Acne: Diet and Acnegenesis

The document from 2011 examines the link between diet, specifically dairy and high glycemic load foods, and the onset of acne. It references several studies, including an epidemiological study by Dr. Jerome Fisher and research by the Adebamowo team at Harvard, which support the connection between these dietary factors and acne, particularly in genetically susceptible individuals. The paper suggests that hormones in dairy and insulin spikes from high glycemic foods may overstimulate pilosebaceous units, leading to acne through the sensitization of androgen receptors and increased production of keratinocytes and sebum. It concludes that there is a strong chain of evidence implicating dairy in acne development and recommends a shift towards a Paleolithic-type diet to reduce acne prevalence, while also acknowledging the need for further research to fully understand the molecular mechanisms and the challenges in conducting double-blind dietary studies on acne.