Impact of Diet and Nutrition in Patients with Acne Vulgaris

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is a widespread a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that affects millions of people around the world, which has a significant influence on patients’ standard of living. The progression of this dermatosis results in the appearance of inflammatory and non-inflammatory changes, and, in severe cases, disfiguring scars and hyperpigmentation. The aetiopathogenesis of acne is complex. It involves a complex interaction of many different factors, both endo- and exogenous in their effect on the hair and sebaceous unit. Genetic predisposition, hormones, the skin and gut microbiome, psychological stress, air pollutants, aggressive facial products, and certain medications are cited as factors influencing acne formation. The link between nutrition and acne is extensively debated for many years and is still relatively controversial. Diet is commonly recognised to have a direct relationship with certain biochemical markers and the transcription of genes related to sebaceous gland function, and the proliferation of bacteria and inflammation that encourage the progression of the disease. In this review, the authors take a closer look at the existing scientific reports on the involvement of nutrition in the development of acne vulgaris.

The Relationship between Chocolate Consumption and the Severity of Acne Lesions−A Crossover Study

“…Dark chocolate contains 34.3 g of fat, including 59.5% saturated fatty acids and 39.5% unsaturated fatty acids. Cocoa fat may increase sebum production, but it is moderately comedogenic, which means it tends to clog pores and may cause acne, especially in people with oily or acne-prone skin [2,26,30]. However, it is not clear that they are responsible for the exacerbation of acne lesions after chocolate consumption because, in our study, the content of SFA was similar in the chocolate and the food energy equivalent.…”

“…Slightly more than half of the weight of chocolate is carbohydrates, which can lead to an increase in insulin levels. Insulin and insulinlike growth factor (IGF-1) can promote increased sebum production and the growth of keratinocytes, which leads to clogged pores and the formation of acne lesions [26,27]. Research conducted by Burris et al [3] shows that a diet with a low GI and GL leads to lower concentrations of IGF-1, which is considered one of the factors in the pathogenesis of acne.…”