Abstract
Acne is a common disease in Westernized nations, particularly among adolescents and
young adults. Acne has substantial effects on quality of life, making treatment essential.
Medical nutrition therapy as a potential treatment for acne is not new, although the
literature examining diet and acne during the past 100 years is mixed. During the
late 1800s and early 1900s, diet was commonly used as an adjunct treatment for acne.
During the 1960s, however, the diet–acne connection fell out of favor. In recent years,
dermatologists and registered dietitians have revisited the idea and become increasingly
interested in the role of medical nutrition therapy in acne treatment. This article
reviews the history and existing literature examining the association between diet
and acne. Although the total number of studies conducted within the past 40 years
is relatively small, the growing body of epidemiologic and experimental evidence suggests
a relationship between diet and acne. Compared with other dietary factors, more research
examines dietary glycemic load. The evidence is more convincing for high glycemic
load diets, compared with other dietary factors. To date there are no randomized controlled
trials investigating the relationship between frequent dairy or milk consumption and
acne. Similarly, the number of research studies examining the relationship between
dietary fat and/or n-3 fatty acids is sparse and the evidence is less robust. Taken
together, several methodologic limitations need to be addressed, and additional research,
preferably randomized controlled trials, is warranted before comprehensive evidence-based
guidelines can be established. While dermatologists and registered dietitians continue
to debate and research the potential relationship between diet and acne, the best
dietary approach is to address each acne patient individually, carefully considering
the possibility of dietary counseling.
Keywords
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Biography
J. Burris is a PhD candidate, Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, New York.
Biography
K. Woolf is an assistant professor of Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, New York.
Biography
W. Rietkerk is an associate professor of Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, New York Medical College, New York.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 20, 2013
Accepted:
November 20,
2012
Footnotes
Supplementary materials: Podcast available at www.andjrnl.org/content/podcast
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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