Introduction. Acne is one of the most common skin diseases in Western culture and mainly affects the adolescent population during puberty. Endocrine disorders and genetic predisposition are usually considered the main determinants of acne. However, the role of diet in the etiology of this disorder has been drawing increased attention.
Objective. To assess the nutrition of people with acne and analyze the relationship between diet and acne. The literature review regarding safety of pharmacotherapy and dietary supplementation in the context of acne treatment was also added.
Material and methods. The study was conducted using a questionnaire. Nutrition was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire which included foods referred to in the literature as associated with acne. The study population consisted of 78 adults, including 38 women and 40 men. The literature review was conducted using the PubMed, Medline and Polish Medical Bibliography database.
Results. The average age of the study group was 26 years, while the average BMI was 23.7 ± 3.5 kg/m2. Most of the subjects lived in urban areas and had a high school education. The study proved that acne vulgaris mainly affected people during puberty, was characterized mainly by inflammatory changes of moderate severity, and closely related to the Western diet. This diet is rich in foods with a high glycemic index (sugar, sugary sodas) and dairy products (whole cow’s milk, cheese), and is low in vegetables and fruit, sea fish, whole grain cereal products, and fermented dairy drinks.
Conclusion. Diet, especially Western-type diet, plays an important role in the prevalence of acne, and the type of food consumed can affect its type and severity. Education on healthy nutrition should be included in the process of dermatological management.
