Top Five Acne Myths
Synopsis 1: Misconceptions about acne abound. Can you pick out the facts from the fables? Break through the myths to better understand acne so you can fight it! Continue reading for the top five myths.
Synopsis 2: Ahhhh acne! Why won't it just go away? What causes it? How do you get rid of it? Along with the multitude of products available for fighting acne, there are just as many myths circulating about what triggers and treats problem skin. Acne isn't just uncomfortable and frustrating, it's complicated too. So let's simplify.
The facts
According to WebMD, approximately 80 percent of people between ages 11 and 30 will experience acne, though people in their forties and fifties can also suffer from acne. While difficult to pinpoint what causes acne, doctors attribute it mainly to hormones and genetics. It's believed that the male hormone androgen causes the sebaceous (oil) glands to enlarge and produce more sebum. This hormone tends to increase during puberty and right before a woman's menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. Research suggests that you might inherit the tendency toward acne from your parents.
The myths
Myth #1- Chocolate and other fatty foods cause acne.
There's no scientific evidence that proves a person's diet causes acne. Take this study for example: In their book, The Acne Cure, Terry J. Dubrow and Brenda D. Adderly explain, "researchers at the University of Pennsylvania fed 50 teenagers with acne a pound of chocolate a day. The result was that the acne of 46 of them remained unchanged; two got worse; and two got better." The only truth to this myth is that some people find certain foods exacerbate their acne. These aggressors include: nuts, caffeine, chocolate, high-fat and spicy foods, citrus fruits, refined foods and dairy products. Also noted are foods containing high iodide content. Spinach and shellfish are good examples. Again, these foods don't cause acne, but they might worsen it, for some people.
Myth #2- To get rid of acne you should wash your face more often.
Over-cleansing your face can actually make acne worse. Using harsh scrubs and cleansers repeatedly can lead to over-drying. To compensate for your dry skin, your body begins to produce more oil. When your skin is dry it begins to flake and these flakes will mix with the oil from your pores and cause clogging. You should wash your face twice a day; in the morning when you wake up and before you go to bed at night.
Myth #3- Waxing causes acne.
Waxing can cause an infection in the hair follicles called folliculitis, but this isn't acne. While it may resemble acne, folliculitis is actually an infection caused by staphylococcus bacteria, which can be cured with antibiotics.
Myth #4- Alcohol is great for drying up acne.
Rubbing alcohol works for wounds not acne: While it can be used to reduce the infection in an open wound, alcohol has no effect on acne when applied directly to the skin. Putting rubbing alcohol directly on your skin will only over-dry it, leaving you with the same results as over-washing.
Myth #5- Sunbathing improves your acne.
Initially acne may look better because of the sun's drying effect on your skin. Your tan or sunburn temporarily masks your acne by changing the shade of your skin. However, the sun actually stimulates oil production and thickens the outer layer of the skin. This thickening blocks pores and causes breakouts, not to mention that excessive sun exposure is harmful to your skin, causing cancer, premature aging and wrinkles.
Factors that do aggravate acne
According to WebMD, these five factors aggravate or worsen already existing acne:
* Oil from skin products such as cosmetics and moisturizers.
* Environmental factors like humidity and pollution.
* Picking or squeezing blemishes.
* Excessively scrubbing your skin.
* Stress.
What to do
While you can't control your hormones or your genetics, there are ways to control your acne. Start by leading a healthy lifestyle. This means sleeping and exercising regularly, eating a well balanced diet and drinking plenty of water. Try to avoid factors that irritate or exacerbate your acne and practice a daily skin care regimen. Consult a dermatologist about an effective acne treatment for your skin type. Many helpful acne products are available so give them a try and leave the old myths behind.
Top Five Acne Myths
Synopsis 1: Misconceptions about acne abound. Can you pick out the facts from the fables? Break through the myths to better understand acne so you can fight it! Continue reading for the top five myths.
Synopsis 2: Ahhhh acne! Why won't it just go away? What causes it? How do you get rid of it? Along with the multitude of products available for fighting acne, there are just as many myths circulating about what triggers and treats problem skin. Acne isn't just uncomfortable and frustrating, it's complicated too. So let's simplify.
The facts
According to WebMD, approximately 80 percent of people between ages 11 and 30 will experience acne, though people in their forties and fifties can also suffer from acne. While difficult to pinpoint what causes acne, doctors attribute it mainly to hormones and genetics. It's believed that the male hormone androgen causes the sebaceous (oil) glands to enlarge and produce more sebum. This hormone tends to increase during puberty and right before a woman's menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. Research suggests that you might inherit the tendency toward acne from your parents.
