Here Are Some Common Acne Myths
Myth #1: Diet is a major cause of acne. To date scientific studies have failed to find a connection between diet and acne. What this means is that what we eat does not cause acne. Food like pizza, french fries, or even chocolate will not cause us to get acne. Still, there are people who insist that certain foods affect their acne. If you are one of them, then simply avoid those foods. Having a well-balanced diet can only help your overall health. Back to latest the scientific evidence: if you're treating a case of acne in a proper way, there is no reason to fret about what you're eating.
Myth #2: Acne is caused by a lazy lifestyle
of poor hygiene. If you indeed believe in this myth, you will
soon discover that by often washing and scrubbing yourself, can
worsen your acne. In actuality, dirt or surface skin oils are
not the causes of acne. Even though an overflow of oils, a day's
accumulation of dust on the skin, and dead skin cell appear
unattractive, in order not to worsen the current situation, they
should not be wiped off through washing or hand scrubbing. In
reality, vigorous washing will only irritate the skin and
aggravate your acne problem. The ideal approach to both hygiene
and acne: Twice a day, tenderly wash your face using a mild soap,
pat dry, and a suitable acne treatment for the acne.
Myth #3: Stress causes acne. The general stress
of day-to-day living is not a contributing factor in acne.
Intense stress that requires medical assistance is sometimes
treated with medications which may cause acne as a side effect.
If you think you may have acne in account to a medication
prescribed for either stress or depression, it's always a good
idea to talk to your family doctor.
Myth #4: Acne is only a cosmetically provoked
skin condition. Well yes, acne does affect the manner people
look; on the other hand, it's not a danger to a person’s
physical health. Nonetheless, acne can sometimes materialize as
permanent physical scars; in addition, both acne and its scars
can do a number on how people feel about themselves to the
extent of deeply affecting their lives.
Myth #5: The best action to take when
experiencing acne, is no action. In reality, one can take
effective steps for clearing up acne. If you have tried several
acne products without success, the next step may be to schedule
an appointment to see a dermatologist. With so many products
available over-the-counter for treating acne and acne scarring,
anyone can take responsible and well-informed steps for treating
a case of acne or scars.
Myth #6: Sex and masturbation are causes of
acne. Current research indicates no connection between sexual
intercourse, masturbation, and acne. As a matter of fact, this
idea began as a "tale" approximately in the 17th century in
order to reduce the occurrence of premarital sex.
Myth #7: Squeezing and popping pimples is the
ideal way to remove them. Touching and popping your pimples
actually can push germs under your skin, which in turn can
create additional redness, pain, as well as infection. Remember:
popping pimples could sometimes lead to permanent scarring!
Myth #8: Acne is just a teenage condition.
The reality is: acne affects every age group from teenagers to
people beyond the age of 40. Even though acne most often affect
teenagers, adults are not immune from this skin condition.
Regardless of age, it's a very good practice and preventative
measure to wash your face twice a day, especially with an acne
fighting item.
Myth #9: Sun tanning will clear up your skin.
In actuality, a suntan will only cause your skin to become
darker. It's true that darker skin will keep redness because of
acne from appearing too noticeable. But then, when your tan
vanishes, your acne remains!
Myth #10: Don't wear makeup if you want
clear skin.
Fact: As long as you choose cosmetics that are nonacnegenic or
noncomedogenic, they shouldn't cause breakouts. In fact, some
concealers now contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which
help to fight acne. You can also try tinted benzoyl peroxide
creams that hide pimples while helping treat them.
If you've had moderate to severe acne, though, talk to your
doctor or dermatologist about the best cosmetics to use — he or
she may recommend avoiding cosmetics altogether or only using
certain brands so you're acne isn't aggravated.
And even if a product is labeled nonacnegenic or noncomedogenic,
you should stop using it and talk to your doctor if you notice
that it's irritating your skin or seems to cause breakouts.
Myth #11: If you keep getting breakouts, it
helps to use more acne medication until the breakouts stop.
Fact: Because acne medication contains drying agents like
benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, using too much medication
may cause overdrying, leading to irritation and more blemishes.
If over-the-counter acne medication doesn't seem to work on your
acne, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor or dermatologist.
Also, if you're taking a prescription acne medication, make sure
you follow your doctor's instructions, some medications may take
up to 8 weeks to make a significant difference.