Acne Myths

Myth #1: Acne is caused by poor hygiene. If you wash your skin hard and frequently, you can actually make your acne worse. Acne is not caused by dirt or surface skin oils. In fact most people with acne wash more often than those without the condition, to try to clear away the excess oil produced by their skins. Although excess oils, dead skin and a day's accumulation of dust on the skin looks unsightly, they should not be removed by hard scrubbing. Vigorous washing and scrubbing will actually irritate the skin and make acne worse. The best approach to hygiene and acne: Gently wash your face twice a day with a mild soap, pat dry--and use an appropriate acne treatment for the acne.


Myth #2: Acne is caused by diet. Extensive scientific studies have not found a connection between diet and acne. In other words, food does not cause acne. Not chocolate. Not peanuts. Not oily food. Nonetheless, some people insist that certain foods affect their acne. In that case, avoid those foods. However, a good balanced diet will improve your general well-being and this will be reflected in the condition of your skin. And, according to the scientific evidence, if acne is being treated properly, there's no need to worry about food affecting the acne.


Myth #3: Acne is caused by stress. The ordinary stress of day-to-day living is not an important factor in acne. Severe stress that needs medical attention is sometimes treated with drugs that can cause acne as a side effect. If you think you may have acne related to a drug prescribed for stress or depression, you should consult your physician.


Myth #4: Acne affected by sweating and humid atmosphere. Yes. Up to 15 % of sufferers find their acne flares up when they have been sweating a lot. This is probably due to water swells the partial hair duct obstruction causing a complete blockage and therefore inflammation.


Myth #5: Acne become worse before periods? Yes. Many women notice that their acne gets worse 2 to 7 days before their period starts. This is probably due to changes in their hormone levels at this stage in the menstrual cycle.


Myth #6: Acne make worse by medicine. Some medicines may do this, most commonly corticosteroids and anti-epilepsy drugs. If you think that medicines you are taking have made your acne worse, you should speak to your doctor. Never stop medication without medical advice.