Today I’m doing some research into drugs and acne. Unfortunately, I found no clinical studies on the topic, so I am having to cast my net more widely. I’m going to look into the effects of drugs and alcohol on the endocrine (hormone) system. For instance, it seems that marijuana effects the hormone levels of rats and monkeys, but evidence in humans is less consistent.

This is going to require a trip to the medical library, but once I’ve got the evidence in my hands, I’ll distill it down for us and we’ll try to draw a hypothesis or two from the studies that have been performed.

I forgot to mention in the video that I’m gonna take a little vacay too Fun in the sun!

I looked into this as much as I could, but I couldn’t find a single clinical study or trial on the effects of alcohol on acne.

My SPF of choice is just a wide brimmed hat. I like hats because they physically block the sun, and block it at 100%. Plus, I’m not putting extra ingredients on my skin this way. If you decide to use hats, just be aware that they can irritate the forehead area. Doing the Regimen up there should help you stay clear even if you use a hat.

Chemical exfoliants like retinoids (Retin-A, tazorac, etc.), alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic acid, lactic acid), and salicylic acid, can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Be extra aware of sun protection if you are using any of these products.

It’s the first week of summer! Sun Week continues at Acne.org.

It’s the first official week of summer, so we’re re-airing our Sun Week series. Enjoy!

Hey Everybody.
Yesterday was officially the first day of summer. In honor of summer’s arrival we are re-airing our Sun Week series. We’ll be covering everything from how the sun affects acne, Vitamin D, choosing an SPF that won’t break you out, chemical exfoliants, and hats. Hope you all enjoy Summer 2009!