Acne Articles

7 acne myths exposed.

People are always willing to give you advice regarding your acne. The problem is that most of the advice they give are myths that they've picked up over the years.

However, skin experts are actually dismissing those as nothing but myths. The best way to cope with your acne problem is to educate yourself and it is with this purpose that we decided to list here the common acne myths that people often encounter.

1.You can outgrow your acne. This might be true in some cases but at least 25% of teenagers who have acne carry it into their adult lives. And more and more woman in their 20's to late 40's are reporting having acne for the first time. It is much more sensible to treat your acne immediately to avoid emotional stress and permanent scarring.

2.Bad eating habits causes pimples. The common myth is that chocolate, caffeine or oily foods will lead to or worsen an acne condition. In a large clinical research study no links were established between acne and food. However, some people feel that certain food can cause an acne outbreak. If this is your case try avoiding these foods for 2 to 4 weeks and monitor your acne. If your acne improves, do a test and try eating these foods to see if it will indeed cause an outbreak.

3.The sun will clear up acne. While tanning will dry up existing acne and help cover blemishes. It does not prevent acne from resurfacing. The dry skin will make the oil glands produce more oils and block your pores creating pimples and blackheads. Not to mention the risk of skin cancer and premature wrinkles.

4.Sex causes acne. No, the hormonal changes your body goes thru during puberty that lead to the maturation of your sexual features may cause acne. Sexual activity does not cause acne.

5.Drinking water will flush out acne. While drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water a day is recommended for a healthy body. Water alone will not cure acne. It will however, keep your skin healthy which will help in the fight against acne.

6.Stressed out = breakouts. Very high levels of stress may produces hormones that can cause acne. But normal levels of stress we encounter everyday will not produce an outbreak.

7.Poor hygiene causes acne. People believe that acne is caused by uncleanliness and they tend to over-wash or scrub their face. Over-washing and scrubbing too aggressively can damage the skin by stripping it of natural lipides. The oil gland will then produce more oils causing acne outbreaks. Using alcohol to wash your face will produce the same results. Washing 2 times daily with a salicylic acid(2%) based face wash will help treat your acne.

So the next time someone tells you one of those things, gracefully thank them for the advice and correct them and share what you know. Remember, knowledge is power.