MIAMI BEACH – Acne on the face and trunk in adolescents could be associated with the use of whey protein supplements, according to Dr. Jonette E. Keri.
Teenage boys, especially, may use whey protein supplements in an effort to increase muscle mass or gain weight, Dr. Keri of the University of Miami said at the South Beach Symposium.
She cited a 2012 case series of five male teenage athletes aged 14-18 years who were using whey protein shakes or reconstituted powder. The teens presented with moderate to severe acne that responded poorly to standard treatment, but four of the five experienced clearing of the acne upon discontinuation of the whey protein supplement.
All five had been treated unsuccessfully with traditional therapies, including oral antibiotics, topical retinoids, and benzoyl peroxide. One teen stopped using the whey protein immediately after being counseled to do so, and he experienced improvement. Two teens didn’t stop using whey protein immediately but experienced improvement in their acne when they did discontinue it. Another teen experienced clearing after discontinuing the whey protein during a second course of isotretinoin therapy, and the fifth was lost to follow-up (Cutis 2012;90:70-2).
One of the teens who cleared after discontinuing the whey protein experienced a flare of the acne when he reinitiated supplementation, Dr. Keri said.
Three of the boys were trying to build muscle for football and two were trying to gain weight, which underscores the importance of asking teens about supplement use, she noted, adding that, importantly, it’s not just boys who are affected.
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