Acne Myths vs Evidence: Diet, Dairy, Toothpaste and More
Does dairy or chocolate cause acne? Does toothpaste or sun help? We grade 12 common acne claims by the strength of the evidence behind them.
Acne types
Guides to hormonal, fungal and body acne, acne myths vs evidence and what acne is, plus when a deep cyst or look-alike rash needs a doctor.
5 guides Every guide lists its sources
Does dairy or chocolate cause acne? Does toothpaste or sun help? We grade 12 common acne claims by the strength of the evidence behind them.
Why acne shows up on your back, chest and shoulders, washes vs leave-on treatments, look-alikes to rule out, and when you need a prescription.
Itchy bumps on your chest or back that all look alike? Fungal acne is a yeast infection, not acne. How to tell them apart and how doctors treat it.
Why adult women get jawline and chin acne, signs of a hormonal condition like PCOS, and how the pill, spironolactone and topicals are used.
Acne starts in clogged hair follicles. What causes it, how to tell blackheads from cysts, what does and doesn't trigger it, and when to see a doctor.
Answer a few questions about your acne and get a suggested next step: over-the-counter care, adult telehealth, or an in-person dermatologist.
Paste an ingredient list or pick products to flag common acne-routine conflicts and ingredients some people with acne prefer to avoid.
Check whether your benzoyl peroxide product was part of the 2025 recalls. Search by product name or the lot number on the package.