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.

Not to burst anyone's Champagne bubble, but excess alcohol intake can cause dry skin. If you haven't already experienced this firsthand, it's time you knew — alcohol dehydrates you. Dehydrated skin is unhappy skin, meaning it's more likely to flare up.

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.

While an energy drink might sound like a good idea to give your brain waves a boost on a sleepy day, you might be better off opting for another, less caffeinated and chemical source of energy. Not only are energy drinks dangerous, but the caffeine will have a dehydrating effect on your skin. As will the caffeine — alongside the effects on your cortisol mentioned previously.

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.

Homemade lemonade can be low in sugar if you make it so, but the bottled kinds often contain lots of it. Sugar can affect your hormones and, as a result, your skin. Lemon water, on the other hand, is a healthful drink that many experts recommend you drink when you're feeling stomach upset.

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.

No matter if it's diet or regular, soda could cause breakouts. Sugar and artificial sweeteners have the potential to affect your hormones — depending on the type of sweetener. While the research is inconclusive on soda and your skin, some have reported an onset of acne after beginning to drink soda.

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.

While unsweetened tea is good for your health, sweetened versions can be loaded with sugar, sugar substitutes, or high fructose corn syrup — whatever kind of "sweetened" it is, it might be bad news for your skin. Drinks can cause skin reaction, but so can food. Here are the foods in your diet that are making you break out.

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18 Food-Based Remedies for Dry Skin

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18 Facts About Diet Soda That Might Make You Finally Stop Drinking It