DID YOU KNOW…

Acne affects nearly 17 million people in the US. Up to 20% of women develop mild acne.

COMMON ACNE MYTHS

Poor Hygiene Causes Acne

Many people believe that acne is caused by poor hygiene; therefore they tend to over-wash their skin. However, washing too frequently and too aggressively can strip the skin of its natural lipids, damaging the skin protective barrier function. In response, the follicle will produce excess sebum and possibly additional breakouts.

Junk Food Leads to Breakouts

A common misconception is that eating junk food will lead to or worsen an acne condition. However, scientific studies have shown that diet has little to no effect on acne. However, a well-balanced diet can never hurt. Should you notice a definitive connection between a certain food you eat and a skin rash, it would be wise to avoid that food, as you are most likely allergic to it.

Stress Triggers Acne

Stress is often blamed for acne breakouts. It is possible that if stress is severe enough it can alter the body’s hormone levels and ultimately trigger a breakout. However, it is much more common for the acne condition itself to be the cause the of stress rather than the other way around.

Give It Some Time

Many believe that if you just give it some time, acne will go away. However, it is much more sensible to treat the condition immediately, rather than deal with the emotional suffering and the permanent scarring that often results from acne.

Acne is just for Kids

Although teenagers make up the largest percentage of acne sufferers, acne can strike at any age. And adult acne can be just as devastating to a person’s self image as adolescent acne. Unfortunately, adults are many times too embarrassed to seek treatment and the psychological and social damage may continue.

The Sun Clears Up Acne

Sun exposure without sunscreen not only heightens your risk of skin cancer, it can over-dry the skin. When the skin becomes too dry the sebaceous glands work over time, producing excess oils and this can ultimately worsen the condition.