Acne is a very common problems of teenagers and in some cages adults too. Many teenagers are quite concerned about the problem and as it is related to their appearance, they try anything they think might work. Absence of a 100% effective solution has worsen the situation. Teenagers hear advice from many sources and find themselves in dilemma. There are many myths regarding acne which are believed by many people to be true although they are actually not. It may be the case that some of the things you know about acne are not really true. Here are some common acne myths:
Myth 1: Adults don’t get acne
It is a common belief that only teenagers are affected by acne and if a person has passed his teenage years he is safe from acne. Well, it is wrong. Though acne is mostly seen among teenagers, it is not impossible for an adult to experience acne. Studies show that people between the ages of 30 and 40 are having acne problems. But the appearance of acne during the age of 30 may be a little different from that of teenage years. Acne in adults normally looks like reddish nodules around the jaw or mouth instead of blackheads and whiteheads around the forehead, cheeks and nose.
Myth 2: You can clean up acne by scrubbing it
This is one of the worst acne myths and this not only creates wrong idea but also worsen the situation. Many teenagers try to pop the acne or pick on their skin which results in ugly spots on their face. This harmful habit should be avoided at all conditions. If you are facing severe problems of acne you should see a dermatologist or skin care specialist.
Myth 3: You cannot wear makeup if you have acne
This is one of the myths that is believed to be true. Some makeup materials definitely worsen the condition of acne breakout. For instance heavy liquid makeup foundations can block the pores and degrade the situation. The best thing to do while you are having an acne breakout is to not wear makeup at all. But it may not be possible all the time. Of course you will want to cover the acne spots during the breakout using makeup, but use lighter and looser foundations which have less effect on acne breakout.
Myth 4: Stress causes acne
The validity of this statement has not been proved yet. Though experts think that mental stress is a cause of acne development, there is no concrete proof. Some experts think that stress does not create acne, it just aggravates the breakout. Some studies have been executed to investigate the validity of this myth which have produced mixed results. Some studies showed that college students, who are going to appear in their final exam soon, are suffering from this problem. But again there were other examinees too who had no acne breakout. So, nothing can be said surely.
Myth 5: Chocolate and soda can cause acne breakout
Like some other myths regarding acne, this have no base. Believing this to be true, some people restrain themselves from drinking milk products and caffeine. But according to skin care specialists there is no established correlation between milk product consumption and acne breakout. Though in some cases it has been seen that having chocolate influenced acne breakout, it cannot be said that it was the only reason.
Myth 6: Sunscreen can worsen acne outbreaks
This acne myth can or cannot be true depending on the sunscreen you use. Some sunscreen can influence acne breakouts while some are quite safe to use. Zinc oxide sunscreens are safe ones which are considered as physical sunscreens. On the other hand, chemical sunscreens (e.g. Helioplex) can dissipate ultra violet light due to chemical reaction which can cause heat bumps. So choose your sunscreens carefully if you fear you might get affected by acne.
Myth 7: Not washing the face enough can cause acne breakouts
Well, this one may be true for lazy bones. Washing your face twice a day is fine and is better than washing it once. Keeping the skin clean means less dirt and bacteria accumulation. But don’t wash your face too much as it may actually dry out the natural oil of your skin. Do not keep cleansers on your face for more than five seconds and choose retinoid creams which help in preventing acne breakout.
Myth 8: Acne is just a cosmetic problem
It is one of the myths that can be considered as facts. Acne is really a cosmetic problem. But if you are not careful about it, you may be left with ugly scars on your face. So get treatment before the situation turns severe.
Myth 9: You can just use a cleanser or facial cream to eliminate acne
Some acne affected people go to departmental stores for advice on how to solve their acne problem and they buy cosmetic products according to the suggestions of the salesman. This is an unwise decision which might actually aggravate the condition. The only right way to deal with your acne problems is going to a dermatologist and doing what he tells you to do.
Myth 10: You should wait for acne to go away automatically
This is one of the most commonly known acne myths and it is not true. The longer you wait for acne to go away on its own the deeper the scars on your face become. And the scars will not look good at all. So go to a dermatologist as soon as possible and get necessary treatment before the matter gets out of your hand.
Conclusion
If you are suffering from serious acne problems you should immediately go to a dermatologist or skin care specialist. He will give you necessary medication and advice about how to eliminate acne. You will also be able to know which cosmetic products you should use. Do not take pills you heard about on the internet because everything on the web cannot be trusted. There is no alternative of going to a dermatologist.
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