The myths
Myth #1- Chocolate and other fatty foods cause acne.
There's no scientific evidence that proves a person's diet causes acne. Take this study for example: In their book, The Acne Cure, Terry J. Dubrow and Brenda D. Adderly explain, "researchers at the University of Pennsylvania fed 50 teenagers with acne a pound of chocolate a day. The result was that the acne of 46 of them remained unchanged; two got worse; and two got better." The only truth to this myth is that some people find certain foods exacerbate their acne. These aggressors include: nuts, caffeine, chocolate, high-fat and spicy foods, citrus fruits, refined foods and dairy products. Also noted are foods containing high iodide content. Spinach and shellfish are good examples. Again, these foods don't cause acne, but they might worsen it, for some people.
Myth #2- To get rid of acne you should wash your face more often.
Over-cleansing your face can actually make acne worse. Using harsh scrubs and cleansers repeatedly can lead to over-drying. To compensate for your dry skin, your body begins to produce more oil. When your skin is dry it begins to flake and these flakes will mix with the oil from your pores and cause clogging. You should wash your face twice a day; in the morning when you wake up and before you go to bed at night.
Myth #3- Waxing causes acne.
Waxing can cause an infection in the hair follicles called folliculitis, but this isn't acne. While it may resemble acne, folliculitis is actually an infection caused by staphylococcus bacteria, which can be cured with antibiotics.
Myth #4- Alcohol is great for drying up acne.
Rubbing alcohol works for wounds not acne: While it can be used to reduce the infection in an open wound, alcohol has no effect on acne when applied directly to the skin. Putting rubbing alcohol directly on your skin will only over-dry it, leaving you with the same results as over-washing.
Myth #5- Sunbathing improves your acne.
Initially acne may look better because of the sun's drying effect on your skin. Your tan or sunburn temporarily masks your acne by changing the shade of your skin. However, the sun actually stimulates oil production and thickens the outer layer of the skin. This thickening blocks pores and causes breakouts, not to mention that excessive sun exposure is harmful to your skin, causing cancer, premature aging and wrinkles.
Factors that do aggravate acne
According to WebMD, these five factors aggravate or worsen already existing acne:
* Oil from skin products such as cosmetics and moisturizers.
* Environmental factors like humidity and pollution.
* Picking or squeezing blemishes.
* Excessively scrubbing your skin.
* Stress.
What to do
While you can't control your hormones or your genetics, there are ways to control your acne. Start by leading a healthy lifestyle. This means sleeping and exercising regularly, eating a well balanced diet and drinking plenty of water. Try to avoid factors that irritate or exacerbate your acne and practice a daily skin care regimen. Consult a dermatologist about an effective acne treatment for your skin type. Many helpful acne products are available so give them a try and leave the old myths behind.
Top Five Acne Myths
Synopsis 1: Misconceptions about acne abound. Can you pick out the facts from the fables? Break through the myths to better understand acne so you can fight it! Continue reading for the top five myths.
Synopsis 2: Ahhhh acne! Why won't it just go away? What causes it? How do you get rid of it? Along with the multitude of products available for fighting acne, there are just as many myths circulating about what triggers and treats problem skin. Acne isn't just uncomfortable and frustrating, it's complicated too. So let's simplify.
The facts
According to WebMD, approximately 80 percent of people between ages 11 and 30 will experience acne, though people in their forties and fifties can also suffer from acne. While difficult to pinpoint what causes acne, doctors attribute it mainly to hormones and genetics. It's believed that the male hormone androgen causes the sebaceous (oil) glands to enlarge and produce more sebum. This hormone tends to increase during puberty and right before a woman's menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. Research suggests that you might inherit the tendency toward acne from your parents.
The myths
Myth #1- Chocolate and other fatty foods cause acne.
There's no scientific evidence that proves a person's diet causes acne. Take this study for example: In their book, The Acne Cure, Terry J. Dubrow and Brenda D. Adderly explain, "researchers at the University of Pennsylvania fed 50 teenagers with acne a pound of chocolate a day. The result was that the acne of 46 of them remained unchanged; two got worse; and two got better." The only truth to this myth is that some people find certain foods exacerbate their acne. These aggressors include: nuts, caffeine, chocolate, high-fat and spicy foods, citrus fruits, refined foods and dairy products. Also noted are foods containing high iodide content. Spinach and shellfish are good examples. Again, these foods don't cause acne, but they might worsen it, for some people.
Myth #2- To get rid of acne you should wash your face more often.
