There are thousands of tips one can find on preventing and curing acne which may or may not be completely true. Blindly following some of these well known ‘acne myths’ can sometimes aggravate the situation more than easing it and hence it has become quite essential to know which of the tips actually work and which of them are nothing but another hypothesis without any base. Some of the common myths related to acne are-

Myth 1. Washing Face Often Can Prevent Acne

It was always believed that dirt causes acne and frequent face wash is the solution for preventing acne. As it did made quite sense, the theory was passed on for generations. Although it is a good habit to wash your face for hygiene and can be a factor in preventing acne as it removes dirt from skin pores which lead to acne, it is however is not suggested to wash your face quite frequently. As a matter of fact, the dirt is a minor and an indirect agent in acne formation.

Washing your face and scrubbing it hard quite often can irritate your skin and can worsen acne. It is best to clean your face with plain water for two to three times a day and make sure you don’t overdo it by scrubbing and using harsh chemicals. Also make sure that you don’t touch your face or the acne spot with your hand as they harbor large amount of bacteria which may get transferred to the face.

Myth 2. Exposure To Sun And Tanning Can Cure Acne

It is true to an extent that exposure to Sun can help to cure your acne problem but make sure that you don’t expose your skin to the sun for more than 10-15 minutes as only a minimal amount of exposure is needed to dry out acne. In a rage to cure acne in a short time, people sometimes overdo it and bask in the Sun for long hours and go for tanning salons, which however is not a good idea as it can lead to early aging as well as in some cases can cause skin cancer.

Myth 3. Makeup Cause Acne

Just remember the word ‘Non- comedogenic’. If you find this word in the product description then you can safely use it as it won’t clog the pores of your skin and hence won’t cause acne. The main reason why using make-up may lead to acne is that it clogs the pores of the skin and thereby causes acne.

It however is not guaranteed that using non-comodogenic substance won’t lead to acne. In fact non-comodogenic product can cause acne in certain conditions like excessive sweating, humid conditions etc. and hence it is advised to remove your make up before exercising or doing any such physical activities.

Myth 4. Acne Is Just For Teenagers

Most people suffer from acne during their teenage while they are growing up as they are undergoing various hormonal changes which is a cause of acne. However acne can occur due to other reasons too besides hormonal changes and hence it is not limited to teenagers alone and can occur to adults as well.

Myth 5. Diet And Acne Are Related

Some people may find that eating certain food items (for instance dairy) cause acne and hence avoid that food completely. The bottom line here is that there is no concrete evidence that it is the food that causes acne and there is need of more research in this direction.

For example some people develop pimples or acne when they consume chocolate and may associate chocolate to acne, while with some others no such thing happens. It is hence not a good idea to avoid a food item just because someone told you that it induces acne as it may not be the case with everyone. However if you find that some food item causes acne to your body, then you can avoid it.

The author works for hghworks.com and has written numerous articles related to health, aging and skin care. She has written articles on acne treatment and prevention, tips for weight loss and preventing hair fall to name a few.