Acne and diet: a review of pathogenic mechanisms

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit with multifactorial etiology. Abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes, altered sebum production, inflammation of the sebaceous follicle, and colonization by Cutibacterium acnes have been traditionally implicated. However, the diet has also been highlighted in the pathogenesis because of its direct relation with some biochemical markers and the transcription of specific genes associated with sebaceous gland activity, inflammation, and bacterial proliferation, which together promote the development of the disease, affect the severity of the condition, and modify its response to treatment.