Over the years, there have been many myths about acne as well as acne treatments. Acne was reported to be caused by chocolate or not to wash your face. Treatments for acne ranged from dulling your face until actually pimples popping on your face. Other treatments, such as those done in the East with plants, were somewhat effective.
Most dermatologists will tell you that acne is a cause of hormonal fluctuations. This is normal during puberty and can last until the late teens. As young people get older, their acne usually begins to clear up, though some may continue to struggle with this problem until early adulthood.
Acne is not caused by eating chocolate. It is not cured by having sex (a popular myth teenage boys would tell young girls). It is the reaction of the body to the change of the hormone. The glands begin to secrete more oil and the pores in the face become blocked. When that happens, they can become infected. The result is the pimple.
While most young adults struggle with some pimples throughout their lives, others have a mass of pimples that can occur anywhere – including the face, neck, back, or the rest of the body. They are most common on the face, although some people get them on the back or chest. It is important to realize that most current remedies that are sold today for acne, which is mild to moderate. Severe acne usually requires treatment by a dermatologist or, in some cases, an endocrinologist.
Mild to moderate acne can be treated by a number of home remedies as well as over the counter and prescription remedies, most of which are current solutions. There are certain vitamins and supplements that you can take that will help cleanse your skin. It is important for you to recognize that acne is something that comes from within your skin and not from the outside, even though environmental factors fit into the shape of your skin.
Acne will eventually clean up by itself. But that may take a while and can not be until you grow up. Another myth about acne is that it is just a problem that affects young people. That’s wrong. Adults are often plagued with acne, which starts in the middle of life. Women who go before menopause often complain of acne break out, although this is not as bad as when you are younger.
Some of the common myths about acne are as follows:
It is caused by stress
While stress in any part of the body can cause havoc and aggravate your acne, stress itself does not cause acne. Acne is usually caused by a hormone fluctuation. It is very common to get a pimple in women when they menstruate, even if they are older adults. Stress alone does not lead to acne.
It is caused by chocolate
Chocolate should calm you down. At least, dark chocolate should have a calming effect. While chocolate is high in sugars and fats, it does not bring on acne. The old myth of telling people who break out to stay away from chocolate because they cause acne is just that – a myth.
It is caused by not being clean
This is a myth that most people who have acne, wash their face repeatedly. Oily skin is not washed off with soap and water and acne either. This is a hurtful myth for those who suffer from acne because it means somehow they are guilty of being impure. It is not true.
It only happens to teenagers
Many acne cases affect adults. In fact, more adults see a dermatologist on acne problems than teenagers. In teenage years, most people first fall victim to acne.
It becomes clear when you take birth control pills
Not necessarily. Some women report that their acne got worse after they started taking birth control pills, and some claim that their acne was getting better and clearer. Every woman is different in this regard. While birth control pills regulate the hormone levels, they do not necessarily clear acne.
They break worse when you are pregnant
Not true. Some women who have been plagued with acne all their lives find their skin clear again after pregnancy. It is believed that this is due to the estrogen that is produced. However, not all women who are pregnant get a clear skin. And some women report that they first broke out when they became pregnant.
Sex clears up acne
This is an old line that is used by many teenage boys about acne. There is no indication that sex cancels acne or makes someone break out.
The sun will make it worse
Contrary to this opinion, which was even noted by doctors in the 1980s, the sun is very likely to clean up the acne. Because of this, many dermatologists use light therapy for their acne patients. Although dermatologists are well aware of the harmful rays and risk of skin cancer, the light therapy boxes they use control the exposure sufficiently to cleanse the skin without straining the skin.
Steam your face to get rid of acne
Facial steamers open the pores and cleanse the skin. You will not get rid of acne. Even facials that used medical creams to rid someone of acne were useless.
Toothpaste will clarify acne
A popular new myth is that toothpaste cancels acne. Not true. Toothpaste will tingle and has properties that dehydrate the skin, but the acne will not clean up faster with toothpaste on your skin than it does alone.
There are many myths about acne and acne treatments. If you suffer from acne and are looking for the right answers, it is important to know about the myths. Unfortunately, there are many people out there who are looking for someone who will have acne as a way to make money. Some medications and over-the-counter treatments do not work.
