Mediterranean diet linked to lower likelihood of acne in adults
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According to new research from King's College London, adults who followed a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and healthy fats were less likely to report acne, particularly women. In men, diets lower in carbohydrates and higher in animal-based foods were linked to a greater likelihood of acne.
The study also found that cooked vegetables, cheese and yogurt were associated with a lower likelihood of acne, whereas skim milk and milk-based desserts were linked to a greater likelihood.
While common in adolescence, acne persists into adulthood for many people, affecting about 1 in 10 adults in the U.K. The condition is more common in women, suggesting hormones might also influence acne. Both genetics and the environment are thought to play a role, but evidence on the link between diet and adult acne is limited.
The new study, which addresses this gap in the research, analyzes data from 228,757 participants in the UK Biobank, a large population health study. Researchers identified 1,603 participants as having current acne based on recent diagnoses recorded in health data or reported by participants.
The findings are published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.
Lead author Bochen Li, a doctoral student at King's College London, said, "Our study aimed to examine whether overall diet quality and specific food groups are associated with adult acne. We hope that the findings support the future development of dietary guidance for those with the condition.
"Our exploratory findings suggest that diet may relate to acne differently in women and men. We think this is a particularly interesting finding, as it could be an important step toward more targeted dietary guidance in the future. These differences may be partly linked to biology, including hormones, but they may also reflect differences in eating habits, symptom reporting and health care use between women and men. Further studies are now needed to confirm these patterns.
"The differences we observed between dairy products were also interesting. From an epidemiological perspective, our findings suggest that dairy should not be treated as a single category when studying acne. Fermented dairy products such as yogurt, and cheese in some analyses, showed different patterns from skim milk and milk-based desserts. This may help future research better understand how different dairy products relate to acne."
Corresponding author Wendy Hall added, "Our findings suggest that diet and adult acne are linked, and that it is not as simple as just avoiding dairy or sugary foods. Adults with acne tend to have less healthy diets overall, with some evidence that dietary associations may differ between men and women.
"We also found that different dairy foods showed quite different associations with acne. This study cannot tell us that diet causes or prevents acne, but it gives us important clues about the dietary patterns we should now test in clinical trials.
"Taking this research to the next stage will help us understand whether a healthy diet that includes foods such as cheese and yogurt could help reduce the burden of a skin condition that can have a profound impact on people's well-being."
More information
Bochen Li et al, Associations between diet quality and adult acne: A cross sectional study in the UK Biobank, Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (2026). DOI: 10.1111/jdv.70747
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DermatologyNutrition & Healthy eatingSkin & Hair care Provided by King's College London Who's behind this story?
Swati Mestri
Swati Mestri holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019. She has experience editing research documents across technology, health care, and materials science, and has a particular interest in technology and space. Full profile →
Andrew Zinin
Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →
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