Over-cleansing your face can actually make acne worse. Using harsh scrubs and cleansers repeatedly can lead to over-drying. To compensate for your dry skin, your body begins to produce more oil. When your skin is dry it begins to flake and these flakes will mix with the oil from your pores and cause clogging. You should wash your face twice a day; in the morning when you wake up and before you go to bed at night.
Myth #3- Waxing causes acne.
Waxing can cause an infection in the hair follicles called folliculitis, but this isn't acne. While it may resemble acne, folliculitis is actually an infection caused by staphylococcus bacteria, which can be cured with antibiotics.
Myth #4- Alcohol is great for drying up acne.
Rubbing alcohol works for wounds not acne: While it can be used to reduce the infection in an open wound, alcohol has no effect on acne when applied directly to the skin. Putting rubbing alcohol directly on your skin will only over-dry it, leaving you with the same results as over-washing.
Myth #5- Sunbathing improves your acne.
Initially acne may look better because of the sun's drying effect on your skin. Your tan or sunburn temporarily masks your acne by changing the shade of your skin. However, the sun actually stimulates oil production and thickens the outer layer of the skin. This thickening blocks pores and causes breakouts, not to mention that excessive sun exposure is harmful to your skin, causing cancer, premature aging and wrinkles.
Factors that do aggravate acne
According to WebMD, these five factors aggravate or worsen already existing acne:
* Oil from skin products such as cosmetics and moisturizers.
* Environmental factors like humidity and pollution.
* Picking or squeezing blemishes.
* Excessively scrubbing your skin.
* Stress.
What to do
While you can't control your hormones or your genetics, there are ways to control your acne. Start by leading a healthy lifestyle. This means sleeping and exercising regularly, eating a well balanced diet and drinking plenty of water. Try to avoid factors that irritate or exacerbate your acne and practice a daily skin care regimen. Consult a dermatologist about an effective acne treatment for your skin type. Many helpful acne products are available so give them a try and leave the old myths behind.
Top Five Acne Myths
Synopsis 1: Misconceptions about acne abound. Can you pick out the facts from the fables? Break through the myths to better understand acne so you can fight it! Continue reading for the top five myths.
Synopsis 2: Ahhhh acne! Why won't it just go away? What causes it? How do you get rid of it? Along with the multitude of products available for fighting acne, there are just as many myths circulating about what triggers and treats problem skin. Acne isn't just uncomfortable and frustrating, it's complicated too. So let's simplify.
The facts
According to WebMD, approximately 80 percent of people between ages 11 and 30 will experience acne, though people in their forties and fifties can also suffer from acne. While difficult to pinpoint what causes acne, doctors attribute it mainly to hormones and genetics. It's believed that the male hormone androgen causes the sebaceous (oil) glands to enlarge and produce more sebum. This hormone tends to increase during puberty and right before a woman's menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. Research suggests that you might inherit the tendency toward acne from your parents.
The myths
Myth #1- Chocolate and other fatty foods cause acne.
There's no scientific evidence that proves a person's diet causes acne. Take this study for example: In their book, The Acne Cure, Terry J. Dubrow and Brenda D. Adderly explain, "researchers at the University of Pennsylvania fed 50 teenagers with acne a pound of chocolate a day. The result was that the acne of 46 of them remained unchanged; two got worse; and two got better." The only truth to this myth is that some people find certain foods exacerbate their acne. These aggressors include: nuts, caffeine, chocolate, high-fat and spicy foods, citrus fruits, refined foods and dairy products. Also noted are foods containing high iodide content. Spinach and shellfish are good examples. Again, these foods don't cause acne, but they might worsen it, for some people.
Myth #2- To get rid of acne you should wash your face more often.
Over-cleansing your face can actually make acne worse. Using harsh scrubs and cleansers repeatedly can lead to over-drying. To compensate for your dry skin, your body begins to produce more oil. When your skin is dry it begins to flake and these flakes will mix with the oil from your pores and cause clogging. You should wash your face twice a day; in the morning when you wake up and before you go to bed at night.
Myth #3- Waxing causes acne.
Waxing can cause an infection in the hair follicles called folliculitis, but this isn't acne. While it may resemble acne, folliculitis is actually an infection caused by staphylococcus bacteria, which can be cured with antibiotics.
Myth #4- Alcohol is great for drying up acne.
Rubbing alcohol works for wounds not acne: While it can be used to reduce the infection in an open wound, alcohol has no effect on acne when applied directly to the skin. Putting rubbing alcohol directly on your skin will only over-dry it, leaving you with the same results as over-washing.
Myth #5- Sunbathing improves your acne.
