How prevalent was acne and other skin ailments in the pre-photography era (back to the Middle Ages)? In artwork, everyone seems to have clear skin.

by RunningDoanut

Did artists filter portraits or do skin issues arise from the modern diet and/or more noticeable from societal expectations?

elcarath

While we're waiting for some new answers to be written, the old answers put together by /u/knoperope here might be interesting. The answers in this thread on acne in World War 2 was especially well-answered, with several users giving good answers and some great follow-up discussion.