The link between acne and diet is strengthened in a medical review by acne experts.
Alan Shalita, M.D., Acne expert
The article, “Acne and Diet” authored by acne experts Alan Shalita, M.D., Whitney Bowe, M.D., and Smita Joshi, M.D. and published in the July 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD), critically reviewed the existing medical literature.
According to the authors, certain foods were thought to worsen acne before the 1960′s, but later studies showed no association and most physicians referred to the connection of acne and diet as a “myth”. Newer studies in the last decade have led dermatologists to revisit the link between diet and acne.
The authors stated that “dermatologists can no longer dismiss the association between diet and acne. Compelling evidence exists that high glycemic load diets may exacerbate acne.” (High glycemic load diets result from eating carbohydrates, such as breads, pastas, deserts, sodas, and other foods manufactured with high fructose corn syrup.)
The authors added that “dairy ingestion appears to be weakly associated with acne, and the roles of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, zinc, vitamin A, and dietary fiber remain to be elucidated.”
The review concluded that “we hope that this review will encourage others to explore the effects of diet on acne.”
Interesting! As a person who suffers from acne, I have always wondered if there was significant connection. I am curious to explore the ways in which my own diet effects my acne.
It seems as though there is some sort of pattern in the history of medicine, wherein some old wive’s tale with little scientific background pervades public medical knowledge, only later, this is labeled a myth by scientists. Except even later, we realize that there may actually be some evidence suggesting that the old “myth” has some legitimate basis, either after a study, or after spotting flaws in the previous study. This happens repeatedly with things like coffee, and debate over its effects on hypertension or some other part of our body. Maybe we should put more trust into those science-lacking “myths” that surface at first.