Pop quiz: the truth about acne

Don’t break down over your breakouts – get educated!

Asian girl

Don’t fall prey to false information and be armed with important information to help control your acne faster. Read on to find out if you have the right facts.

I have acne because I don’t wash my face enough.

False! Actually, if you wash your face more than twice a day and scrub your skin hard, you will not only irritate your breakouts but also end up stripping your face of its natural oils and stimulate the production of excess oil that can clog up your pores and worsen acne. Cleansing your face gently with water or a mild cleanser twice a day is sufficient to rid the skin of excess oils and accumulated dust and dirt.

I have acne because I love chocolate, chips, and anything fried.

False! While some people claim that greasy foods stimulate their breakouts, studies have failed to find a connection between the 2. Nevertheless, if you feel that eating certain foods makes you break out, avoid them! Eating healthy is always a good thing.

I’m stressed out and breaking out.

True! While stress doesn’t necessarily cause acne, it can promote breakouts. For example, college students who are prone to acne find that their acne flares up during exam week. So the key here is to try and limit the stress in your life. Try exercise, yoga, meditation, or a relaxing hobby that you enjoy to help you calm your nerves during stressful times.

Getting a tan will clear up my acne.

False! While getting a tan will make your skin darker and temporarily hide the redness of your breakouts, it does absolutely nothing to clear up your acne. In fact, spending time in the sun or in a tanning salon will only damage your skin, resulting in burns for now and freckles, sun spots, premature wrinkling, and a whole range of other skin conditions later on in life.

Since I have acne, I can’t wear makeup anymore.

False! Heavy makeup that is oil based can clog your pores and cause flare-ups. But you can always choose makeup that is oil free and states “non-comedogenic” and “non-acnegenic” on the label. There are concealers and foundations on the market today that are medicated with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid – while concealing the breakouts, they also work to control them. Consult your doctor or cosmetician to get more details.

There’s absolutely nothing I can do about acne.

False! The bad news is that acne will not disappear overnight. It may take anywhere from 6 weeks to a year or 2 to clear up. And most people suffer from acne at some point in their lives. But the good news is that it can be cleared up, or at least controlled. There are many products on the market today for treating acne, from topical medications to tablets taken by mouth. So talk to your doctor to find out what will work best for your acne.