Acne

The Truth About Acne

When you experience an Acne breakout, you may feel like it is so obvious that you don’t want to go anywhere or be seen by anyone. Although it is unsightly, there are a number of acne prevention steps. You can take numerous acne products that are designed to help your face look its best in a very short amount of time.

The good news is that teen acne and adult acne are both treatable. Take a look at these common myths about the causes and cures for acne.

Myths About Acne

Perhaps the best way to prevent it from occurring is to be proactive about your skin care. Over the years, there have been a number of old wives’ tales about what causes it and what makes it worse. You may believe any of the following myths. Unfortunately, some of these could actually cause more harm than good.

Myth #1: Tanning

Some believe that getting a tan is a good way to deal with acne. There is no evidence to suggest this is true. Pimples may look less obvious against a darker background, but remember that sun can cause permanent damage in the form of premature aging and may also lead to skin cancer.

Myth #2: Chocolate and Greasy Foods

Perhaps you have always been told to stay away from chocolate or greasy foods in order to prevent a breakout. While neither of these foods is part of a healthy diet (with the exception of dark chocolate in moderation), they do not cause pimples. The truth is everyone is different. There may be some foods that trigger an eruption in one person but have no effect on another. Pay attention to your own body by keeping track of what you eat and when breakouts occur.

Myth #3: Wash Your Face Often

It is always a good idea to wash your face, but if you have acne, vigorous scrubbing and over-washing can make your skin irritated and dry. Washing your face once in the morning and once at night, before bed, is a good rule of thumb to avoid making the problem any worse. Just like treatment for eczema and aging skin, it is best to avoid overly drying the skin.

Myth #4: Popping Zits

You may be tempted to pop those blackheads and whiteheads open to make them disappear more quickly and look less noticeable. Actually, this causes it to take longer to heal and could actually infect the area. In the worst cases, you could leave behind scarring that may even  be permanent.

Myth #5: Don’t Wear Makeup

Makeup is not necessarily harmful to acne on the face. Just choose products that are noncomedogenic. Some bases and concealers actually contain acne-fighting ingredients that provide good acne skin care. As long as you use light, non oil-based makeup products, it should not have an adverse affect on mild to moderate acne breakouts.

Today, there are a number of advanced treatment options that will help you get over the embarrassment of pimples quickly and painlessly. In the meantime, you can cover them up with light makeup. Remember that the condition is only temporary. Acne should not interfere with your life.