Acne and Diet
Next Steps in Derm and the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, in partnership with the Dermatology Education Foundation (DEF) and Physicians Resources, interviewed Dr.
Adam Friedman, professor and chair of dermatology at GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dr. Friedman says acne is an evidence-based example of the saying “you are what you eat.” Watch as Dr. Friedman outlines which elements of diet science has proven to impact acne. Should your patients forgo chocolate? What about dairy? Watch this video and know how to separate myth from fact with diet and acne.
Dr. Adam Friedman lectured on this and other topics at the recent DERM2022 NP/PA CME conference held July 28-31, 2022.
Further Reading
If you want to read more about diet and acne, check out the following articles published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology:
Diet and Acne Update: Carbohydrates Emerge as the Main Culprit
The prevalence of adult acne in the US appears to be increasing over the last few decades. But what’s behind the rise: is it nature or nurture? We are well aware that genetics can strongly influence a patient’s risk of developing acne. However, significant changes in germline genetic variants are unlikely to have occurred over the last 20 years. Consequently, we are forced to examine environmental variables, including diet. This review article presents the most updated evidence supporting a link between refined carbohydrates and acne. Based on the data summarized here, dermatologists should encourage their acne patients to minimize their intake of high glycemic index foods.
Nutritional Clinical Studies in Dermatology
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nutrition has long been associated with skin health, beauty, integrity and aging through multiple pathways and cofactors implicated in skin biology. The onset and clinical course of various common skin diseases, especially acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and hair loss, have been suggested to be critically affected by nutrition patterns and habits. The relationship between acne and diet, predominantly the role of high glycemic load diets and dairy consumption have recently gained increased interest. Abnormal nutritional conditions such as obesity or malnutrition often manifest themselves by specific cutaneous features and altered skin function. Skin photoprotection, rendered by various nutrients, is well documented and appropriate nutritional supplementation has been shown to exert beneficial effects upon impaired skin integrity, restore its appearance and promote skin health. It is our intention to provide a comprehensive review of the most recent information on the role of nutrition for common skin diseases and regulation of skin biology.
METHODS: Nutritional clinical studies in dermatology have been reviewed using the MedLine literature source and the terms “diet” or “nutrition” and “skin”.
RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: The data on the relationship between nutrition and skin are until now controversial and much more work is needed to be done to clarify possible etiological correlations.
