on the skin and less likely to cause a pimples breakout. 
4. Protect From Direct Sun – there are some cases where the sun rays worsen acne. There is also acne medication that reacts with the sun rays and may make our acne worse. It is advisable for you to speak with your dermatologist to find a better product for your acne. You can also use these products but ensure you stay away from direct sunlight as much as possible.
5. Therapies to Treat Pimples

There are certain therapies that are recommended for pimple treatment. They can be used alongside medication or on their own.

• Photodynamic And Laser Therapy – there has been a lot of success with the use of light-based therapies to treat acne. Even so, the ideal doses of light and the ideal method is yet to be established.
• Extracting Blackheads And Whiteheads – there are special tool dermatologists can use to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads. This is normally recommended if the pimples did not clear out after using topical medication.
• Steroids – injecting steroids into the skin is also done to clear cystic lesions. This mode of treatment has recorded success.

It is important to understand that a lot of medication for treating acne and pimples is usually for children above the age of 12. In case you want to treat a younger child, it is advisable to speak to a pediatric dermatologist. They are best placed to help in clearing pimples in preteen children.