Three Myths about Acne
Tuesday, December 9, 2008 13:33You’ve probably heard many different “common knowledge” things about acne, but did you know that some of them are myths? In fact, many of the “facts” about acne are not actually true at all! Here are three myths about acne that you may not have realized weren’t true.
#1 – Eating a lot of chocolate can cause acne. Many people believe this, but research has shown that there really is no link between chocolate and other sugary foods and acne. However, there is a bit of truth to this myth. Different foods affect people differently, and some may actually break out or experience worse acne after eating chocolate. For others, this may occur after drinking a lot of caffeine. It all depends on the person.
#2 – Tanning is one way to clear away acne. Again, this is also false. While tanning might temporarily hide acne, it won’t make it disappear. In fact, it actually dries out the skin. This can cause more acne, not less! Too much sun can also make your skin look older and can even lead to skin cancer. If you do decide to tan, make certain you wear sunscreen that is nonacnegenic or noncomedogenic. Unlike other sunscreens, these types do not contain ingredients that clog pores (another cause of acne).
#3 – Washing your face over and over will cut down on the amount of acne you have. This myth is, despite what you might logically think, false as well. If you wash your face a few times during the day, you can remove oils and dirt that may clog your pores and lead to more acne. However, if you wash your face too much (more than three or four times a day), you risk drying out your face and irritating your skin. Don’t scrub your face, either. Instead, use mild soap and gently wash your face in a circular motion. This will help remove dead skin and keep your pores clean.
