April 8, 2008

A Guide To Acne Myths: Myths Finally Put To The Test

by Chris Channing

If you or anyone you know has ever had any acne at all, you have probably heard some farfetched myths before. Once a rumor gets started it is hard for the truth to surface- so how does an acne sufferer know what to believe and what they should disregard as nonsense?

Popular Myths On Acne

One of the biggest myths in acne relates to diet, and pizza in specifics. As the myth goes, anyone who frequently eats pizza is more likely to get acne than others. But studies, believe it or not, have shown moderate amounts of pizza consumption to have no effect in the development of acne.

Likewise, the consumption of chocolate and fried foods has also been noted to have no proven effect on acne. So what, then, do these myths originate from? In many cases, it might not be what you consume, but the level of grease on your hands. If you handle greasy food and touch your face, the grease may interact with your skin to give more likelihood of a breakout.

More interestingly, few studies have been shown to link dirty skin to acne. There have been some connections made to foliated skin and acne, however, so one should still keep a good exfoliation regime in their daily routine. Of the many studies, some of them conflict with another to the point where it is hard to know what side to take. Results have, however, been seen through daily skin washing regimes.

Common Acne Improvement Myths

All myths weren't created to be bad- in fact some myths claim that certain techniques will help your skin. Whether or not these myths hold true will be seen, however, as we dig deeper into issues such as tanning, ivory soap, and prescription acne drugs.

Tanning or getting exposure to the sun is one popular myth for curing acne. But on the contrary, it can help increase the time it takes to help scars or red marks to heal. There are some slight benefits to getting a good tan- but doing so in excess will cause problems not only with acne, but with frightening prospects such as skin cancer.

Another myth in improving acne is to use harsh soaps- such as ivory soap. This soap can easily dry out the skin, which isn't always a good thing. Depending on your skin type, harsh soaps can make your acne worse. In most cases, harsh soaps just irritate the skin and cause more trouble than anything.

The fact that prescription drugs are prescribed by doctors doesn't make them work. Prescription drugs don't work for everyone, albeit there are some harsh drugs that can claim vast success rates. These drugs can have frightening side effects, however, and one is usually better off seeing another route to fighting acne.

Closing Comments

If you are plagued with acne, you may be comforted in knowing that most acne goes away within several years. Keeping a good acne-fighting regime on hand is important to help maintain good complexion. Following the tips above and steering clear of myth can help you achieve perfect skin even in the middle of teenage years where acne runs rampant.

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Filed under Acne by Chris Channing

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