Common Acne Facts

Acne can be a teenager’s nightmare. It is a condition caused by the over-activity of the sebaceous glands. Teens are most prone to acne because of the hormonal changes that they go through during puberty. Most teens become very distraught about acne. its, pimples, whiteheads and blackheads are considered Acne. Many individuals, especially teenagers suffer from these, as they are all part of the same frustrating disorder. Actually, many individuals feel that acne is one of the worst issues of puberty. Myths about acne die hard. Old wives' tales about its causes continue to persist, in spite of scientific condition to the contrary. This article aims to shed light on some common myths about acne and attempts to separate fact from fiction. People of all races suffer from acne, In the US 85% of everyone aged between 12-24 develop some form of acne, that amounts to 17 million people making it the most common form of skin disease.

Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones on the skins oil glands, known as sebaceous glands, which leads to plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions more commonly known as pimples or zits. They tend to appear on the face, neck, back, chest & shoulders.

Factors which can also cause acne are:

1. Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin.

2. Squeezing or picking at blemishes.

3. Hard scrubbing of the skin.

4. Environmental irritants such as pollution & high humidity.

5. Changing hormonal levels in adolescent girls & adult women 2-7 days before their menstrual period starts.

6. Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks or tight collars.

Common Acne Myth:

-#One common myth is that acne is caused by dirt. This notion is more psychological than a scientific fact. Acne looks and feels disgusting, which is why people often connote acne with dirt. This is also a reason why many people tend to over-wash, harshly scrub, or put toners constantly, resulting to drier skin. Acne is caused by oil produced in the pores called sebum with a mix of dead skin cells that clog the skin's pores.

-#Another myth common to women is about makeup being a cause of acne. This may be true before when makeup was not non-comedogenic. Non-comedogenic make up won't clog up pores, therefore, women should look for this feature when purchasing make up. Another funny myth is about too much sexual intercourse being the cause of acne breakouts. It is true that androgen, which is a hormone significant in the puberty stage, have a role in acne production. But coitus and acne has definitely no relation at all.

-#Eating the wrong foods will lead to acne The fact is that there is no co-relation between what you eat and acne. The chocolates, the French fries, the cheese pizza, and all those other fatty foods that have been lambasted ever so often, because of their unhealthy consequence have no affect whatsoever on your skin. However, eating a well balanced diet makes sense. So while you don't have to be concerned as to whether your favorite treat affects your skin (at least directly), do remember that it does affect your overall health.

-#Acne is caused by stress The truth is that the stress that most of us experience as part of our day-to-day existence does not lead to acne. Sometimes, acne can arise as the side-effect of drugs taken to treat severe stress. Talk to your doctor to find out if your stress medication is responsible for your acne. Stress can however make an already existing acne condition worse.