Initially acne may look better because of the sun's drying effect on your skin. Your tan or sunburn temporarily masks your acne by changing the shade of your skin. However, the sun actually stimulates oil production and thickens the outer layer of the skin. This thickening blocks pores and causes breakouts, not to mention that excessive sun exposure is harmful to your skin, causing cancer, premature aging and wrinkles.
Factors that do aggravate acne
According to WebMD, these five factors aggravate or worsen already existing acne:
* Oil from skin products such as cosmetics and moisturizers.
* Environmental factors like humidity and pollution.
* Picking or squeezing blemishes.
* Excessively scrubbing your skin.
* Stress.
What to do
While you can't control your hormones or your genetics, there are ways to control your acne. Start by leading a healthy lifestyle. This means sleeping and exercising regularly, eating a well balanced diet and drinking plenty of water. Try to avoid factors that irritate or exacerbate your acne and practice a daily skin care regimen. Consult a dermatologist about an effective acne treatment for your skin type. Many helpful acne products are available so give them a try and leave the old myths behind.
Top Five Acne Myths
Synopsis 1: Misconceptions about acne abound. Can you pick out the facts from the fables? Break through the myths to better understand acne so you can fight it! Continue reading for the top five myths.
Synopsis 2: Ahhhh acne! Why won't it just go away? What causes it? How do you get rid of it? Along with the multitude of products available for fighting acne, there are just as many myths circulating about what triggers and treats problem skin. Acne isn't just uncomfortable and frustrating, it's complicated too. So let's simplify.
The facts
According to WebMD, approximately 80 percent of people between ages 11 and 30 will experience acne, though people in their forties and fifties can also suffer from acne. While difficult to pinpoint what causes acne, doctors attribute it mainly to hormones and genetics. It's believed that the male hormone androgen causes the sebaceous (oil) glands to enlarge and produce more sebum. This hormone tends to increase during puberty and right before a woman's menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. Research suggests that you might inherit the tendency toward acne from your parents.
The myths
Myth #1- Chocolate and other fatty foods cause acne.
There's no scientific evidence that proves a person's diet causes acne. Take this study for example: In their book, The Acne Cure, Terry J. Dubrow and Brenda D. Adderly explain, "researchers at the University of Pennsylvania fed 50 teenagers with acne a pound of chocolate a day. The result was that the acne of 46 of them remained unchanged; two got worse; and two got better." The only truth to this myth is that some people find certain foods exacerbate their acne. These aggressors include: nuts, caffeine, chocolate, high-fat and spicy foods, citrus fruits, refined foods and dairy products. Also noted are foods containing high iodide content. Spinach and shellfish are good examples. Again, these foods don't cause acne, but they might worsen it, for some people.
Myth #2- To get rid of acne you should wash your face more often.
Over-cleansing your face can actually make acne worse. Using harsh scrubs and cleansers repeatedly can lead to over-drying. To compensate for your dry skin, your body begins to produce more oil. When your skin is dry it begins to flake and these flakes will mix with the oil from your pores and cause clogging. You should wash your face twice a day; in the morning when you wake up and before you go to bed at night.
Myth #3- Waxing causes acne.
Waxing can cause an infection in the hair follicles called folliculitis, but this isn't acne. While it may resemble acne, folliculitis is actually an infection caused by staphylococcus bacteria, which can be cured with antibiotics.
Myth #4- Alcohol is great for drying up acne.
Rubbing alcohol works for wounds not acne: While it can be used to reduce the infection in an open wound, alcohol has no effect on acne when applied directly to the skin. Putting rubbing alcohol directly on your skin will only over-dry it, leaving you with the same results as over-washing.
Myth #5- Sunbathing improves your acne.
Initially acne may look better because of the sun's drying effect on your skin. Your tan or sunburn temporarily masks your acne by changing the shade of your skin. However, the sun actually stimulates oil production and thickens the outer layer of the skin. This thickening blocks pores and causes breakouts, not to mention that excessive sun exposure is harmful to your skin, causing cancer, premature aging and wrinkles.
Factors that do aggravate acne
According to WebMD, these five factors aggravate or worsen already existing acne:
* Oil from skin products such as cosmetics and moisturizers.
* Environmental factors like humidity and pollution.
* Picking or squeezing blemishes.
* Excessively scrubbing your skin.
* Stress.
What to do
While you can't control your hormones or your genetics, there are ways to control your acne. Start by leading a healthy lifestyle. This means sleeping and exercising regularly, eating a well balanced diet and drinking plenty of water. Try to avoid factors that irritate or exacerbate your acne and practice a daily skin care regimen. Consult a dermatologist about an effective acne treatment for your skin type. Many helpful acne products are available so give them a try and leave the old myths behind.
