I've tried just about every acne treatment there is. I've had it my entire adult life, with a brief respite when I was BC.

I've been going to derms for years. While it is mostly under control, I still have breakouts and in weird places - i.e., behind my ears. I wash properly, twice a day, with mild cleanser. I use prescription topicals, 2x daily.

Lately I have been wondering if it acne can be caused by pollution.Did som research, and sure enough, there is a severe form called "Chloracne." It results from exposure to chlorene, herbicides, hydrocarbons and PCBs.

Articles below. Most cases discussed are really severe and disfiguring due to agent orange and ingested dioxin.

But it makes me wonder whether long-term exposure to small amounts of these agents could cause persistent, treatment-resisant acne?

I think of everything I am exposed to daily - my drinking water is *chlorinated,* there are BPAs in plastic (although I am careful to avoid these *now,* I used to drink water from plastic bottles multiple times daily, store leftovers in plastic.) Plus, pesticides and herbicides are in our food system (avoiding that now too -- but only in the last few years as I have become more aware).

It's depressing to think of all that is out there that may be harmful to our skin -- and we can't control it!