Acne is extremely common, but few people actually understand what it is, and a lot of myths and wives tales surround what causes it. Most commonly affecting teenagers and young adults, acne cases can range from mild breakouts to very severe ones. Regardless of the severity of the case, however, all acne should be treated as soon as possible, as it can play a major role in self-esteem, especially amongst teenagers.
Acne is actually caused by particles of dirt entering the pores and clogging them, causing ideal breeding grounds for bacteria. This build-up then manifests itself as a whitehead on the surface of the skin.
Foods such as French fries, chocolate and other greasy foods are generally associated with outbreaks. However, this is merely a myth since no real scientific link has actually placed greasy food as a cause of acne. However, in some cases, it was shown that certain foods caused the initial acne to get progressively worse. So, as a general rule of thumb, avoid eating certain kinds of food that you think may cause you to break out. Understand, however, that this does not apply to everyone and you might be one of the few who can eat greasy foods and still get away with it.
Another belief is that frequent washing has a beneficial effect, reducing the chances of acne and lessening it once it appears. This is not true. In fact, it has shown to increase acne outbreaks, if anything. Repeated washing can lead to dryness and irritation of the skin, which leads to a prevalence of acne breakouts. Because of this, people should only wash twice daily using only a mild soap; anything more will result in skin irritation.
The average person’s reaction to a pimple is to pop it, thereby removing the whitehead and the source of the infection. However, this is not the case. What actually happens when the pimple is popped is that the bacteria, dead skin cells and pus get deeper into the skin, leading to even more redness and quite possibly scarring.
While the sun will help you get a tan, it also dries out the skin and could lead to skin irritation, premature aging and skin cancer. It will not clear up your acne. When venturing out into the sun make sure to wear sunscreen. It would be healthier.
Among girls, acne is said to be linked to the wearing of makeup; however, this is not entirely accurate. Non-acnegenic or noncomedogenic makeup will not lead to a breakout of acne; but if you are already a sufferer, it would be best to seek advice from a qualified dermatologist regarding the kinds of makeup you should use.
Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both active ingredients in most acne medication, actually lead to dry skin and increased blemishes if overly used. So the preconception that using more medicine is better for your skin is false. For repeated outbreaks a qualified dermatologist is still your best solution.
Understanding and dispelling the myths surrounding acne will hopefully help in its prevention or at least ease the effects and lessen the long term damage associated with this condition.
