Acne Myths

Myth #1:
Acne is caused by poor hygiene. Acne is not caused by dirt or surface skin oils. Vigorous washing and scrubbing will actually irritate the skin and make acne worse. The best approach to hygiene in acne is to gently wash your face twice a day with a mild non soap acne cleanser and pat dry.

Myth #2:
Acne is caused by diet. Extensive scientific studies have not found a connection between diet and acne. In other words, food does not cause acne. Not chocolate, french fries or pizza. Nonetheless, some people insist that certain foods affect their acne. In that case, avoid those foods. There is some data suggesting a correlation between milk intake in adolescents, mainly women, and the severity of acne.

Myth #3:
Acne is just a cosmetic disease. Yes, acne does affect the way people look and is not otherwise a serious threat to a person’s physical health. However, acne can result in permanent physical scars--plus, acne itself as well as its scars can affect the way people feel about themselves to the point of affecting their lives.
Myth #4: You just have to let acne run its course. Due to advancements in laser therapy, there now are treatments for acne that has been resistant to all other means.