What lifestyle modifications should I recommend to patients with acne vulgaris?

When recommending lifestyle modifications to patients with acne vulgaris, you should provide clear, tailored information covering skin care, diet, and general habits ¹,².

• Skin Care:
  • Advise patients to use a non-alkaline (skin pH neutral or slightly acidic) synthetic detergent cleansing product twice daily on acne-prone skin ¹,².
  • They should avoid oil-based and comedogenic skin care products, including moisturisers and sunscreens ¹,².
  • If using make-up, advise them to avoid oil-based and comedogenic products and to remove make-up at the end of the day ¹,².
  • Emphasise that acne is not caused by poor hygiene, and over-cleaning the skin should be avoided as it can cause dryness and irritation ².
• Diet:
  • Inform patients that there is not enough evidence to support specific diets for treating acne ¹,².
  • However, you can provide general advice on how to maintain a healthy diet, referring to resources like Public Health England's Eatwell Guide for information on a balanced diet and overall wellbeing ¹,².
  • Emerging data suggests that high glycaemic index (GI) diets may exacerbate acne ². Foods inconclusively linked with acne include milk, whey proteins, and dairy or meat products high in leucine ². Conversely, diets with sufficient levels of omega-3 fatty acids and gamma-linoleic acid may be associated with reduced acne lesions ².
• General Habits:
  • Advise patients that persistent picking or scratching of acne lesions can increase the risk of scarring ¹,².