Milk — Blog — Healy Chen

Month three of Accutane

You know what’s a fantastic snack? Greek yogurt mixed with granola. It satisfies not only the protein requirement that I need (I am a do-you-even-lift bro), but the sweet taste that I want. It’s like eating ice cream without all the negative consequences. These days I eat Greek yogurt with granola first thing in the morning before I have coffee. It helps take the acidic sting of drinking coffee straight black, too.

I am nearing the end of month three (of a calculated five) of Accutane treatment for my chronic acne. Just as I have read on the r/accutane subreddit, new acne has finally stopped forming by the third month. It is indeed a weird feeling to not have a single new pimple for an entire week. Much like wearing contact lenses for the first time, it’s a whole new world that I’ve not experienced in decades. It’s like I didn’t even know this was possible!

The pandemic era of mask wearing definitely did my supremely oily skin no favors when it comes to causing breakouts. However, the amount of acne did not abate even after the pandemic was over - and constant mask wearing ceased. I think I know why: it’s milk.

As a consistent lifter of weights, I supplement with whey protein daily in order to provide the necessary fuel for muscle protein synthesis. (For those who are not familiar, whey is a strained extract from whole milk.) From what I’ve gathered, it’s not uncommon for milk to exacerbate breakouts for those who are already prone to acne. I can definitely remember (and have pictures to prove it) times when my breakouts weren’t nearly as severe. And during those times I was not supplementing with whey (or drinking milk at all).

The fear is that when this Accutane regiment stops, and I keep drinking these protein shakes, the milk is a strong enough factor to cause acne again. I guess I shall find out. Having purchased a nearly two year supply of whey because Costco had it on sale, I’m not giving up the habit anytime soon. There are non-diary protein powders out there, but those are significantly more expensive per pound compared to whey. (Whey is actually the cheapest per gram of protein of anything, meat or otherwise, you can buy.) Not in this economy!

The good stuff

With a Whole Foods recently opened up near my home, I’ve been going there from time to time for groceries. The Target at the same mall closes way too early at 6:00 PM - due to rampant retail theft in San Francisco - so it’s nice to have an option all the way up until 10:00 PM. Though as a pro tip, the shelves aren’t as stocked during the evening hours, at least the few times I’ve been there. The stuff I buy is always available, however: milk and eggs.

That’s because I buy the expensive stuff. Only the best organic milk from grass-fed cows. Only the best eggs from free-range chickens, fed organically. Sometimes the cheaper non-organic alternative would run out, but never the organic stuff. That’s how I come to buy organic: one time I was forced to because the Target was sold-out of cheap milk. After that I never went back.

I live by myself so the premium of few dollars is insignificant. If I had to feed a family of four, I too would buy the 60 eggs for five dollars at Costco. Instead, I use that same five dollars to buy a just dozen of the goof stuff at Whole Foods.

And I can definitely taste the difference in the free-range organic stuff, especially the eggs. I break two eggs into plain oatmeal for breakfast most mornings, so the flavor of the eggs is immediately apparent. The cheap stuff have an almost gamey taste that is absent in the eggs from humanely-treated chickens. The latter has a natural sweetness, and a more satisfying texture as well. It’s definitely worth the price premium.