Bust Acne Myths

With all of the misinformation about acne, it’s practically a miracle that every teenager in the world doesn’t have a face full of pimples. When you understand the common acne myths, you can make smarter choices that will help you prevent acne. Unfortunately, a lot of teenagers make the mistake of worrying about acne myths that won’t help them at all. The following are some of the most common and pervasive acne myths. If you don’t fall for them, then you can focus on acne prevention that works. Then you’re already halfway to a clearer face.

Acne Myths about Food

Many acne myths focus on food. Your parents might tell you that chocolate and greasy foods like pizza contribute to your acne, but there isn’t much scientific evidence showing that diet has much of an influence on acne.

Does that mean that you can eat all of the chocolate and hamburgers that you want? Let’s not go too crazy with the mythbusting. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet can improve your skin’s health. As long as you eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and grains, then your skin probably isn’t suffering. Have a piece of chocolate if you want it. Just make sure to balance it with a piece of fruit.

Acne Myths about the Sun

You might also hear that sunlight can help eliminate pimples. This is one of the most dangerous acne myths. The truth is that the sun will not prevent pimples. In fact, a lot of people find that sweating a lot causes their skin to produce more oil, which leads to more pimples. This myth is dangerous because it increases the chances that teenagers will intentionally expose themselves to excessive sun, which means they could contract melanoma and other skin conditions early in life.

If you want to avoid acne and without damaging your skin, then use a sun block that contains an oil-free moisturizer. Proactiv makes a sun block that keeps pores clear and moisturizes skin.

Acne Myths about Cleanliness

This is another of those acne myths that causes serious problems for many teenagers. Unlike the myth about the sun’s pimple preventing attributes, though, this myth usually causes psychological instead of physical torment.

Teenagers who think that acne is caused by dirt don’t understand the fundamental reason that pimples develop. It doesn’t have anything to do with dirt. Pimples occur when your skin’s oil covers your pores, creating a little home for bacteria to multiply. Few soaps can remove skin oil effectively, so washing a lot won’t solve the problem. In fact, scrubbing too often can exacerbate the problem by irritating your skin and inflaming pimples.

If you want clear skin, then you have to use a product that washes away oil. Don’t worry about the dirt. You don’t have pimples because you are dirty. Most teens benefit from using acne treatments that contain benzoyl peroxide. This substance breaks up skin oil easily. Plus, it kills bacteria on contact and introduces a lot of oxygen into the skin. These attributes help acne products eliminate pimples and prevent new ones from developing.