Myths about Acne and Acne Treatments
Acne Myth #1: Acne is caused by poor hygiene.
You can actually make your acne worse. Acne is not caused by poor hygiene. Although extra oils, old skin and dust on the skin looks unsightly, they should not be removed by rough cleaning.
What's the best skin care strategy? As a general rule, gently wash your face no more than twice a day with a mild soap or cleanser. After you've finished washing, gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel. Try to avoid exfoliates or scrubs, which can irritate your pimples. Also avoid products that contain alcohol because they can dry out and irritate your skin.
Acne Myth #2: Acne is caused by diet.
Chocolate, chips, sugar, milk and seafood among others have not been shown to affect acne. This means that the scientific studies done to date did not find a big difference between acne in two groups of people, one group eating the food in question and one group avoiding it. However, in his book The Acne Prescription, radical dermatologist Nicholas Perricone argues that this is actually a myth itself, and recommends a specific diet high in fish and low in sugar.
Acne Myth #3: Popping your pimples is a good acne treatment
Popping your pimples pushes the germs further under your skin, which can cause them to look worse and possibly cause an infection. Scarring is also a possibility, so resist the urge to pop.
If a pimple shows its ugly head at the wrong time, think about paying a visit to a dermatologist.
Acne Myth #4: Acne is caused by stress.
The normal stress of day-to-day living is not an important reason in having acne. Acute stress that needs medical attention is sometimes treated with drugs that can cause acne as a side effect. If you think you may have acne associated to a drug prescribed, you should talk to your physician.
Acne Myth #5: Acne is just a superficial disease.
Acne can affect the way people look and is not a severe threat to somebody’s health. But, acne can result in permanent scars. Plus, acne itself as well as its scars can affect the way people think about themselves which in turn can affect the way the live their lives.
Acne Myth #6: Acne has to run its course.
The truth is, acne can be cleared up. With the products available today, there is no reason why you should suffer from acne without help.
Acne Myth #7: Makeup will make acne worse
If you like to wear makeup, be sure to choose products that are labeled "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic." They won't clog your pores or cause breakouts. Some cosmetics even include acne-fighting ingredients.
Acne Myth #8: Spending time in the sun clears up your acne.
Sorry, but spending more time in the sun can only hide your acne, as your skin becomes darker. When your tan goes the acne is just as noticeable as before. Increase exposure to the sun also causes wrinkles and possibly skin cancer.
Use a sunscreen that's marked "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic," which means it won't clog your pores and worsen acne
Acne Myth #9: You can shrink your pores.
Many products claim to shrink your pores. There is no cream or ointment or skin care regime that can change this fact. Your pores get filled with oil which enlarges the opening of the pores.
The plain truth is this: pores don't shrink. Pores are not little openings that can expand and contract like muscles. They do expand or stretch, but pores are not so elastic that they can contract to their former, smaller state.