9 Drinks That Are Making You Break Out Gallery

Acne can be frustrating and always seems to pop up at the most inopportune moment. Have a big presentation at work? Going on a first date? Attending a high school reunion? You've done everything you can to prevent it — washing your face, using moisturizer, trying not to touch your face... But somehow, a pesky pimple still seems to show up every time.

These blemishes come up for a variety of reasons; some are out of your control, while others are more preventable. If you do break out, it's not the end of the world — it doesn't have to bother you unless you let it. The blemishes will go away and no pimple has ever really ruined anybody's life.

However, there are some things you can do to reduce your chances of a breakout. Keeping your stress at a minimum, for instance, can work wonders. Getting more sleep is often effective. And in some cases, foods and drinks also play a small role in maintaining clear skin.

Acne is occasionally caused by things like inflammation, cortisol levels (that's your stress hormone), and lack of nutrients. Rather than cutting things out, one way to think about eating for skin health is by adding things in — healthy fats, for instance, or kefir. What your skin craves is moisture and nutrients. When you give it both, you boost your chances of a healthy complexion.

However, there are some foods that interfere with factors like hormones and inflammatory response. If you're looking to learn which ones might be messing with you, here are 9 drinks that might make you break out.

While there are actually some health benefits to drinking tons of coffee, there is a downside. Too much caffeine can affect your stress hormones, causing an increase in cortisol flowing through your system. Since cortisol and acne are somewhat related, the jitters are putting your skin at risk.

Packaged juices often contain additives, refined sugar, and high fructose corn syrup. Eating sugar isn't all bad — we promise. But one study did link refined sugar intake to an increase in the prevalence of acne. The reason why refined sugars show up on your skin is unclear, but researchers suspect it has to do with your insulin.

Cow's milk has some qualities that make it healthier than plant-based milk alternatives — protein, for example, and dietary fats. However, some studies have linked milk to breakouts, possibly due to the natural sugars in milk or people's individual levels of tolerance for lactose.

Sports drinks are marketed as healthy, hydrating beverages to drink after a good sweat; but in reality, these drinks contain a lot of sugar. While the hydration might help keep your skin looking clear, the added sugars might not. Opt for one of these hydrating drinks as an alternative.