How prevalent was acne in teenagers say 300-500 years ago in the history of mankind. Even in the 20th century was it the scourge of teenagers? Did the Mayans and Egyptions at time of pharaohs suffer from this?
Ancient. The History of Acne - PMC
Almost certainly.
Well, if Colleen McCullough (author of the Masters of Rome series) is correct, Brutus, of the “Et tu, Brute!” fame - suffered from it well into adulthood. She generally got this kind of thing from extensive research, but I couldn’t find an online cite supporting it.
I am inclined to think that whining teenagers being paid attention to is a modern condition. And also teenagers who have a high-sugar high-fat diet who are never obliged to work any of it off. And also teenagers who care what they look like to the opposite sex. And also drug companies who have a high-profit product line of teenage health and beauty aids.
All of which would color our historical thought about whether teenagers have always had acne.