Acne is becoming increasingly common for adults, perhaps because of a combination of hormonal fluctuations, diet, and stress, one doctor says. Covering your pimple in toothpaste clears off your pimples, teenagers are the only ones who are prone to breakouts, and washing your face frequently can clear zits faster. These are only some of the many myths we’ve heard about our skin that goes on viral around social media and some of which could hurt and irritate your skin.
Acne is the most common skin condition worldwide, yet there are many misconceptions about how it should be treated. Below are some guides and debunk of some mistaken beliefs about acne
Pop your pimples so they go away faster
Is it a good idea to pop a pimple on your own? Answer is No. It's better to resist the urge, because if the pimple is deep, it’ll rupture deep underneath your skin which can leave a lot of inflammation and even scarring. However, if you are going to pop a zit at home, it’s best to do so when you can clearly see the pus of the whitehead. Clear the skin with an alcohol swab, put on gloves, poke a tiny hole in the center and squeeze upwards with two Q-tips to avoid infecting the area.
Toothpaste on your zit makes it go away
Though this hack of covering your pimple in toothpaste has gone viral on social media, it can actually irritate your skin. This acne myth originated when toothpaste used to contain an antibacterial agent called triclosan, which was removed from most toothpaste in 2019.
Face mapping predicts breakout causes
Face mapping refers to the idea that the location of zits on your face can indicate the cause. For instance, breaking out on your nose indicates heart problems while breaking out on your cheek indicates stomach issues. This, too, is a myth…….
When you think about our body, it works as an entire system. Our lungs get us oxygen which goes to the blood and brain. If our heart stops working, so does everything else. The same goes for our skin, so, just because you’re having gastrointestinal issues or kidney issues does not mean it’s going to show up in a certain place on your face.
Make-up makes a breakout worse
Heavy foundation or concealer is not the cause of acne. However, it’s the clogged pores created by wearing make-up overnight that can contribute to those pesky zits.
If your make-up is creating a film on your skin and you’re wearing it in your sleep then, yes, it can lead to clogged pores, which often cause irritation and breakouts. But make-up itself is not the cause of acne, reminding readers to properly take off their make-up before going to bed.
The sun will clear up your skin
This is both true and false. The sun’s UV light exposure does have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin, but the risks associated with it outweigh the potential benefits of temporarily clearing your skin. It is not recommended sitting in the sun to clear up your acne instead very effective acne treatments that contain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide,
Salicylic acid and topical retinoids – all of which make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. So if you are using them, it is even more important to wear sunscreen and protect yourself from the sun
Only teenagers get acne
While teenagers are most vulnerable to hormonal acne, acne in general is becoming increasingly common for adults, more specifically women. In some cases, patients may have never had any breakouts at all during adolescence. We don’t quite understand why this is happening, but it likely has to do with a combination of hormonal fluctuations, diet and stress.
Wash your face more for less acne
Even those who wash their face regularly and follow a strict beauty regimen are susceptible to breakouts. Constantly washing your face can actually exacerbate existing acne. Your skin has an acid mantle which protects your skin. If you overly wash your skin, you can tear that off and it can cause you to break out more and have a damaged skin barrier.
Having acne is not in anyone’s control. It doesn’t have to do with hygiene. It doesn’t have to do with how much water you drink. So it’s important to de-stigmatise the fact that acne is not the person’s fault.
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