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Acne Vulgaris: A Disease of Western Civilization (2002)

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Re: Acne Vulgaris: A Disease of Western Civilization (2002)

#11

Post by verbify »

jayess wrote: post #3

Totally anecdotal, but I started taking vitamin D supplements at the suggestion of my doctor because of my family history of colon cancer. I noticed that my acne declined significantly. I'm wondering if it has to do with the amount of time one spends outside in the sun.

Vitamin D deficiency is common in Saudi Arabia, especially among women - factors include traditional clothes, avoidance of sun, and inadequate dietary intake

Re: Acne Vulgaris: A Disease of Western Civilization (2002)

#12

Post by oh_sigh »

billconan wrote: post #8
wasx wrote: post #2

I haven't read the paper but do they define what they mean by "westernized"? China is very much the east, does acne vulgaris have the same prevelance in countries in Asia and the middle east?

I'm Chinese and my Acne problem is pretty bad.

The study is about enviromental factors, not genetic

Re: Acne Vulgaris: A Disease of Western Civilization (2002)

#13

Post by intro-b »

taking a course of antidepressants and making some lifestyle changes during university for depression had the side effect of almost completely clearing up my acne that normal dermatological treatments were unable to deal with. given that there's some kind of biological link between chronic inflammation and depression, i wouldn't be surprised if some acne cases manifested the same way

Re: Acne Vulgaris: A Disease of Western Civilization (2002)

#14

Post by sanjeetsuhag »

jayess wrote: post #3

Totally anecdotal, but I started taking vitamin D supplements at the suggestion of my doctor because of my family history of colon cancer. I noticed that my acne declined significantly. I'm wondering if it has to do with the amount of time one spends outside in the sun.

I started Vitamin D supplements too, after reading several personal accounts of it being helpful. Still have not come across any good studies proving the effectiveness of taking Vitamin D supplements (TBH I also haven't tried finding any such information either).

Re: Acne Vulgaris: A Disease of Western Civilization (2002)

#15

Post by jonny_eh »

verbify wrote: post #11
jayess wrote: post #3

Totally anecdotal, but I started taking vitamin D supplements at the suggestion of my doctor because of my family history of colon cancer. I noticed that my acne declined significantly. I'm wondering if it has to do with the amount of time one spends outside in the sun.

Vitamin D deficiency is common in Saudi Arabia, especially among women - factors include traditional clothes, avoidance of sun, and inadequate dietary intake

Do they have more acne then?

Re: Acne Vulgaris: A Disease of Western Civilization (2002)

#16

Post by _delirium »

The HN title should probably say "nonwesternized" (the term used in the abstract) rather than "non-Western" (although the paper subtitle does use "Western"). Still an ambiguous term, but "non-Western population" would usually be understood to include countries like Japan and China, who this study definitely doesn't mean to include.

Re: Acne Vulgaris: A Disease of Western Civilization (2002)

#19

Post by bacar222 »

DeusExMachina wrote: post #17

I noticed that on myself, high concentrations of sugar or high density carbs (pasta and bread) make it surge. A couple of friends of mine also cured a candida infection by avoiding carbs. So our diet might play a role.

I'm in the same boat.

Re: Acne Vulgaris: A Disease of Western Civilization (2002)

#20

Post by glibgil »

jonny_eh wrote: post #15
verbify wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Vitamin D deficiency is common in Saudi Arabia, especially among women - factors include traditional clothes, avoidance of sun, and inadequate dietary intake

Do they have more acne then?

No one knows
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