Myths Concerning Acne 

There are numerous myths concerning acne that continue to persist despite medical evidence saying otherwise. Some of these are harmless but there are a few that may aggravate the condition. Read to find out which ones you should not be doing.  

Poor hygiene causes acne. Not! Washing your face more often is not the answer. Dirt and poor hygiene do not cause acne. Impurities do not block the follicles.

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It is the over stimulation of the sebaceous glands and accumulation of sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria that form a plug which begins to swell, resulting in the much dreaded acne. Frequent washing will not help and may even irritate pores. Using a washcloth won’t help either.  

Stress causes acne. Stress can trigger flare-ups but does not really cause acne. Stress has an effect on a person’s hormone levels and affect the production of sebum and in theory can produce acne.

However, the acne system is more complicated than that and a little more stress at any given day is not likely to produce acne. Some psychiatric medicines may have acne as a side effect but the stress level itself is not a proven cause of acne.  

Sex causes acne. This myth can be traced to as far back as the 17th century and was concocted to prevent youngsters from engaging in pre-marital sex. Acne is caused by high androgen levels, not sexual activity. It is the higher hormone levels and not the accompanying increase in sexual activity that really causes acne.  

Diet and acne are related. It is possible but there is little scientific evidence to support this theory. There are indigenous populations that do not experience acne the way most people do but their diet is most probably not the sole protective factor.

More research is needed to prove the relationship between acne and diet.  This does not mean that you are free to eat all the French fries and chocolates you like.  A balanced diet always makes sense. 

The sun can rid you of acne. Sun exposure may give you a light tan and blend the skin tone with the red acne marks. Does this really help? No. It may even cause irritation that may make things worse, not to mention sunburn if you stay too long under the sun.  

Popping acne accelerates the healing process. This is one myth that has serious risks. Popping your pimples is not the best way to get rid of them and has more risks than benefits. Picking or popping your pimples may introduce dirt and bacteria into the wound and start an infection.  Worse, popping zits can lead to scarring.  

Acne is for teenagers only, you can wait it out. While it is more common in teenagers, acne may continue well into adulthood. It is the hormonal changes that make acne common in teenagers. Do not wait it out. Doing so will only delay the initiation of the treatment.