I know some people get acne from dairy, but it’s not always everything. I love butter and really want to keep eating it! Most of the research seems to focus just on milk. So, what types of dairy are okay for you and what causes problems?
Are you just starting with skincare? If so, you should check out our forum’s skincare guide! You’ll find some really helpful routines there. And don’t forget, everyone is welcome here, so please be kind 
For me, butter and hard cheeses don’t cause any breakouts. The weird thing is, when I got pregnant, I stopped breaking out from any dairy altogether.
Wow, that’s great news! I hope it’s the same for me one day.
I tend to break out from most cow’s milk products, but butter has been okay. I’ve started eating goat and sheep cheese instead of cow’s, and those seem to work better for both my skin and stomach.
I can handle dairy if I don’t overdo it. For me, it’s about moderation. I can’t have dairy every day, but if I space it out, I’m usually fine.
Cheeses and cream sauces don’t give me too many issues, but ice cream and milk are a total no-go for my skin.
Good quality butter is mostly fat with just a little milk protein, which is why most people can tolerate it, even if they have a milk allergy or lactose intolerance. I can handle butter and aged cheese because the fermentation process changes the lactose. I had to cut out all dairy for a few months to figure this out, but now I can eat some dairy like fresh cheese and ice cream without problems, as long as I don’t go overboard.
This is super helpful! I love knowing the reason behind it. Thanks!
Acne from dairy is more about how easy it is for your body to digest it. Goat and sheep cheese don’t cause issues for me. Start by cutting out all dairy for a couple of weeks, then slowly add back fermented ones like cheese and yogurt. Full-fat yogurt is better since non-fat ones don’t have as many nutrients. I also noticed sugar plays a huge role in breakouts. Ice cream is my enemy, but I can handle creamy pasta or yogurt now. It was a long process, but worth it!
Thanks for this! If I can get pecorino back in my life, I’ll be so happy!
I eat a lot of butter… like, way too much butter, but it’s totally worth the breakouts for me.
I can handle cheese, butter, and paneer without a problem. But milk and whey protein always give me acne, even in small amounts.
Whey protein is the worst for me, but I’m fine with cheese, butter, and plain yogurt. I can even have the occasional shake as long as it’s not too often.
What about ghee? Does anyone break out from that?
Same here. Cheeses and cream sauces are okay, but ice cream and milk wreck my skin every time.
Certain brands of ice cream don’t upset my stomach. Blue Bell, for example, seems to be fine.
Sheep’s milk and yogurt work best for me!
Whey protein and regular milk are the worst for me too. But processed cheese and non-cow cheese like goat and sheep are usually fine.