Acne Myths

Myth #1 - Acne is caused by eating the wrong foods

Fact: There are no wrong foods. Chocolate and french fries may be considered notorious villains when it comes to acne, but after numerous scientific studies no evidence has been found to link diet to acne.

Dermatologists do advise, however, that if you notice a tendency to break out after eating a certain food, reduce or eliminate it from your diet and see if it helps reduce your acne.

So while you won't have to give up your favorite snack, remember that a well-balanced diet is good for overall health.
Myth #2 - Acne is caused by poor hygiene

Fact: It's not poor hygiene, it's hormones. In fact, washing your face too often or too vigorously can actually make your acne worse.

The real culprits are hormonal imbalances that appear at puberty and occasionally at different stages of adult life including pregnancy and menopause. Whatever the age though, the outcome is the same: excess production of skin oils or sebum. Match that up to increased shedding of dead skin cells and you have clogged pores and the resulting pimples on a clean face.

Gently wash your face in the morning and evening with a mild cleanser and then pat it dry. Scrubbing or rubbing your face can lead to dry skin and irritated acne. That means delayed healing and worse, more breakouts. So treat your skin with care to help it heal. If you exercise hard and sweat a lot you may want to wash your face afterwards.
Myth #3- Acne is a cosmetic disease

Fact: It's true that acne does affect how we look and at the same time does not pose a serious threat to our physical health. In that sense you can call it a cosmetic disease. On the other hand, acne can lead to permanent physical scarring. It can also seriously affect the way some people feel about themselves and how they interact with others. This invisible side of acne can express itself in feelings of embarrassment, frustration or depression and result in decreased self-esteem and social withdrawal.
Myth #4 - You should not wear makeup if you have acne

Fact: Looking your best can make you feel your best so you'll be glad to know that you actually can wear makeup if you have acne. Just remember, try to use cosmetic and skin care products that are labeled noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic (won't clog pores or cause breakouts). Some concealers contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Both ingredients help to fight acne. You might also find that tinted acne-fighting creams can help get rid of pimples while hiding them. You may have noticed more and more skin care products labeled "organic," "all natural" or "herbal" coming onto the market. However, these cosmetics may, in fact, clog pores and make your acne worse. Stop using any cosmetic or skin care product that seems to be irritating your skin or causing breakouts. Talk with your dermatologist to see what adjustments can be made to improve your treatment and speed you on your way to clear, healthy skin.
Myth #5 - Stress causes acne

Fact: Your regular, every day variety of stress is not an important factor in acne. Rather, some drugs used to treat severe stress may cause acne as a side effect. If you think your acne is caused by a medication prescribed for stress or depression, you should talk to your doctor.
Myth #6 - You should not shave if you have acne

Fact: You can, in fact, shave. Be sure to use either a safety or electric razor and be attentive to your skin. Shave lightly around blemishes to avoid nicking the skin and inviting irritation and infection. Remember to replace your safety razor on a regular basis.
Myth #7 - Acne is a problem only for teenagers

Fact: It is true that most teenagers have acne and that many cases will clear up during a person's early 20s. Sometimes, however, acne can persist into the 30s and 40s. A large percentage (82%) of both the men and women with severe acne reported that it was a carry over from their teen years. Others develop acne for the first time as adults. Treatment during your teen years may minimize scarring and improve your acne before you hit your 20s.
Myth #8 - Acne appears only on the face

Fact: Acne can occur on many parts of the body. It is common for people to have acne on their back, chest and neck. These areas of the body have a high concentration of oil glands just as the face does. Body acne can be treated just as successfully as facial acne.
Myth #9 - Getting a tan will help clear up acne

Fact: You may be tempted to get some rays since a tan can minimize your blemishes and make your skin feel drier, but getting a tan will make your acne worse in the long run. Sunbathing dries your skin, causing your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum (oil exuded from the pores). In addition, sun exposed skin sloughs old cells more frequently. And that's the formula for clogged pores and acne.

Tanning makes your skin age prematurely and can put you at a much greater risk for skin cancer. So anytime you're going to be outside, be sure to use a noncomedogenic sunscreen with at least an SPF 15 protection level.
Myth #10 - Washing your face a lot will help get rid of pimples

Fact: Acne is not caused by poor hygiene. It's good to wash your face each day to get rid of dead skin cells, excess oil and surface dirt, but washing your face more than once or twice a day can be too much of a good thing.

