Acne myths are everywhere. We have all heard different ideas about how to treat acne – “just spend time in the sun to clear up your skin,” “your skin is just dirty – wash it more,” or “don’t wear make up if you break out.” It is time to push aside the old wives tales and tell the truth when it comes to acne. Learn here what works and what doesn’t when it comes to clearing up your skin.
Myth: The Sun Will Make Your Acne Better
One of the most persistent acne myths out there is that the sun is good for acne. People truly believe that the way to clear up breakouts is to spend time in the sun without sunscreen. Where does this idea even come from and why is it so wrong?
Yes, for a lot of people their skin does start to look clearer when they are out in the sun for a bit. This is because the sun suppresses the immune system which means that inflammation in the skin goes down and acne redness starts to improve. Sounds great, right? Hold on because just the opposite is true. If the immune system does not work properly, you are setting yourself up for serious health issues in the future. Not only that but over time the sun does much more damage to our skin than good. The sun causes dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and in the worst-case scenario skin cancer. It is always best to protect your skin from the sun and to treat your acne in a different way.
By the way, the same thing goes for chlorine as well. Chlorine temporarily dries out the skin which makes it seem like your breakouts are improving, but over time chlorine just irritates the skin.
Lastly, if you have acne don’t believe that sunscreen will make you break out. With so many different sunscreens on the market, you will have no trouble finding one that gives you great protection from harmful UV rays and won’t cause breakouts. More »
Myth: You Need To Scrub Your Skin To Get Rid Of Acne
Another acne myth that never seems to go away is that acne is caused by dirt and in order to get rid of your breakouts you need to scrub your face clean. Nothing could be farther from the truth – acne is caused by the build-up of dead skin cells, excess production of oil, and bacteria. Yes, washing your face is important in order to get and keep clear skin but not because a dirty face is causing your acne. Washing your face helps to get rid of excess oil and dead skin cells, but scrubbing your face will not help your acne and can even make your breakouts worse. Washing your face twice a day is enough since overwashing can lead to dryness and irritation. Definitely stay away from the aggressive facial scrubs as well.
Myth: Toothpaste Will Clear Up Pimples
Toothpaste has a mix of ingredients, especially the ingredient triclosan, which can dry out pimples. But toothpaste is meant to go in your mouth, never on your face. When you use toothpaste on your face, you can cause redness, irritation, and even skin peeling. In the end instead of helping your skin, if you put toothpaste on your pimples, you can end up hurting your skin.
Myth: If You Have Acne You Should Not Use Makeup
Anyone who has acne is always scared that if they apply the wrong product to their face, they will make their breakouts worse instead of better. For this reason, many people think that if you have acne, you cannot use makeup. Nothing can be further from the truth. Using make-up until your breakouts clear up can boost your self-esteem and help you cope better with your pimples because you feel better about how you look. Just be sure to buy makeup that is labeled “oil-free,” “won’t clog pores,” or “non-comedogenic” in order to be sure that you are helping your skin instead of hurting it.