Acne Myths: Are They Preventing You from Seeing Clearer Skin?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When it comes to acne prevention and treatment, there are so many myths that circulate, resulting in people hindering their skin rather than helping it. If you’re an acne sufferer, be sure to research any acne treatment methods you encounter before trying them yourself. Without thorough research, you could potentially be contributing to what causes acne scars and irritate your skin further.

Acne can be a source of insecurity to individuals on a global scale, meaning people will be willing to try anything to be rid of their acne. Despite this, you should always be tentative about any quick acne fixes that you hear about. They may be harmful to your skin or nothing but a fallacy, much like the acne myths listed below.

Only Teenagers Get Acne

The most common acne myth is that only teenagers get acne; however, acne is the most common skin problem for teens and adults alike. While it’s true that 85% of teenagers experience some form of acne, this doesn’t make it an exclusively teenage problem. In fact, 30% of adults, regardless of age, race, or gender, suffer from acne.

Dirty Skin Causes Acne

Unfortunately, curing acne isn’t as simple as washing your face more frequently. Acne isn’t a result of dirt and washing your face more than twice daily will do more harm than good. Washing your face in the morning and the evening allows you to cleanse your face of bacteria, but any more than this will strip your skin of its natural oils. This will make your skin appear dry and feel sore.

It’s Okay to Pop Spots

We’ve all experienced a spot in the most inconvenient of places that we just want to disappear, but popping a spot isn’t a constructive long-term solution. Squeezing a spot will trigger an inflammatory response and allow more bacteria to enter the zone. Similarly, you may be left with a permanent acne scar after doing so.

Tanning Beds and the Sun Help Acne

This simply isn’t the case and, in fact, quite the opposite is true. Too much sun exposure can result in your skin drying out, which will encourage it to produce more oil. By your skin upping its oil production, your acne problem will only worsen.

Toothpaste Clears Acne

In short, you shouldn’t be putting anything on your face that isn’t designed for the purpose of doing so. Toothpaste contains fluoride, which isn’t safe for the skin and can actually aggravate acne further. Instead, you should always buy acne treatments that are tried, tested, and approved by professionals.

Pores Open and Close

Although the size of your pores may appear to change, it’s actually impossible for them to contract and expand, as they don’t have muscles. The truth is that built-up dirt and oil can be loosened by steam and, once clear, your pores will seem smaller than when they’re clogged.

Greasy Food Causes Acne

It’s widely believed that junk food contributes to acne; however, your intake of greasy food has little to no effect on such.

Exfoliation is Always Helpful

Sadly, curing acne isn’t as simple as scrubbing it away, meaning that excessive exfoliation should be avoided. Not only will it not fix your acne, but scrubbing too much can inflame the skin, causing irritation and worsening your acne.

Acne Only Affects Those with Oily Skin

Any skin type can fall victim to acne, with spots, blackheads, and whiteheads developing on all manner of surfaces.

Makeup Causes Acne

While it’s true that makeup can irritate your skin, this only applies to products that are wrong for you. For instance, lightweight and oil-free foundations won’t result in any problems. Despite this, you should always wash your face before bed to remove the likes of makeup and oil.

Acne Will Go Away

Unfortunately, acne is chronic and can last for years. As a result, it won’t simply disappear, and it typically requires treatment. Acne exists beneath the surface of your skin, and it requires the right products to be successfully treated.

Browse the Acne and Congested Range at SkinAddict

As the UK’s leading retailer of advanced skincare products, we’re able to offer bespoke solutions to every one of our customers to help combat their skin concerns. Feel free to get in touch or, alternatively, fill out an online consultation form. This will facilitate us in assessing your suitability for prescribed products. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you in your journey towards glowing skin.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]