If you wash too frequently or too abrasively you can dry and irritate your skin into more breakouts. So don't scrub or rub. Gently wash your face with a mild cleanser no more than once or twice a day and pat it dry with care.
Myth #11 - Popping pimples will make them go away faster

Fact: No matter how tempting, you should not scratch, pick, squeeze or pop a pimple. Doing so may push bacteria from the pimple further into the skin, causing more inflammation. Popping a pimple may also cause brown or red scars to appear that can last for months or worse yet, popping pimples can cause dents and pits that can last forever.
Myth #12 - Using extra acne medication will make your acne go away faster

Fact: More is not necessarily better. In fact, it can worsen your acne. Many over-the-counter acne treatments contain active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Too much of either of these can cause your skin to become excessively dry or irritated which in turn may lead to more blemishes. Results are generally seen in a few weeks, but may take up to 8 weeks or more. Use the medication exactly as directed, and if you don't see any improvement talk with your dermatologist.
Myth #13 - All acne medications are the same

Fact: All acne medications are not created equal. It is important to know that over-the- counter acne products and prescription medications all contain different active ingredients. Each product or drug is designed to target a specific cause of acne and degree of severity as well as to accommodate a given skin type. Some acne treatments reduce oiliness, others decrease the amount of dead skin cells that are shed and still others attack the bacteria responsible for the breakouts, Propionibacterium acnes, (P. acnes). Some medications combine two or more acne-busting agents to attack multiple causes of acne. Over-the-counter and prescription medications come in various forms that can make a difference in their effectiveness and your comfort. They can be topical (applied to the skin) or systemic (taken orally). Oral medications are available by prescription only. Acne products and medications can come as creams, lotions, gels, solutions, pads and foam. Creams and lotions provide moisture and are generally better for people with sensitive or dry skin, while gels and solutions may be best for people who live in hot, humid climates or who have oily skin. Foam offers increased spreadability. If you have difficulty finding the right acne-fighting product for your skin, talk with your dermatologist who can steer you in the right direction.
Myth #14 - Acne medication should only be put right on top of the blemish

Fact: Spot treatment may work on reducing an existing blemish, but it won't treat new breakouts. Apply a thin layer of your topical medication over all the areas where there are breakouts to treat and eliminate both visible and invisible lesions.
Myth #15 - Oily skin is the main cause of pimples

Fact: Oily skin is just one of the causes of pimples. The other contributing factors include rapid and irregular shedding of dead skin cells, the presence of a normal skin bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) and inflammation.

The hormonal onset of puberty signals the onset of acne. Hormones cause the sebaceous glands to exude oil through the pores and increase the rate at which dead skin cells are shed. The accumulating skin cells and oil stick together and form a soft plug that clogs the skin pore. This mixture of oil and cells makes a perfect environment for the growth of a normal skin bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). The bacteria multiplies inside the clogged pore and causes the inflammation that you experience as redness and heat.
Myth #16- Blackheads are caused by dirt

Fact: That is not dirt you are looking at and it cannot be scrubbed away. Whiteheads and blackheads are simply pores that have become plugged with a mixture of oil and dead skin cells. Whiteheads reside just below the surface of the skin while blackheads are enlarged plugs that have pushed through the skin's surface. The material inside the pore turns dark when it is exposed to the air.
Myth #17 - You must let acne run its course

Fact: Acne can be treated and you can have healthy skin. With all the acne products available today there is absolutely no reason to endure acne or to allow untreated acne to result in scars. If you are frustrated with the acne treatments you've tried, talk with a dermatologist to help you find the right therapy and get you on track for clear skin.
Myth #18 - Acne is contagious

Fact: Acne is a result of hormonal influences and is not contagious.
Myth #19 - Acne can't be controlled

Fact: Acne can definitely be controlled. There is a wide range of both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription acne medicines currently available. And while some OTC products may be more effective than others, dermatologists have acne treatments that are available by prescription which may heal existing blemishes and treat new ones. With a little patience and attention, you may enjoy clear, healthy skin.
Myth #20 - If the pimples do not clear up in a day or two, the medication is not working

Fact: Be patient. Healing acne takes time. It is important to be realistic when you are trying to find a successful acne treatment. Don't be tempted by overnight promises, you want to look for the best treatment.

Simple whiteheads or blackheads can be cleared up in days or weeks. More serious lesions may take longer to heal.

Credit : www.acnemedicine.com