More than 20 years ago, men in Australia started growing a moustache (a “mo”) in the month of November and rechristened the month as “Movember”. The “Movember movement” has since spread worldwide and raises money for men’s health (mainly prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental illness and suicide prevention) – and so, this month is an appropriate time to discuss men shaving (or not shaving) and acne.

Stress does not directly cause acne. However, studies have shown that if you already are troubled by acne, then stress can make it worse. Research has found that any injury or damage to skin, which includes acne, will be much slower in healing when a person is under stress. So what can be done?

There are mixed opinions as to whether the sun actually helps with problem skin. The most important consequence of sun exposure for people with acne is that inflamed and irritated skin is much more likely to become pigmented, which is the skin’s protective response as it tries to minimise sun damage.