The subject of diet and acne is one that is particularly controversial. For years, doctors have insisted that there is no proven link between food and this condition. The one exception to this generalization has been iodine, which some dermatologists believe may be linked to acne. Because seaweed is a rich source of iodine, there is some concern about its ability to promote this skin condition.

A study published in a 2010 issue of the "European Journal of Dermatology" reported that high seaweed consumption has been linked to higher levels of acne in Koreans. However, it must be noted that diets of acne patients differed in other ways as well: They consumed more junk food, instant noodles and processed cheese than a control group without acne. They also consumed less fish and fewer vegetables than those without the condition.

Reports in the popular press, some of them glowing, claim that a seaweed extract has antimicrobial properties that can significantly reduce acne. According to a February 2011 article in the "Mail Online," young men in a study who were given a cream containing a seaweed extract had significantly less acne than those receiving a placebo. However, it is unclear who funded the study: the website MedGuru implies that it was funded by the company making the product.

As of June 2011, there is little hard evidence about the effects of seaweed on acne. However, some modern studies have shown a link between other dietary factors and this condition. A 2007 study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found a low-glyemic-load diet reduced acne lesions, while another paper, published in the "Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series: Pediatric Program" in 2011, stated that milk consumption may play a crucial role in the development of this condition.

Adolescents with acne attempt suicide six times more often than other young people, according to a doctor quoted in the "Daily Mail" article. This alone makes acne an important matter. Research indicates that a diet high in fish and vegetables and low in dairy products and refined carbohydrates may be helpful. The avoidance of cosmetics that can cause breakouts, the use of benzoyl peroxide and, for young women, the use of certain types of oral contraceptive pills can all reduce the severity of acne.