DEAR DR. GOTT: I am 63 and have been plagued by acne since my teenage years. I have, however, found that a way to greatly reduce this problem is by not drinking milk, although skim or 1 percent may be OK. I also try to avoid other foods such as dairy products that are high in fat. I love dairy, but I do try to avoid the fat.
Thanks for your excellent column.
DEAR READER: Acne, while extremely annoying, is rather common, especially during the teen years. It becomes less common as we age. The condition is caused by an oily substance known as sebum that is produced by the sebaceous glands of the skin. The substance clogs pores that in turn attract bacteria causing the pores to become inflamed. [Read more...]