Are these for Real? Debunking Acne Myths

Don’t eat chocolates, it causes acne! Wash your face more, you will have less acne! Popping zits will help them go away faster! Ah, I am sure you must have heard these over and over again. Could there be any truth in these notions?

The answer is an astounding NO! Though eating bucket loads of chocolates wouldn’t help with that diet, but chocolate doesn't cause acne. Tests have failed to show such. So yes girls, you can take a bite off that chocolate bar again.

One of the biggest evil for rundown skin is stress as it interferes with body’s repair systems. For example, a loss of the skin’s natural antioxidant defenses due to stress can lead to accelerated ageing. Also ageing associated with stress can release histamine within the skin, casing it to erupt in tiny red bumps. So, if you don’t fancy a load of red zits, take a chill pill. Cut down on coffee, cigarettes and take time to chill out.

Here are some of the acne boo-boos;

Myth #1 : What You Eat Doesn’t Cause Acne

While you are what you eat, this doesn’t ring true with acne. As mentioned earlier, no scientific study has revealed that acne is caused by peanuts or chocolate. These are old wives’ tales, rest assured. Having said this, some may notice a slight increase after consuming the abovementioned foods. If this is the case for you, you may refrain from eating such foods or minimize consumption. This may help ease the breakouts.

Myth #2: Scrub Up, Dirty Face!

No, scrubbing your face a hundred times a day WILL NOT help you say goodbye to acne, What more, you may even make it worse! Rethink your cleanser. Have you really examined your cleanser? For acne, you will need one that deep cleans without stripping moisture. Stay away from creamy cleansers as they clog pores. Instead try one of the new products made especially for adult acne with anti ageing and anti-blemish ingredients. It MUST contain salicylic acid to slough off dead skin cells. Or try one with blemish fighting cleanser like Rodan and Fields(Proactive Solutions) For body acne, try Murad’s Acne Body wash.

Myth #3: When the going Gets Tough…
 
Don’t sweat the small stuff! Take it easy and take time to smell the roses. That’s right, fretting unnecessary over things may make your acne flare up. The human body releases a chemical known as cortisol that can worsen acne. So one has to make time for proper exercise or other relaxation every day. On top of this, certain anti-depressant medications may list acne as possible side effects.

Myth #4: Acne will magically disappear! 
 
If only we had a magical wand to help abracadabra our acne! Sadly this is not feasible in the real world. Hiding under your duvet and walking out with a large hat to cover your face is not going to make acne disappear or help with your confidence. There is a wide cornucopia of acne treatments made available to us. Laser treatments, over the counter treatments and dermatologists can all help you regain that smooth, soft and clear façade you so desire.

Myth #5: No baking In the Sun

Tanning may give you the illusion of long, slender legs and hide unsightly cellulite BUT over tanning maybe cause your skin to be dry and parched. An irritated skin causes more breakouts! Keep skin perfectly moistured. Many of us think that pimpled skin doesn’t need hydration. This is incorrect. Dryness can cause a rebound of oil secretions and secondary acne breakouts. Try oil free hydrators that are non-comodogenic and that contain salicylic acids.

Myth #6: Popping Made Easy!
 
As tempting as it may seem, popping zits may leave you with permanent scarring. If done wrongly, you can cause bacteria to spread to other pores and trigger more acne. Only pop a whitehead or blackhead. Squeezing cysts will make them worse. But if you really must, there is a correct way to squeezing your zit. Apply a warm washcloth to the area for several minutes to help open pores and then press the pimple extractor directly over the pimple. Once you have removed the fluid inside, follow with a deep cleaning mask to help dry out the remaining blemish. Sulphur is a nice calming mineral.

Myth #7: But I’m too old to get acne!
 
Though teens are more prone to acne and pimples, adults are not spared the rod either! If you are a female, it is recommended that you keep a diary of your monthly cycles.

Many women experience increase oiliness and breakouts the week before their period. You can minimize these attacks by b treating the area around your chin, and mouth with a zit zapping solution or serum. Try a clear gel with salicylic acid.

Myth #8: Clean Doesn’t Mean Acne-Free!
 
Hey, daily splashing with a facial cleanser may be a refreshing expedience but overzealous cleansing is a beauty no-no. Over washing causes the skin to feel dehydrated and the skin overcompensates this by secreting more oil to the surface. Wash your complexion with a mild and gentle cleanser.
 
 
Myth #9: Go easy On The Make up!
 
You can look beautiful and have clear, blemish free skin! Clinique Acne Solutions has salicylic acid to prevent breakouts and a precision tip to make targeting blemishes a cinch. Many cosmetic houses offer product ranges that are non-comedogenic and non pore clogging. Ingredients like Vitamin E, Glycolic Acid and Retinol A are all incorporated into beauty products these days to give you a more clear, soft and resplendent complexion.

Read on the next article: What Causes Acne