Acne is a complicated skin disorder and therefore, misunderstood. Almost everyone in the world will get a pimple at some point in there lives. The unlucky ones will have persistent acne that requires ongoing treatment. The key to overcoming your skin problems is to figure out what the cause of is, either genetics or hormones, and find the best treatment for you. Treatment is also complicated and what will work for one person, may not work for another.
Acne Myths and Claims
When you are unfamiliar with acne, and someone close to you tells you to stop eating chocolate and you won’t get a pimple, you might be temped to believe that. Misunderstanding the cause of your acne could prevent you from getting the correct treatment and then more problems arise with your skin.
To start, acne is NOT caused by dirt! Acne begins as an internal issue and takes 2-3 weeks to come to the surface, so getting some dirt on your face will not cause you to breakout. Some people think acne is caused by just a little bit of dirt and will wash their faces two or three times a day just to get rid of it when in fact, washing too much will not only irritate your skin, but it will also dry it. When your skin is dry, it tells your body you need to produce more oil to compensate.
Acne does not end with your teenage years. Since acne is related to your hormones, and your body is always producing hormones, it affects both teenagers and adults. Telling a teenager not to be concerned with their acne because it will just go away as they get older is simply not true. Acne can actually begin as an adult, especially for women. Many adults are too embarrassed to get treatment for their acne because they feel like it’s something that they should have been rid of as a teenager, but they should not be embarrassed. Millions of adult Americans are suffering from acne and require ongoing treatment for it.
Don’t use spot treatments, they don’t work. People have believed for years that putting a dab of cream on a pimple will help clear up your skin which is totally untrue. Acne is an internal problem and the best treatment you can do is to stop pimples from forming in the first place by taking an oral medication.
Food does not cause acne. Just because you like to eat greasy food such as French fries, pizza and hamburgers does not mean you are going to break out. There is actually zero connection between food and acne.
Choose your cosmetics wisely, but your makeup is not going to cause you to get acne. It is best to choose make up that is non-comedogenic and oil free, but again, acne is an internal problem and treatment begins internally. It is also best to wash your face before working out.
Talk to your doctor about the cause of your acne and what you can do to prevent it.
Mary Murphy
Acne Myths
