5 Common Acne Myths

Hey, we know breakouts are no fun. Whenever your skin breakouts, it is hard to figure out why. There are many common myths online about what causes acne. Today we are talking about five of the most common acne myths that are out there.  What information do you believe or disbelieve?

1.    Acne is caused by dirt.

This is actually a common misconception, if you wash your face too often you may cause your skin to become irritated and will actually make your blemishes worse.  Don’t scrub your face, but gently wash it from jaw to hairline, with either water or mild nonalkaline soap or a soapless cleanser.

2.    Acne is caused by chocolate and greasy food.  

While not a cause for acne breakouts you should eat a healthy, balanced diet. Cutting down on fatty treats and eating more fruit and vegetables and choosing low-glycemic options will improve your general health.  Which will have a positive effect on your skin.

3.    Stress will actually cause acne.

This is not a myth – it’s true. Stress can cause a number of different reactions to your body. Reducing stress through exercise or relaxation techniques will aid in the improvement of your general health.

4.    Your medications may be causing your breakouts.

Some medication will cause acne or acne-like conditions.  When a medication is to blame for an acne breakout changing the medication will stop the reaction.  Often times this is slow to occur. Before stopping or changing your medication please speak to your primary healthcare provider.  Some medication cannot be changed and therefore it is better to just treat the resulting acne.

5.    Popping a pimple will improve your acne.

Do not pick, scratch, pop or squeeze your pimples. This can drive the bacteria deeper into your pores. Popping a pimple will actually increase the time that it takes to heal compared to leaving it alone.   Keep in mind whenever you pop a pimple you have the chance that you will leave a scar in its place.

Acne starts deep inside your skin, inside your pores. Treat acne as soon as it appears on your face. Do not use makeup regularly or choose makeup that is oil-free products that use the word noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic on the label, meaning that it will not cause breakouts. Many non-prescription acne treatments may cause your acne to get worse before it gets better.

See your primary healthcare practitioner if your acne changes suddenly in appearance or number, does not improve after trying your treatment for 6-8 weeks, have a lot of acne, or if you think it may be affected by your medical condition or medicine you take.

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