Did people in the early 1900's have acne?

Question

I have a subscription to reminisce and always like to look at the old pictures. I have never seen anyone yet with bad acne or zits. Plus, I don't notice any people out of shape (fat) either.

* In what era did acne become a problem?

Answer 1

That is a great question. Makes me wonder if it just came about with all the additives we been putting in food because I too dont remember seeing anything about acne long ago.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I have always had an interest in old books containing medical information. As far back as the 1600's, I've seen remedies for pimples, so no, I don't think acne is a modern problem by any means. It is mainly a hormonal problem, and hormones have always been with us.

I'd agree that obesity seems to be more prevalent these days, although I've seen some pics from the 1800's with plump people featured. In those days it was a bit of a status symbol to carry a bit of extra weight, since it meant that you had the means to eat as much as you liked, and didn't have to do manual labour which would burn it off.

Answer 4

I'm inclined to think blemishes didn't really become more prevelent until the advent of snack foods and indulging more in sweets, including pastries. I've been interested in the 1800's up thru the turn of the century for quite a long time. I
have looked at many pictures of that time period in museums
and books and what have you. And I've never noticed blemishes on the faces of young or older people. You have
to realize the diets back then were simple and mealtime
was set at three different times during the day. When the
dinner bell rang, everyone was on time, with healthy appetites. And dinner fare was not like it is today unless
you lived on a farm or had money for more variety. From
my reading over the years, people ate meat less and more
breads, biscuits, beans and hearty garden vegitables. Fruit
was a luxury, as unless it was grown locally, you didn't find
it in stores unless it was dried. So when it was available, they canned or also dried it for the rest of the year. There were pies and cakes, but they were made for special occasions or for Sunday 'supper' after Church. And cookies, muffins and other sweet baked things were also special treats. So with the basics of: eggs, potatoes, carrots, turnips, onions, rutabega,and or sausage and bacon ,those were the more available and affordable, as well as a pot of beans. A cooked chicken was also a special meal, and only if they raised them. And every woman baked their own bread. Jerky
was also made since there wasn't refrigeration. So meat was
salted and dried and put away in smoke houses. None of
the available foods were eaten in excess and not as condu-
sive for contributing to oily youthful skin conditions. I have
looked at Remenisce and Remenisce Extra over the years, and maybe if one or two had facial flaws,it didn't show in
the pictures and it couldn't have been horrifying like it is with
kids today when they discover zits. I know there's a recent
magazine of a football team close up and not one did I notice
having any blemishes. But maybe they had their own special
remedies for either covering them or preventing them in the
first place. I know even my generation wasn't all pimply either.
We didn't snack between meals, and were very hungry for
our meals. We weren't served big portions of something we
might have liked as well. Nor did our parents eat hefty amounts. I didn't have one pimple until I was middle aged.
But even at my age today I sometimes get one, where it's
the most noticeable.
There were only two boys in my age in HS that had bad
skin conditions. And they looked like they'ed had some sort
of disease. Everyone else I'd see was flawless. So I don't
know what happened with them. Skin problems were not
something my kids lived with either, nor did I see it on their
friends. So it has to do with diet and how well one keeps
their faces clean, I suppose.
I don't know if anyone has ever done a study on when
Acne became a problem. Maybe there's a website somewhere. My moms' school pix never showed any of
her friends with problems either. So it could just be a thing
of the later 1900's. Now I want to know the answer to that.
So I will see what the internet turns up. That was a good
question. And for that, you get a star :)

Answer 5

Acne has been around for thousands of years. It's a bacterial problem. I have seem old pictures of people with acne scars.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

I think they did have acne, but there's something about the black and white photos. I love the way they look.
There were heavy people, but not so many as today. Many people, unless they were very rich were very physically active in their daily work and chores. That kept them in good physical shape.

Answer 8

Yes they had acne. They had it way before that too. Did you ever see a picture of George Washington or Abe Lincoln? They have scars from acne !!!! I don't know about fat.

Answer 9

Consider the quality of the photos from way back when. The pimples probably just didn't show up. We had to have inherited the weakness to get pimples from somewhere.

Answer 10

I'm sure it was around like everyone says and the fact that they didn't have greasy fast foods probably helped.