Among the many angst-producing aspects of being a teenager is acne. For some, it’s at the top of the list. Most people outgrow the problem, but acne in adults can be a significant and life-affecting condition.

A study sheds new light on what has long been considered a cause of the troubling outbreaks. Researchers at the University of Paris in France report a significant connection between a diet heavy with fats and carbs and a person’s level of acne.

Using online surveys, they asked nearly 25,000 adults about their experiences with acne in the past and present. Nearly half reported having acne before or now.

Next, they asked participants to complete three reports of their dietary intake over 24 hours, six months apart. The researchers examined the average daily intake across several groups, including fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, milk, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, refined cereals, snacks, and fast foods, as well as fatty and sugary products. They also listed the daily intake of vitamins, zinc, fibers, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and saturated fatty acids.

The results showed that consuming just one sugary beverage or glass of milk per day equated to a 54% higher chance of the adult having acne. The findings are in line with previous studies that linked diets rich in animal products and fatty and sugary foods to higher levels of adult acne.

The next step is to study how manipulating a person’s diet might impact their level of acne.

Maybe you’d like to turn back the clock to your carefree teenage years while skipping the acne phase. Changing your diet can help with that. Fitting into your old bell-bottoms is a topic for another segment.