An investigation of the association between diet and occurrence of acne: a rational approach from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective.
BACKGROUND
The association between diet and acne vulgaris has long been suggested but remains unproven in western medicine. In contrast, the diet-acne relationship is considered important in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Aim. To investigate the association between diet and acne, using a TCM approach.


METHODS
Using a cross-sectional study of 322 entrants to a university in Hong Kong, China, we examined the participants' clinical severity of acne using the Global Acne Grading System and the participants' yin and yang scores using a quantitative method. We then divided them into two groups, a yin-predominant group (yin-PG) and a yang-predominant group (yang-PG) before the diet-acne relationship was investigated.


RESULTS
In total, 82 (25.2%) participants were in the clinical acne group and 240 (74.5%) were in the reference group. There were 155 (48.1%) participants in the yin-PG and 167 (51.9%) in the yang-PG group. No association of diet and acne was found when the participants were considered as a homogenous group. In yin-PG, intake of foods from street stalls (P = 0.04) was significantly associated with a lower incidence of acne. In yang-PG, the intake of desserts (P = 0.04) and fresh fruit juices (P = 0.02) was significantly associated with a higher incidence of acne, whereas the intake of dairy and soy products (P = 0.04) was significantly associated with a lower incidence of acne.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of a TCM approach led to the detection of significant associations between diet and the incidence of acne.
Law
M P M
MP
Department of Community and Family Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China. pmlaw@cuhk.edu.hk
Chuh
A A T
AA
Molinari
N
N
Lee
A
A
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016709:Yin-Yang; D055815:Young Adult