It's the big day, you look in the mirror and there's a whopping pimple. You curse yourself for scoffing that chocolate or pizza. But did that junk food really give you pimples?
There is a growing amount of research suggesting there is a link between diet and pimples (or acne), says Melbourne dermatologist Dr George Varigos. But this is still not the standard view among dermatologists and more research is needed to confirm findings.
"Most 17 to 18-year-olds have pimples and it can extend into the 20s and 30s. More severe cases have a genetic basis but generally, apart from genetic factors, it's environmental and is triggered by food."
You get pimples when the pores in your skin are blocked. Your pores become blocked when small glands (sebaceous or oil glands) inside the pore become inflamed. This inflammation occurs when the sebaceous glands produce excess oil, are irritated by extra dead skin cells, or the pore is plugged, boosting bacteria.