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Articles by Dan Kern

How Is Teen Acne Different from Adult Acne?

Males Are More Affected as Teens, Whereas Females Are More Affected as Adults, and All Adults Tend to See Breakouts More Around the Chin and Jawline The Essential Info Age: Adolescent acne, often referred to as “teen acne,” affects people up to 25 years old, while adult acne affects people over 25 years old. Prevalence: Teen …

Do Different Strains of Acne Bacteria Affect Acne Differently?

Certain Bacterial Strains Are Present in Different Amounts Between Acne and Non-acne Patients, and These Strains Display Varying Effects on the Immune System, Which Could Affect Acne Development Differently The Essential Info Acne is in part a bacterial disease. When it comes to acne, a specific type called C. acnes is the culprit. Scientists found …

Treating Acne in Male vs. Female Skin

The Biggest Difference Is that Females Can Elect to Use Oral Contraceptives and/or Oral Anti-androgens The Essential Info Males: Females: The Science Due to higher levels of male hormones (androgens), the skin of males is different from that of females. Males have: Female skin is the opposite: Since males tend to have higher levels of …

Body Acne Is More Common Than You Think

Body Acne Is Present in about 50% of People Who Have Facial Acne The Essential Info While it may sound surprising because people are usually covered up, body acne is present in about 50% of people who have facial acne. Body acne that is not accompanied by facial acne occurs in only a small proportion …

Can Prohormones Cause Acne?

Yes, It Is Likely, and They Don’t Help With Muscle Size and Strength The Essential Info In an attempt to provide similar “steroid-like results” in an over-the-counter supplement, the fitness supplement industry introduced “prohormone” supplements. If these supplements did work as advertised, which–spoiler alert–they don’t, that would mean they would increase levels of testosterone in …

Does Stress Affect Acne?

Most Likely Yes, Since the Skin Appears to Be Sensitive to Stress The Essential Info Chronic stress results in the release of a cascade of chemicals in the body that may contribute to acne. Based on what we know about how these chemicals may lead to increased skin oil production and inflammation, it is likely …

Diet and Acne

Looking at the Research and Possible Links Between Diet and Acne The Essential Info Studying the relationship between diet and any disease, including acne, is complex, time-consuming, and expensive. For these reasons, the research performed thus far on diet and acne has relied mainly on surveys, which are less than ideal. However, from the admittedly …

Cyproterone Acetate in Acne Treatment

Cyproterone Acetate Is an Anti-androgen Medication That Is Normally Found as Part of a Birth Control Pill and May Be Somewhat Effective Against Acne The Essential Info Cyproterone acetate (CPA) is an anti-androgen medication, which means it suppresses the production of androgens (male hormones that are found in both males and females) in the body. …

How Acne Affects Self-Esteem

Acne May Lower Self-esteem, Especially in Teens and Females The Essential Info In both teens and adults, acne may lower self-esteem and can lead to self-consciousness and possibly depression. Even though acne is a “thing everyone goes through,” the emotional effects of acne are real and serious, particularly for people with more severe cases of …

Can Witch Hazel Help Acne?

Witch Hazel Is Mildly Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory, But We Don’t Have Enough Evidence to Know if It Will Help with Acne The Essential Info Witch hazel is an astringent, which basically means it tightens and dries out the skin. Using witch hazel, particularly on oily skin, imparts a “fresh” and “clean” feeling. However, the activity …