Can Protein Powder cause acne?

Protein shakes themselves are not a cause for acne, but there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that whey protein powder and other low fat milk products can increase acne in some people.

Whey protein increases the hormone IGF-1 which encourages muscle growth, but it’s also known to influence sebum production. An increase of sebum can create the perfect environment for acne.

It’s worth noting however, that the correlation between protein powder and acne has only been found in whey protein products. If you suffer problems after using whey protein you can switch to a plant based protein to avoid increasing sebum and cases of acne.