Germain Dermatology blog

MYTH: CHOCOLATE CAUSES BREAKOUTS

ValentinesChocolates

Are you trying to resist all the Valentine’s sweets floating around? If you are sacrificing for the sake of clear skin… we have good news… CHOCOLATE DOES NOT CAUSE ACNE. 

White flours, sugar and dairy can trigger hormonal changes, which in turn may cause inflammation, especially for acne-prone people. But pure chocolate, high in cacao and low in sugar and dairy (such as dark chocolate) is actually packed full of beauty benefits.

Dark chocolate  (containing at least 70% cacao) is rich in iron, calcium, and vitamins (A, B1, C, D, and E) and can…  

Repair dry skin. Swap out that extra cup of coffee or green tea for a cocoa-rich drink that will deeply moisturize skin and leave behind a healthy glow. Or you could slough away dead skin cells with a DIY chocolate body scrub made out of olive oil, brown sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla.

Shield against harmful UV rays. Flavonols found in dark chocolate have been clinically shown to help your skin protect itself from sunburn, redness and other signs of UV damage. When applied directly to the skin, it also has the ability to repair and hydrate body parts that have been exposed to the sun. But we wouldn’t suggest slacking on sunscreen.

Erase wrinkles and fine lines. Things seem a bit calmer right after we nibble on a piece of dark chocolate, and we all know how stress impacts our skin. And as our friends over at YouBeauty explain, “Cocoa helps reduce stress hormones, which means less collagen breakdown in the skin and fewer wrinkles.” Sort of like eating your way to pretty.

Add shine to lackluster locks. A homemade hair mask made out of unsweetened dark chocolate? Why yes! Add honey and yogurt to the mixture before applying to your hair. Cover with plastic wrap and leave on for about one hour. Wash out with a cold water rinse and you will have super shiny strands.

Promote hair growth. Copper, zinc and iron are minerals that promote the cell renewal growth process, and dark chocolate happens to be full of them. So eating chocolate every day will increase oxygen and blood flow to the scalp and lead to healthier and strong hair.

Other benefits? Dark Chocolate contains anti-inflammatory benefits, can help lower blood pressure and contains fibre which can help you feel full for longer.

Happy Valentine’s from Germain Dermatology! 

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