Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by diet. It is perhaps one of the most embarrassing, widespread, and misunderstood problems of young people. Acne may develop when the body starts producing hormones called androgens (in both men and women) during puberty. The problem is almost completely hereditary, and diet has very little or nothing to do with it. If some individuals think that particular foods seem to trigger an outbreak of acne, they may want to avoid those foods. We will talk further about the cause and treatment of acne in Common Medical Problems. In the meantime it's safe to blame your parents for acne, but they couldn't help it either.