10 Acne Myths Exposed

Unfortunately, the exact causes of acne have never been proven thus the acne myths were born! Some are wives tales passed down by well-meaning parents, some are misunderstandings and speculation. All of them claim to be the cause of acne. All of them are wrong.

Myth #1: Acne is Caused by Poor Hygiene or Dirty Skin

While its important to wash your face twice daily there is no correlation between cleanliness and acne outbreaks. In fact many people who believe this myth often do more harm than good by scrubbing their face or washing with a harsh cleanser. Scrubbing the skin can actually irritate the skin and cause the acne infection to spread. The best approach is to gently wash your face twice a day with your fingertips using a mild soap, pat dry, and use an appropriate acne treatment for the acne.

Myth #2: Poor Diet or Chocolate Causes Acne

Chocolate lovers will be glad to know that research is on their side. No food has been proven to cause or even aggravate a case of acne. Other culprits that have been blamed for acne breakouts pizza, Coca-cola, potato chips, milk products and even fast food as a whole. The truth is no food has been proven to cause acne. Some people still insist that certain foods cause acne. Breakouts that occur as a result of eating a particular food is most likely to be an allergic reaction instead of acne Even so, if you feel a specific food is causing a breakout…don’t eat it!

Myth #3: Acne is Only a Teen Problem

While acne is commonly associated with teenagers they certainly don't have the corner on the market. Statistics show that 20% of adults suffer from the dreaded condition. Acne can also occur in infants and young children. In fact, this myth is so widely accepted that many insurance companies won’t cover medical treatment for patients over the age of 25 mistakenly classifying the condition as cosmetic rather than medical.

Myth#4: Cheap Makeup Causes Acne

Plunking down extra cash on makeup labeled non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic or dermatologist tested isn't any guarantee against getting pimples. Wearing any makeup can contribute to the clogging of pores especially if its not getting removed daily but acne doesn't care if your makeup is discount or designer!

Myth #5: Stress Causes Acne

Some would have you believe that stress will cause acne to start popping out like popcorn. If that were true we'd all have severe acne. It would probably be more accurate to say acne causes stress rather than the other way around. However, research suggests that stress can make an existing case of acne worse. One possible source of this misconception is that drugs used to treat severe stress medically can contribute to acne as a side effect.

Myth #7: Acne is Just a Cosmetic Issue

Its true that acne does not pose a serious threat to a person’s physical health. Acne can, however, result in permanent scars and those scars as well as the acne itself can severely impact a person’s emotional state, self-esteem, and confidence to the point of seriously impacting their lives.

Myth #8: Tanning, Sitting in the Sun or Under a Sun Lamp Will Help Acne

There is absolutely no truth to this theory. In fact, it’s a dangerous piece of misinformation. Over exposure to the sun causes premature again and skin cancer. Furthermore some acne treatments like Benzoyl Peroxide can harm the skin when exposed to the sun.

Myth #9: You Just Have to Let Acne Run its Course

With the wide variety of treatment options there is no reason why someone should live with acne or acne scars. Options include over the counter treatments, home or natural remedies and medical treatment. Keep trying until you find a treatment that works for you. If necessary seek the advice of a dermatologist.

Myth #10: Popping Zits Makes Them Go Away Faster

This is another myth that does more harm than good. Popping a pimple might cause temporary relief or satisfaction but can actually make matters worse. Squeezing causes the bacteria to spread worsening the breakout. Worse yet, you may push bacteria further into the skin causing redness, swelling and permanent scarring.