Professor of dermatology, Dr. Debra Jaliman, explained that certain foods – those with a high glycemic index (GI) – have been linked to acne more so than others. High-GI foods are those which cause blood sugar to spike quickly such as white bread or white pasta. Chronic stress, too, is another viable factor contributing to adult acne.
Even though many teenagers are plagued by acne, this often goes away after the age of 20. And yet, around 20 to 40 percent of adults will still have breakouts of acne. Acne breakouts are more common among adult women than men as women experience fluctuations in hormones around their menstrual cycles and also as a side effect of oral contraceptives.
Even though the study did highlight some factors that women can modify – diet and stress – the researchers don’t guarantee that modifying these factors will necessarily rid one of acne, but suggest that it may help reduce it.