Let's debunk some of the myths that surround acne. Many of these myths actually add to your acne problem, instead of helping to solve it. To combat anything you need to be informed, so start here on your quest to abolish acne.
Acne can improve the more you wash your face
Acne can worsen if you wash your face more often? Why? Dirt and surface oils do not cause acne, it has nothing to do with hygiene. The best way to keep your face clean without exacerbating your acne is to wash it gently twice a day with a very mild soap or facial cleanser using your fingertips. Nothing that can accidentally abrade your skin (which means throw out that washcloth!). Over-washing irritates your skin and can worsen your acne.
Acne is caused by stress
Acne is not caused by stress. Drugs that treat some stress problems can have side effects that affect your acne, but stress in general is not enough to trigger your acne. In general, stress will not create acne.
Your acne will improve if you go out into the sun!
The sun can give the illusion that it is helping your acne, but the reality of it is that the sun, damages your skin. It can again make your acne worse, in combination with making you susceptible to skin cancer in the future.
Acne is caused by your diet
There have been numerous studies that have tried to determine this and in essence, they have found no correlation between acne and diet. In other words, eat what you want. However, having a balanced diet is an excellent thing; it helps to combat other conditions. While some people will swear that eating something affected their acne, scientifically it has no basis and according to those same studies, if acne is treated properly, there is no reason or need to worry about the food you are eating.
Popping Pimples will make them go away
It's a temporary fix that can lead to a lot more problems. What it does is push the bacteria that created the pimple in the first place back into your skin, causing it to swell and even break out again in the near future. In addition to that, it may create a scar that will be left for a few months, or forever.
Using the maximum strength acne treatment is best
Many companies will try to sell the maximum strength treatment, because that is what most people like to buy. However, using 10% benzoyl peroxide treatment on your skin dries it out a lot faster and does not help in the long run. Why do companies sell then? Because that is the maximum allowed by law for an over the counter remedy.
If you wear makeup, it will cause you to break out
A lot of makeup now has benzoyl peroxide as one of its ingredients. As long as you choose makeup that is nonacnegenic or noncomedogenic it should not be a problem. You could also try a tinted benzoyl cream instead of makeup to help hide pimples while you are treating them. If you are worried, you could talk with your dermatologist and ask them to recommend the best cosmetics to use for your skin.
There are many myths about the treatment and the causes of acne. Don't be taken in by the hype, acne is a condition that you can combat!
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Acne | |
