Research was again spotty regarding drugs and acne. I found no published studies or trials specific to drugs and acne, so I took the next logical step and looked at how drugs affect hormone levels. I found information on marijuana, cocaine, and ecstacy (MDMA) but not methamphetamines or other drugs. A synopsis of what I found is on the new drugs and acne page.

If I had to sum it up in two sentences: Drugs may affect hormone levels, which may or may not in turn affect acne, but as of this point in time, more research is needed. Additionally, drugs can have negative effects on stress levels, picking, and regimen adherence which may prove detrimental to acne symptoms.

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.