The Top 6 Acne Myths and Why They Aren’t True
As someone who had acne as a teenager, and who works regularly with clients who are hoping to improve their acne, I hear a lot of misconceptions and myths about acne, how to prevent it, and how to care for it.
I’m here to clear things up about these myths, some of which I think will really surprise you.
If you or someone you love is facing issues with acne, these are great myths to bust as part of your journey towards clearer skin!
Myth #1: Acne is a “teenager thing”.
Truth: Acne is the clogging of your hair follicles (pores), which can happen to anyone.
Teenagers are often affected by acne because they have an increase or change in their oil production, which can lead to clogging, but this can happen to anyone, or to any demographic. For example, adult acne is a common skin disease and can affect women post-menopause.
Myth #2: Teens can just “outgrow” their acne.
Truth: Acne is a chronic skin condition that exists beneath the surface skin and can cause long-term damage and scarring. It’s not an issue faced by only teenagers but can affect anyone at any age. Treating it early on is the key to clear, healthier skin in the long term.
Myth #3: Pores open and close, that’s how they clog.
Truth: Pores do not have muscles, therefore, they can not open and close.
When people say they are “opening” pores, using something like warm towels and steam for example, what they are referring to is really the softening of the oils inside the pores. Pores do not actually open unless they are pricked with a needle (which I don’t recommend!).
Myth #4: Dry skin never gets acne.
Truth: All skin types can get acne. There is comedonal (blackheads) acne from overactive sebaceous glands, bacterial acne, and hormonal acne.
Often pores get plugged by dead skin cells and excess oils, which is why oily skin commonly gets mislabeled as more prone to acne, but people who experience dry skin can face issues with acne just the same.
Myth #5: Acneic skin needs to be cleaned more often.
Truth: Cleansing more than twice daily can exacerbate acne due to overstimulating the skin.
Although it can feel like acne skin is “dirty” or needs to just be cleaner, the truth is that while cleansing your skin does remove bacteria, over-cleansing can lead to more harm than good.
Myth #6: Chocolate and greasy foods cause acne.
Truth: There is actually no scientific proof that these foods are the cause of acne.
While everyone’s body may respond to the foods they eat differently, there has been no confirmed link between certain foods and acne. Good news for my chocolate lovers out there!
Did these myths surprise you? I hope they give you some clarity on ways you can treat your acne and how NOT to treat it!
If you are still unsure how you can best improve your skin, I’d be happy to help. As someone who battled acne myself, and helps many people with theirs now, I would love to help you on your journey to feeling more confident in your skin.
The best way to start would be a quick, 30-minute consultation where we can talk about any issues you are facing and determine the best steps for you!