I know so many people with bad acne that is only cured with intense drugs like accutane or topical medication like Salicylic Acid.
What were people’s skin like historically? I’m curious about ancient history and recent history like when photographs were first invented (I haven’t seen anyone with bad acne in an old photo).
Have people always had terrible acne and just couldn’t do anything about it? Or is acne a modern phenomenon?
This topic has actually come up before:
Was painful Acne ever an issue in WW2? If I slept in the dirt for weeks between ages 17-22, I'd have breakouts constantly. Is Hollywood's portrayal of dirty--yet unblemished--soldiers accurate, or do we have photos, documentation to show otherwise? by /u/Georgy_K_Zhukov, /u/Charrikayu, and /u/UnparaIleled
How come we never see historical people depicted with acne? by /u/Bethamphetamine, /u/soggyindo, and /u/Quietuus
Was acne so widespread in the past as it is today? by /u/NotHereToArgue and /u/estherke
Was acne common in teenagers thousands of years ago? by /u/c0mm0n3r
Was acne more or less common in ancient civilizations, or even a few hundred years ago? by /u/phan7om
In the past, what was done about acne? How was being spotty perceived in society and were there any treatments? by /u/cdesmoulins
Did people have bad skin (acne) as often as they do now before this century? Why do I never notice it in old photographs from the 1800s? by /u/colevintage