Unlike oral antibiotics, the famous “last chance saloon” acne drug accutane hasn’t gone down the dumper at all recently. If anything, accutane (isotretinoin) has clawed back its popularity over the last decade, as its famous side effects are dismissed as scare stories. From 2006 to 2016, isotretinoin prescriptions in the UK rose six-fold, from 6522 […]
It’s amazing to think that 100 years ago, scientists were still debating whether oily skin causes acne. These days, sebum’s (oil) pore clogging powers are so established that we barely think about it anymore. However, there’s another possible rabbit hole to venture down: what about the ingredients of that oil? As it pumps out of
You have just discovered the natural skincare recipe of your dreams, and are delighted to see a shiny “free from harsh chemicals” label. You absentmindedly glance at the ingredients list, which reveals the words “citric acid”. You suddenly realise that you know nothing about this ingredient. Out of the blue, there is a barrier preventing
Once upon a time, 100 years ago, p. acnes bacteria was first discovered lurking in the pore of an acne patient. For decades, little was understood other than given its location, the bacteria was probably a key cog in the pimple machine. Slowly, its tactics emerged, that p.acnes feasted on sebum (oil) in the skin.
The fact that obesity prevents acne is one of the classic homegrown theories discovered by the acne-suffering population at large and not generated by dermatologists and all their studies. Countless teenagers have noticed the relationship after observing their classmates, just like stress and chocolate supposedly causing acne. People’s theories are often crazy-sounding yet strangely logical.
