Who hasn’t experienced the terror of waking up with an inflamed red pimple on their face? Not only does it hurt physically, but the psychological toll and sheer embarrassment of having a “damned spot” can last for days. If this has happened to you, you understand how difficult it is to deal with acne.
Of course, cure-all antidotes, recommended spot treatments, and do-it-yourself remedies for the condition abound on the Internet blogs, health, and beauty magazines. But how much of what you read is scientifically sound? In this article, we’ll look at what science has to say about acne and what is truly effective versus what is a myth.
Acne has a lot of misconceptions floating around the internet. You’ve probably heard a lot of claims about what causes acne, but how do you know if they’re true? We’re here to clear things up, starting with some common acne misconceptions.
Acne Myth 1: Adults don’t get acne.
This is not the case. According to surveys, a significant number of adults in their 30s, 40s, and even 50s still have acne. Acne may look different when you’re 36 than it did when you were 16 — reddish nodules around your mouth and jaw are more common than whiteheads and blackheads strewn across your forehead, nose, and cheeks — but acne is acne.
Acne Myth 2: Eating chocolate and drinking soda gives you acne.
“The acne diet debate continues,” says Amy Derick, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in Great Barrington, Illinois. “It’s never really worked out that chocolate and caffeine cause acne.” Due to the presence of hormones and bacteria in milk, some studies have suggested that milk products may influence acne. “However, the evidence isn’t conclusive, and I don’t want to advise 30-year-old women to stop drinking milk when they need it for bone health.”
Acne Myth 3: Stress causes acne.
This myth may have some truth to it, but it’s difficult to quantify. “Some studies have found that college students have more breakouts during finals,” Derick says, “but it’s difficult to know if it’s causative.” Not all acne-prone students experience more breakouts during stressful times. “So stress may play a role, but we haven’t seen any good studies demonstrating that stress hormones worsen acne.”
Acne Myth 4: Don’t wear sunscreen, it will aggravate your acne.
All you have to do now is choose the right sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens, such as Helioplex, use a chemical reaction to dissipate UV light, which can cause heat bumps. Instead, use a physical sunscreen like zinc oxide if you’re prone to acne.
Acne Myth 5: You have acne because you’re not washing enough.
Unless you’re a slob, that isn’t likely to be the case. “Studies in teens show that washing your face twice a day is more effective than washing it once,” Derick says. “However, more than that isn’t necessary and can dry out your skin.” “Cleansers only last five seconds on your skin.” Retinol creams and other leave-on products are more effective.”
Acne Myth 6: You can’t wear makeup if you have a breakout.
Some makeup, particularly thicker liquid foundations that can clog pores and stage-type pancake makeup can aggravate acne. “However, lighter, looser powder foundations, such as mineral powder, aren’t nearly as irritating to your skin,” says Derick. “Of course, people with acne want to hide it, and thicker liquids provide better coverage, but you have to compromise.”
Dermatologic Consultation
Dermatological consultation is recommended for people who have moderate or severe acne, or for those who have tried and failed to use over-the-counter products. Contact any skin surgery center for betterment. Topical retinoids, which normalize cell turnover and reduce oil production, as well as topical antibiotic creams, may be prescribed. For those with more resistant and severe breakouts, systemic antibiotics and combination topical anti-acne preparations are also available. Systemic retinoid therapy may be considered in the most severe cases where scarring is a problem.