Myths About Acne

Throughout the years, there have been plenty of myths about acne as well as acne treatments. Acne was allegedly caused by chocolate or not washing your face. Treatments for acne ranged from steaming your face to actually popping the pimples on your face. Other treatments, such as those used in the East involving plants, were somewhat effective.

Most dermatologists will tell you that acne is a cause of hormonal fluctuations. This is normal in puberty and can continue until the late teens. As young people get older, their acne usually begins to clear up although some may continue struggling with this problem into early adulthood.

Acne is not caused by eating chocolate. It is not cured by having sex (a popular myth teenaged boys would tell teenaged girls). It is the body's response to changing hormone. The glands begin to secrete more oil and pores on the face get clogged. When this happens, they can get infected. The result is the pimple.

While most young adults struggle with some pimples throughout their lives, others have a mass of pimples that can appear anywhere - including the face, neck, back or the rest of the body. They are most common on the face although some people get them on the back or chest. It is important to realize that most topical remedies that are sold today are for acne that is mild to moderate. Severe acne usually requires treatment by a dermatologist or, in some cases, an endocrinologist.

Mild to moderate acne can be treated by a number of home remedies as well as over the counter and prescriptive remedies, most of which are topical solutions. There are certain vitamins and supplements that you can take that will help clear your skin. It is important for you to realize that acne is something that comes from within your skin rather than on the outside, although environmental factors do figure in to the shape of your skin.

Acne will eventually clear up on its own. But this can take a while and may not be until you are well into adulthood. Another myth about acne is that it is only a problem that effects young people. This is false. Adults are often plagued with acne that gets set on in mid life. Women who are going through pre-menopause often complain of breaking out with acne, although this is not as severe as it is when you are younger.

Some of the most common myths about acne are as follows:

It is brought on by stress

While stress can play havoc within every part of your body and can make your acne worse, stress itself does not bring on acne. Acne is usually brought on by a hormone fluctuation. It is very common, in women, to get a pimple when they menstruate, even as they become older adults. Stress alone will not bring on acne.

It is brought on by chocolate

Chocolate is supposed to calm you down. At least, dark chocolate is supposed to have a calming effect. While chocolate is high in sugar and fats, it does not bring on acne. The old myth of telling people who are breaking out to stay away from chocolate because it cause acne is just that - a myth.

It is brought on by not being clean

This is a myth in that most people who have acne wash their face repeatedly. Oily skin will not be washed away with soap and water and neither will acne. This is a hurtful myth for those who suffer from acne as it implies that they are somehow at fault for being unclean. It is not true.

It only happens to teenagers

Many acne cases affect adults. As a matter of fact, more adults see a dermatologist about acne problems than teenagers. The teenage years are when most people first fall prey to acne.

It clears up when you take birth control pills

Not necessarily. Some women report that their acne got worse after they started on birth control pills and some state that their acne got better and cleared up. Each woman is different with this regard. While birth control pills regulate the hormone levels, they do not necessarily clear up acne.

You break out worse when you are pregnant

Not true. Some women who are plagued with acne all of their lives find their skin clears up upon pregnancy. This is thought to be due to the estrogen that is being generated. However, not all women who are pregnant get clear skin. And some women do report that they actually broke out for the first time when they got pregnant.

Sex clears up acne

This is an old line used by many teenaged boys about acne. There is no indication that sex either clears up acne or allows someone to break out.

The sun will make it worse

Contrary to that opinion, which was stated even by medical doctors in the 1980s, the sun is very likely to make the acne clear up. This is why many dermatologists use light therapy for their acne patients. Although dermatologists are fully aware of the harmful rays of the and the risk of skin cancer, the light therapy boxes that they use control the exposure enough to clear up the skin, without over exposing the skin.

Steam your face to get rid of acne

Facial steamers used to open up the pores and cleanse the skin. They do not get rid of acne. Even facial steamers that used medicated creams to rid someone of acne were of no use.

Toothpaste will clear up acne

A popular new myth is that toothpaste will clear up acne. Not true. Toothpaste will tingle and has properties that will dry the skin out, but the acne will not clear up any faster using toothpaste on your skin as it will on its own.

There are many myths about acne and acne treatments. If you suffer from acne and are looking for the right answers, it is important to know about the myths. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people out there who will prey upon someone who has acne as a way to make money. Some medications and over the counter treatments do not work.

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