Acne myths and wrongly held beliefs

Common acne myths

When you got your first acne, you may  ask your parent, older brother or sister, or a friend about what to do. But before you take their advice, you should know that some of what you hear about acne is probably a myth. Here are some common myths about acne.

Getting a tan clears up acne.....Acne myths #1

Staying  in the sun or tanning does nothing to improve your acne. When you spend time outside and your skin becomes darker, the redness caused by acne may be less noticeable for a little while. But when your tan fades, you'll still see your acne. And spending time in the sun without the proper protection can cause dry, irritated, or burned skin 

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Don’t wear sunscreen, it will aggravate your acne

Prior to go outdoors, protect your skin with a sunscreen that contains a sun protection factor. You have to pick the right sunscreen. Check the label for "noncomedogenic" which means it won't clog your pores and worsen acne.

You can’t wear makeup if you have a breakout

Mostly young skin looks great even without makeup. Since Some makeup can definitely exacerbate acne, be sure to choose products that are labeled "oil-free," and "noncomedogenic." Some cosmetics even contain acne-fighting ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. If you are not sure, ask your parent or doctor.

let acne go away with time

Nowadays, there are a number of treatment available to treat acne. Ask your dermatologist to prescribe a right option for you.

Scrubbing your face will help clear up acne

If you think washing your skin hard and frequently avoid acne, do not scrub your skin. You can actually make your acne worse. Acne is not caused by dirt or surface skin oils. Although excess oils, dead skin and a day's accumulation of dust on the skin looks unsightly, they should not be removed by hand scrubbing. Vigorous washing and scrubbing will actually irritate the skin and make acne worse. The best approach is gently wash your face twice a day with a mild soap, pat dry--and use an appropriate acne treatment for the acne.

Masturbation or sex causes acne

This is an age-old acne myths.  This antiquated notion, originating as early as the 17th century to discourage young people from having premarital sex, is not based on scientific evidence.

Only teens get acne

Not true. Surveys have found that significant numbers of adults are still getting acne into their 30s, 40s, and even 50s. Acne may look different when you’re 36 than it did when you were 16 -- it’s more likely to be reddish nodules around your mouth and jaw, rather than whiteheads and blackheads scattered all over your forehead, nose, and cheeks -- but it’s acne all the same.

You should never pop a pimple

There is no scientific evidence against popping a pimple. But, it is commonly agreed that attempting to pop acnes which are not yet ready and do not have a white or yellow center can cause the acne to become more severe and potentially scar. Popping a zit which is ready and does in fact have a white or yellow center can actually eliminate the infection and initiate healing. Popping must be performed correctly to achieve the best result. Also, it is vital that popping never be combined with picking of the skin. Countless plastic surgeons who specialize in acne scar correction will tell you that picking the skin causes as much or more scarring than the initial acne lesion itself.

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benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, treatment, whiteheads, blackheads, zit,