If you're battling acne, it's not just your skincare routine that matters—your diet plays a huge role, too. Herbalife’s popular protein shakes, while marketed as a health-conscious choice, contain several ingredients that could be fueling breakouts. Let’s break it down:
1. Maltodextrin: The Hidden Sugar Spike
Maltodextrin, a common additive in Herbalife products, is a highly processed carbohydrate with a higher glycemic index than sugar. This means it causes a rapid spike in blood sugar, triggering increased insulin production. Elevated insulin levels stimulate sebum (oil) production, making skin oilier and more prone to clogged pores and breakouts.
2. Dairy Proteins: Whey and Casein
Many Herbalife shakes contain milk-derived proteins like whey and casein. These proteins are known to increase IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1), which directly stimulates:
✔ More keratin production (leading to clogged pores)
✔ Increased sebum production
✔ Inflammation, worsening breakouts
If you've ever noticed an increase in acne after consuming dairy-based protein shakes, this could be why.
3. Sunflower Oil: An Inflammatory Culprit
Sunflower oil is rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which in excess can promote inflammation. Acne is already an inflammatory condition, so consuming too many omega-6s (without balancing with omega-3s) can further aggravate breakouts.
4. Soy: A Hidden Hormonal Disruptor
Herbalife shakes also contain soy protein isolate, which can negatively impact acne-prone skin. Here’s why:
✔ Soy is estrogenic – It contains phytoestrogens that can disrupt hormonal balance, which is a major factor in hormonal acne.
✔ Soy can affect thyroid function – It may interfere with iodine absorption, which is crucial for a healthy thyroid. An imbalanced thyroid can contribute to skin issues.
✔ Gut disruption – Soy is a common allergen and can cause digestive inflammation, which has been linked to acne flare-ups.
5. Iodine: A Double-Edged Sword
Iodine is essential for thyroid health, but too much can be problematic—and some Herbalife products contain excess iodine. The body excretes excess iodine through sweat glands, irritating pores and potentially triggering acne flare-ups.
6. Biotin: Too Much of a Good Thing
Biotin (Vitamin B7) is great for hair and nails, but high doses can be problematic for acne-prone skin. It increases cell turnover, meaning your skin sheds cells at a faster rate. For acne sufferers, this is an issue because their skin already overproduces dead skin cells, leading to clogged pores and breakouts.
So, Should You Rethink Herbalife?
While Herbalife shakes may be convenient, their ingredients—including maltodextrin, dairy proteins, sunflower oil, soy, iodine, biotin AND MORE—can be a recipe for acne flare-ups. If you're serious about clearing your skin, it’s worth considering alternatives with cleaner, skin-friendly ingredients.
If you have any questions or concerns about a specific product you've been consuming feel free to shoot me a message. After all we can do everything right in the treatment room, but if you keep fueling the fire inside your body, no amount of topical products will be enough to put it out. It’s like trying to put out a house fire by tossing ice cubes at the flames—until you stop feeding the fire, it will keep burning.
