Acne is the most commonly found skin disease that has a major part of the United States under its control. One in every 20 adults has acne problem. The first and the most important solution to this problem, is to understand the causes of acne and get rid of the myths that have been misguiding people for a long time.

Myths – Misguiding People

Acne Myth #1. Bad food habits can cause acne. Unlike the myth that acne is a result of bad food habits, acne is caused due to an excess oil production. Some attribute acne problem to foods like soda and oily foods, but this is not true as such problems are only food allergies and acne is not a result of the food habits.

Acne Myth #2. Poor hygiene can cause acne. Acne, unlike the myth, cannot be attributed to poor hygiene. People with an acne problem must keep their skin clean using a mild cleanser. Using tough scrubs (unlike the belief) cannot reduce the oil production but on the other hand will only aggravate the acne problem.

Acne Myth #3. Popping pimples helps to manage acne. It is best to let the pimples die their natural death. Picking the pimples can increase the risk for an infection, which could actually worsen the situation.

Acne Myth #4. Only teenagers get acne. Acne is not a problem restricted to teenagers alone. Acne can be a problem faced by people of any age.

Acne Myth #5. Oily skin condition is the primary cause of acne. Unlike the myth that acne is a result of an oily skin condition, acne is caused by the blocking of pores due to excess oil. The oily skin condition actually cannot be identified as the cause for acne.

Acne Myth #6. Acne is a contagious disease. Acne, unlike the misconception, is not contagious. You cannot get acne by interacting with another person who is suffering from an acne problem.

Acne Myth #7. Tanning helps acne. Tanning provides just a masking effect to the acne problem and is not a remedy for acne. Tanning is not good for the skin as with tanning you increase your risk for wrinkles and skin cancer.

Acne Myth #8. Avoid cosmetics if you have acne. This is both true as well as false. Some cosmetics can increase the acne problem and therefore, it is important to choose the right products that suit your skin type. Use products that are nonacnegenic and noncomedogenic.

Acne Myth #9. More acne medicines will heal my acne faster. Absolutely wrong! This will only lead to dry, irritated skin. Infact, when you apply ointments, your entire body absorbs it. So, using too much of acne medicines will lead to unpleasant physical problems. Thus, stick to the saying “less is more”.

Acne Myth #10. You can stop acne medicine if your acne has been cleared. Sudden outbursts of acne can occur if you either change the dose or stop the medicine soon. So, always consult with your dermatologist about discontinuing your acne medicine as complications may arise.

For treating acne problem effectively, it is very important to follow your dermatologist’s advice and use the medicines as prescribed. The medicines should be taken and stopped only after consulting the doctor.

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