There are a lot of notions about what causes acne but most of them are just flat-out wrong.
Acne is a disorder that is caused by the sebaceous gland of the skin. This gland is more commonly known as the hair follicle. The skin is covered with these tiny openings.
Acne is a disorder that is caused by the sebaceous gland of the skin. This gland is more commonly known as the hair follicle. The skin is covered with these tiny openings.
The only exceptions to this are the bottom of the feet, the palms of the hand, the top of the feet, and the lower part of the lips. The chest, upper part of the neck, and the face are the parts of the body with the most sebaceous glands on them. This is what causes acne to be more common in these areas.
There are many myths about what causes acne that persist today even though there is a lack of scientific evidence supporting these myths.
Understanding what is causing your breakouts will allow you to take the appropriate measures to treat your skin and keep it under control.
Myth #1: It is caused by poor hygiene or dirty skin. While bacteria in the skin is involved in the creation of acne, and antibiotics can help improve acne, lack of cleanliness is not the actual cause for the acne breakouts. Acne is caused by excess oil and dead skin cells that clog the pores and build up under the skin.
Myth #2: It is caused by chocolate or other foods. Chocolate has long been blamed for causing acne, along with pizza, soda and french fries; yet studies have shown no scientific evidence that this is true. The myth that chocolate and fast food are what causes acne may persist because many teens have pimples and these are also favorite foods for teenagers.
Myth #3: You will outgrow your Acne and don't need to treat it. While it's true that most people with acne find it improves with age and may clear up completely by their early 20s, there are many others that do not outgrow their pimples. It is a myth that simply being a teenager is what causes pimples and that it will just clear up in time. It's important to treat skin problems in your teens to prevent permanent scars that can be difficult or impossible to remove later.
Myth #4: Makeup causes blemishes. The first cosmetics were oil based and could definitely make breakouts worse, but today there are many makeup products that are created for acne prone skin.
Myth #5: Popping pimples is the best way to get rid of them. While its tempting to pop pimples in an attempt to get rid of them quickly, it can actually worsen acne by spreading the bacteria that is causing it.
Dispelling the prevalent myths as to what causes acne is important for controlling your breakouts. With the correct information, you can learn what is causing your acne and what will work to clear up your skin and prevent future breakouts.
