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Does chai latte cause acne?
Photo: emmanuel Lozano / Pexels
Chai latte may add to breakouts if you eat it often or in large amounts.
One serving brings a high glycemic load (fast sugar, which raises insulin), a lot of dairy (milk hormones) and a little saturated fat or omega-6. It also gives omega-3 and polyphenols, which the research links to calmer skin.
Why this score
- Glycemic: 35 g carbs at GI 55 = glycemic load 19.3 (high). Fast sugar raises insulin, and insulin can lift skin oil and clog pores.
- Dairy: 200 g. Milk proteins may act like growth signals; for some people they raise skin oil within a few days.
- Inflammation: 3 g saturated fat and 0.2 g omega-6, a small load.
- Skin Boost: 0.1 g omega-3 and medium polyphenols, which small trials link to fewer inflamed spots (+5.8).
Score breakdown
| Axis | What it measures | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Glycemic | Glycemic load GL 19.3 | −31.6 / 50 |
| Dairy | Dairy grams (milk hormones) | −25 / 25 |
| Inflammation | Saturated fat + omega-6 | −4.1 / 25 |
| Skin Boost | Omega-3 + polyphenols | +5.8 / 25 |
| Skin Score | 45 / 100 · WARN |
Nutrition in one serving (240 g)
| Carbs | 35 g · GI 55 |
|---|---|
| Dairy | 200 g |
| Saturated fat | 3 g |
| Omega-6 | 0.2 g |
| Omega-3 | 0.1 g |
| Polyphenols | medium |
Estimates for a typical serving eaten with a meal. Real foods vary by brand and recipe.
Try instead
- Oat milk latte
- Almond milk drink
- Black coffee or tea
Not medical advice. This score is for chai latte 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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