Do you believe there is any correlation to food and skin complexion?

Whole foods, non-processed, low fat, fresh vegetables are just better for you in every way, including your complexion. Doesn't take a genius to figure that out. They're often cheaper as well but blah, they're boring and take a lot of effort to cook. Oh, and eating a lot of fruit really does help yer skin. As does drinking tons of water.

Cigarettes, however, will age you faster than anything else on earth except maybe skag.

Man, I'm starting to sound like a clearasil advert. But all the clearasil in the world won't help you if you don't stop the grease build-up by stopping CONSUMING grease.

The stuff I've read on it seems to downplay the role of diet (and even hygiene!) in order to emphasise the role of hormones in particular. But then again, some things I've read also point out that good diet and good hygiene are common sense and will help a bit.

As far as I understand it: male hormones stimulate the sebaceous gland (this gland working overtime being the main cause of acne), so any surge of male hormones will do it. Stress causes a moderate adrenal testosterone surge in both sexes.

Personal experience: I've dealt with tremendous stress over the last couple of years and I have the scars to prove it. Literally. When I have really bad stress periods -- particularly when doing a lot of heavy crying -- I can almost guarantee getting some trouble.

The real bad thing about this is... I've always been prone to a bit of acne... but my skin's older now and doesn't heal as well as it once did, and the bad acne tends to be more the deep-seated, cystic variety -- one of those suckers can remain active for two weeks+ and almost always leaves a pit and some reddened pigment in and around it. Getting disfigured like that is really distressing.

I did try antibiotics for a while. And I put benzoyl peroxide on the things, which does work on weaker spots. (Nothing seems to touch cystic acne, though, as it's too far below the surface.) My stress levels have been lower in recent months, so on the whole I've had less trouble. Still some, but less.

I wish I knew of a way of minimising the scars that didn't involve paying £3,000 for laser resurfacing, though. Has anyone ever found any stuff that helps with scars? I'm kinda sick of wasting money on crappy 'skin improving' products that make no effing difference!

(I'm starting to get to the point where I want to pop other people's zits, too. YAY I AM DEVELOPING MY VERY OWN NEUROSIS!)

a possible business venture here?

Is the stuff you're talking about even available in the UK? I may have to ask my GP about this again, although in the past she's been utterly disinterested and dismissive about my skin problems.

Easy, Dan. Just go up to people and tell them you're William Burroughs.

"Hi, I'm the long lost poet William S. Burroughs. I would like to pop your zits."

; )

1) Rosacea (a different condition from acne; symptoms includes red blotches and different types of pimples) is known to be aggravated by alcohol and spicy foods, among other factors.

2) A zit that is showing on your face today began 4-6 weeks ago, which makes it difficult to link it to consuming a specific food.

3) An article in a recent Vogue challenged the past study that denied food-acne connections. Obviously Vogue is not a peer-reviewed medical journal, but the article in my opinion raises valid questions.

I just re-read this. SC, didn't you have a huge flamewar about the evils of meat and how it causes insanity and all manner of ills, recently?

I don't mean to be a devils avocado here, I really don't - I'm just suddenly very very confused.

i think water& overwashing might be part of the problem

i wash my face in the sink before i shower. i use cold water, and i use only a dab of bio-something soap. pat-dry with a fresh towel. maybe try this out.