1 0 Common Acne Myths

1. Will eating foods like chocolate or peanuts cause an acne outbreak? nMedically speaking, no, have i have observe peculiar instances in individual cases. Test yourself. If you get a breakout 10 times out of 10 when you eat a certain item, cut it out.n2. Should pimples, blackheads and whiteheads be extracted? nExtracting pimples is a no-no as the pressure applied to the skin may extend inflammation to other areas of the skin. You can extract blackheads using a blackhead extractor but you have to ensure the extractor is placed at an angle that is 90 degrees to the skin surface.n3. Does stress cause acne? nStress can worsen acne through the release of increased levels of hormone which form the adrenal glands which in turn over-stimulate the oil glands.n4.Do facials work in targeting acne and removing acne scars? nA Bella Skin Care spokesman said that regular salon treatment helps by controlling sebum production, healing existing acne scars and minimizing pores. Dr Chee Yew Wen, medical director of Wen & Weng Medical Group said that for mild acne, facials do help, depending on what beauty salons do. For instance, micro dermabrasion and mild chemical peels can help unclog pores. nDepressed scars, however, are harder to improve and require stronger lasers done by doctors. Extraction should be reserved only for comedones (Blackheads and whiteheads). Moderate to severe acne, especially of pimple are inflamed and contain pus, should be treated by doctors where oral medication is usually required.n5 Does blotting frequently worsen acne as it encourages more oil to be produced in the skin? nWhether you blot or not, the body will still produce oil in the skin. "It's not scientifically proven that blotting frequently encourages more oil to be produced. Its all right to blot.n6. Does washing your face more often get rid of acne? nIt depends on what you use. If you have a lot of whiteheads and blackheads, choose something which contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). If you have inflamed acne with bumpy skin, use a cleanser which can kill bacteria. nSimple washing twice a day is more than enough. Over-washing in fact can worsen acne.n7. Can you wear make-up if you have acne? nIt is best to stick with established brands. Its also advised to use non-comedogenic make-up.But if you have make-up on, it is important to thoroughly remove it later as make-up can clog pores. i recommend using mineral-based make-up which is less comedogenic. nThere have been cases of vicious cycles where the more acne a person gets, the more she tries to cover it up with make-up and the more make-up blocks the pores. If you have to wear make-up, don't wear it for prolonged periods.n8. Does sex or masturbation cause acne? nAll the doctors I spoke to said there was no data to suggest that sex or masturbation causes acne.n9. Does having large pores mean you will have acne? nLarge pores refer to the pore size and are unrelated to having pimples or acne, although enlarged pores generally mean the person is susceptible to oil skin conditions and is prone to acne outbreaks. nPeople who have acne tend to have larger pores so the condition goes hand in hand.nn10. Does tanning help to clear up acne? nTanning only mask acne by evening out the skin color temporarily. Skin may become dry and irritated after a tan which can prompt an acne outbreak. If you go under the sun a lot, use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15, and which is non-comedongenic, that is, which does not tend to clog pores.n