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Does fried chicken cause acne?
Photo: Andres Segura / Pexels
Fried chicken is unlikely to be a breakout trigger for most people.
One serving brings some glycemic load and fats linked to inflammation (saturated fat or omega-6). It also gives omega-3, which the research links to calmer skin.
Why this score
- Glycemic: 12 g carbs at GI 45 = glycemic load 5.4 (low to medium). A small, slow rise in blood sugar.
- Dairy: none.
- Inflammation: 5.4 g saturated fat and 4.8 g omega-6. These fats feed inflammation, and skin can stay red for a few days.
- Skin Boost: 0.2 g omega-3, which small trials link to fewer inflamed spots (+1.5).
Evidence: Caperton 2014 double-blind RCT (n=14): one dose of 100% cocoa increased acne lesions by day 4 (study). 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). All 13 sources.
Score breakdown
| Axis | What it measures | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Glycemic | Glycemic load GL 5.4 | −9.7 / 50 |
| Dairy | Dairy grams (milk hormones) | −0 / 25 |
| Inflammation | Saturated fat + omega-6 | −19 / 25 |
| Skin Boost | Omega-3 + polyphenols | +1.5 / 25 |
| Skin Score | 73 / 100 · GOOD |
Nutrition in one serving (140 g)
| Carbs | 12 g · GI 45 |
|---|---|
| Dairy | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 5.4 g |
| Omega-6 | 4.8 g |
| Omega-3 | 0.2 g |
| Polyphenols | low |
Estimates for a typical serving eaten with a meal. Real foods vary by brand and recipe.
Compared with
Not medical advice. This score is for fried chicken 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.
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