What myths exist that the  physician must discuss? Many patients these days are less convinced about the link between acne and diet although there are still some diehards who unquestionably believe that certain foods (especially chocolate and pork fat) will aggravate acne. Available data, however, show no significant relationship between eating habits and acne.1 Studies investigating the lipid composition of the sebaceous gland in patients taking remarkably different diets have demonstrated  a remarkable consistency in the sebaceous lipids.

  Many patients note that their acne is much better on return  from  their holiday (see  also page 8).  This is probably a genuine biological effect though the cosmetic camouflage of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) pigmentation is an important factor. There is in addition the fact that when someone is away on holiday even bad things seem better!  Studies on the use of artificial UVR are limited but it would appear that the inconvenience of frequent visits to a solarium or hospital for UVR is of limited help in acne patients and that existing treatment with benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics are far better and a more sensible choice of treatment. In contrast, about 20 per cent of acne  patients notice that their acne is worse when they are on holiday. This is usually found in those subjects who sweat easily; sweating may have some effect in producing poral occlusion and so  may precipitate inflamed lesions.

 

  The  idea that acne is  due to an  'infection'  will continue to linger for many years; it is hoped that the physician will bury this myth. There  is therefore no need for the acne patient to wash excessively.

 

  The belief that make-up will make acne worse is also current. It  is likely  that  the  longterm application of heavy make-up could possibly lead the  acne to deteriorate by aggravating poral occlusion. Evidence, especially from the USA, indicates that certain cosmetics are comedogenic.  However, a young  girl with troublesome acne, psychologically very disturbed, needs a boost to morale and the use of noncomedogenic cosmetics to cover the inflammatory acne while  it is improving is  sound advice.  Cosmetics need not be medicated, which is a waste of money, but they should be light and psychologically acceptable to the patient.