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Does chocolate cookie cause acne?
Photo: Kate L / Pexels
Chocolate cookie is unlikely to be a breakout trigger for most people.
One serving brings a high glycemic load (fast sugar, which raises insulin) and a little saturated fat or omega-6. It also gives polyphenols, which the research links to calmer skin.
Why this score
- Glycemic: 16 g carbs at GI 65 = glycemic load 10.4 (high). Fast sugar raises insulin, and insulin can lift skin oil and clog pores.
- Dairy: none.
- Inflammation: 3.2 g saturated fat and 0.4 g omega-6, a small load.
- Skin Boost: medium polyphenols, which small trials link to fewer inflamed spots (+5).
Evidence: Smith 2007 RCT (n=43): a low-glycemic-load diet for 12 weeks lowered acne lesion count by 23.5 on average, versus 12 on the control diet (study). Khayef 2012 (n=13): fish oil for 12 weeks cut inflammatory lesions from 10.1 to 5.8 on average (study). All 13 sources.
Score breakdown
| Axis | What it measures | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Glycemic | Glycemic load GL 10.4 | −18.6 / 50 |
| Dairy | Dairy grams (milk hormones) | −0 / 25 |
| Inflammation | Saturated fat + omega-6 | −4.9 / 25 |
| Skin Boost | Omega-3 + polyphenols | +5 / 25 |
| Skin Score | 82 / 100 · GOOD |
Nutrition in one serving (25 g)
| Carbs | 16 g · GI 65 |
|---|---|
| Dairy | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 3.2 g |
| Omega-6 | 0.4 g |
| Omega-3 | 0 g |
| Polyphenols | medium |
Estimates for a typical serving eaten with a meal. Real foods vary by brand and recipe.
Compared with
- Chocolate cookie vs digestive biscuits 81
- Chocolate cookie vs scone 43
- Chocolate cookie vs sausage roll 49
- Chocolate cookie vs croissant 50
- Chocolate cookie vs donut 53
- Chocolate cookie vs muffin 49
- Chocolate cookie vs bagel 58
- Chocolate cookie vs waffle 57
- Chocolate cookie vs cake slice 52
- Chocolate cookie vs cheesecake 34
- Chocolate cookie vs cinnamon roll 55
- Chocolate cookie vs pretzel 63
Not medical advice. This score is for chocolate cookie on its own. What you eat with it changes the result: protein and fat slow the sugar spike, and breakouts usually show up 3 to 7 days after a meal, which is why SpotBite tracks your meals over time rather than judging one food. Diet is one factor among many (hormones, genetics, skincare, stress, sleep).
See your own pattern
Scan what you actually eat and SpotBite shows which foods line up with your breakouts a few days later. Free on iPhone and Android.
Related foods
- Crumpet 73
- Scone 43
- Yorkshire pudding 71
- Sausage roll 49
- Digestive biscuits 81
- Croissant 50
- Donut 53
- Muffin 49