I am glad it has cleared up, but I still think you should apologise for how you have and continue to consistently frame her acne as caused by her weight gain and her poor diet and peddle the myth that she has cured it by losing weight and taking supplements.
Per Dr Anjali Mahto Consultant Derm.:
““This causes me two concerns. We know acne is often down to hormones and genetics – factors largely outside of our control. Telling someone they are eating ‘bad food’, which is causing their acne, shifts the blame onto the individual and creates a sense of shame around their dietary choices. Often the food consumption has little to do with the acne.
“Secondly, it results in many people cutting out foods from their diet, and in resultant disordered eating patterns, for fear of aggravating their skin disease. I have seen patients refuse to eat cake on their birthday, decline dinner with friends, and develop health anxiety around food, for fear of triggering acne.
“There are inherently no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ foods. Diet is more about eating in a sustained, healthy manner across the course of one’s lifetime. Moderation is key.
“In my practice, I have seen more negative outcomes than success stories – this is probably because those who this works for do not end up seeking dermatological advice.
“However, for the vast majority of people with acne, manipulating diet is likely to have a fairly negligible effect. Acne is largely down to an individual’s hormones and genetics. I have seen many cases of people, particularly young women, who have cut out a large number of food groups including dairy, sugar and gluten to improve their acne and have developed resultant orthorexia or disordered eating around food, which is very worrying. If treating acne was as simple as cutting out dairy, I would not have so many vegan patients."
“Probiotics, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and vitamins A and E have been linked to helping acne-prone/spotty skin. But does science support the claims?
“The data for all these is limited and comes from small observational studies with relatively few participants, often with poor methodology or trial design and statistical analysis”, explains Dr Mahto. She adds, “it is therefore definitively difficult to say if supplementation of any of the above will have a true benefit for acne. The doses of the supplements suggested may be difficult to tolerate. An example is that zinc sulphate can cause gastrointestinal side-effects (if consumed in excess).
“Vitamin A in high doses – higher than one would find in an over-the-counter supplement – is already used in prescription acne treatment in the form of isotretinoin (Roaccutane). My advice would be to exercise caution with over-the-counter supplements as the evidence is limited, resulting in unnecessary expense and potential side-effects. It is better to have a discussion with your GP or consultant dermatologist about the tried, tested and validated treatments on offer with known safety-profiles. If you are planning a pregnancy, are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking other prescribed medications, then speak to a doctor first.”
““Nobody should have to feel miserable or self-conscious because of their acne. Being concerned about your skin is not vanity – and acne is not a beauty or cosmetic problem, it is a medical one with medical treatments. Please do not suffer in silence and do not get conned into spending a fortune on beauty products or supplements.
“Seek professional help from your GP or a consultant dermatologist, who will diagnose the type and severity of acne you have and tailor a plan individual to you. We know that acne is related to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and poor body image, and in an ideal scenario we would like to treat you before you develop physical or mental scarring because of it.”