Skin & hair · Guide 12
Pimples aur khana-peena: doodh, ande, coffee, sugar aur aadatein
What the evidence says about milk, eggs, coffee and sugar in acne, which habits matter more, and when to see a doctor.
Dr. D.K. Sharma, BAMS7 min read
The short answer
About 60 seconds to readFood is not the main cause of acne. Acne starts when hair follicles become blocked with oil and dead skin, and hormones, products and family pattern matter most.12 For some people, a lot of sugary, high-glycaemic food or dairy may make it worse, but the evidence is mixed and differs from person to person.2 Habits such as not picking often matter more than any single food.
Urgent signs: large painful lumps that appear suddenly with fever or joint pain, or redness around a spot that is hot, swollen and spreading, need same-day care; the full list is under "When it can't wait".3
Key points
- No food has been shown to cause acne on its own.1
- Sugary food and dairy may worsen acne in some people; the evidence is mixed.2
- There is no good evidence that eggs, mango, plain coffee or masturbation cause pimples; the questions at the end answer each.
- Cutting whole food groups is rarely needed; watch your own pattern instead.
Key points from this guide
Each line is quoted word for word from the section it links to.
Contents 12 parts · 7 min
Doodh: milk and dairy
Some studies link milk, especially skimmed milk, with more acne, while others find little effect.2 Curd, paneer and lassi have not been shown to cause pimples. If you suspect dairy, reduce it for some weeks and note whether anything changes, rather than cutting it out completely. If you want to keep drinking milk without breaking out, there is no proven safe amount; a fair test is to change only the milk for a few weeks, keep everything else steady, and use the four-week note below to track new spots. Milk is an important source of calcium and B12.
Whey protein powders have been linked with acne breakouts in some people.
Ande: eggs
Eggs are a good source of protein, and there is no good evidence that they cause pimples. The belief that eggs are "garam" and bring out daane is common, but not supported by studies.
Coffee and tea
There is no good evidence that coffee or tea causes acne. What is added may matter more: lots of sugar, sweet creamers or several sugary cups a day add up. Late coffee can also disturb sleep, and poor sleep and stress can make acne flare.
Sugar, maida and fried food
A diet high in sugar, sweets, soft drinks and white-flour foods may worsen acne in some people.2 Fried food doesn't put oil on the skin from inside, but greasy hands on the face can. More whole grains, vegetables, dal and fruit is a reasonable direction for skin and for health.
Aadatein: habits that matter more
Belief vs fact
Belief: "Pimples mean dirty or hot blood, so stop all milk, eggs and ghee."
What is more accurate: acne is a skin condition with known triggers, not a sign of impure blood.1 Diet plays a small part for some people; hormones, products and picking usually matter more.2
When it can't wait
Urgent signs
Get same-day care if large, painful lumps appear suddenly with fever, joint pain or feeling unwell, or the skin around a spot becomes hot, swollen and red, and the redness is spreading.3
Arrange a prompt review if:
When reading is not enough
If acne keeps returning after you have changed your food, a consultation can work out what sets it off, rather than cutting out one food after another. Dr. D.K. Sharma (BAMS) asks what type of acne it is, where it appears, what makes it flare, and about your food, sleep and every product you use. The aim is to help you decide whether the pattern needs more than food changes. The consultation is ₹500, in person in Ludhiana or by video, and a personalised Dinacharya (daily-routine) guide follows. You can book a consultation or consult by video.
For causes, marks and what a doctor checks, see acne and pimples. For marks that stay dark, see pigmentation and dark spots. For every skin concern, start at all skin and hair concerns.
A four-week food and skin note
- Note new spots each week, and where they appear.
- Write down dairy, sweets, soft drinks and protein powder.
- Note sleep, stress and, for women, the cycle.
- Change one thing at a time, and give it some weeks.
- List every face wash, cream and hair product you use.
Questions people ask
Does milk cause acne, and should I stop drinking it?
Not on its own; the evidence is mixed and may differ from person to person.2 You do not have to stop it. If you want to try cutting back, don't drop calcium sources without a plan; the doodh section above explains how to test milk on yourself and how to keep drinking it fairly.
Does chocolate cause pimples?
The evidence is mixed. Sugary chocolate may affect some people more than dark chocolate, but it is not a main cause.
Does drinking more water clear acne?
Enough water is good for health, but there is no good evidence that extra water clears acne.
Does masturbation cause acne?
No. There is no good evidence that it does. Acne usually starts in the teenage years because of hormonal changes, which is also when many people first worry about masturbation, so the two get linked.1
Do mangoes cause pimples, as people say about "garmi"?
There is no good evidence that mango, or any single fruit, causes pimples. If you notice a pattern, watch it for a few weeks rather than cutting fruit out altogether.
Can hair oil or sunscreen cause pimples?
They can add to them. Heavy hair oil and greasy products can block pores along the forehead and hairline, and a heavy sunscreen may do the same, so choose products labelled non-comedogenic.
Does dandruff cause pimples?
Dandruff itself does not cause acne, but flakes and oil along the hairline can irritate the skin and block pores. Some small itchy bumps there are a yeast-related folliculitis rather than acne, which a doctor can tell apart. Dandruff is a scalp condition of its own; dandruff and scalp itching explains it.
How long before a change in diet shows on the skin?
Skin takes weeks to respond to any change, so judge after a month or two, not a few days.
Sources
- NHS. Acne. nhs.uk.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Acne: diagnosis and treatment; Can the right diet get rid of acne? aad.org.
- NHS. Cellulitis. nhs.uk.
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Acne vulgaris. cks.nice.org.uk.
A source list shows what informed the guide. It is not a sentence-by-sentence review.
Written by Dr. D.K. Sharma, BAMS. Medical content approved by Dr. D.K. Sharma.
Reviewed by Dr. D.K. Sharma. Approval recorded on 8 November 2026 for this exact text.
About this guide
- Written by
- Dr. D.K. Sharma, BAMS
- Reviewed by
- Dr. D.K. Sharma (approval recorded on 8 November 2026 for this exact text)
- Reading time
- 7 minutes · 1376 words
- How we review
- BharatClinic editorial policy
The author link goes to /sexologist-in-ludhiana/, as on the live page. A neutral author profile URL would suit guides on piles and digestion better.
Questions or corrections: drdksharma@bharatclinic.com
