7/02/2007

MYTHS of ACNE


Acne, the most general of all skin disorders and the bane of almost every adolescent face, is caused due to various biological factors mostly related to the function of the sebaceous glands. But there are some myths joined with it. I am discussing it below.

Myth 1
There are many causes of acne, but dirt is not one. Blemishes get bigger when hair follicles are plugged as an outcome of dead skin cells mixing with the body's natural oily substances. Dirt is never involved in this process, so excessively washing your face or body more than two or three times a day will not make your acne better. Actually, too much washing or the abuse of harsh cleansing scrubs will almost certainly make your skin dehydrated and encourage flaking and the need to produce more oil.

Myth 2
The second of many popular acne myths is that acne is for teenagers only. This is dangerous in a number of ways. First, it may cause that teenagers wait until their acne is over instead of looking for therapy. This may lead to severe cases of acne scarring. Then, this may embarrass adults, preventing them from seeking treatment. This is a terrible misconception. Acne is not exclusive of teenagers. Acne can be found in different age groups and it varies from individual to individual and from treatment to treatment.

Myth 3
A third acne myth is that acne is just a superficial condition. Although acne is not a life threatening health condition, it can deeply affect a person's self-esteem; and even lead to depression. Moreover, after acne is over, it may leave physical and psychological scarring.

Myth 4
Myth number four is that treatment directly on the spot works. This is a longstanding acne myth. As pimples take two to three weeks to grow, just direct administration of products will not tackle the root of the problem, but just deal with an old symptom. The only method to deal with acne is to prevent blemishes from developing. This requires treatment of the entire area of skin where acne is occurring. This helps to reduce the future development of new acne spots.

Myth 5
The next popular acne myth is that certain foods cause or exacerbate acne. Actually, no scientist has been able to establish a direct correlation between food and acne. Nevertheless, a healthy diet is always recommended. It will make your body strong and it will help you feel better in your struggle against acne.

Myth 6
Cosmetics cause acne. Nowadays the majority of make-up products are non-comedogenic. That means they will not plug your follicles and initiate the development of acne. At the moment of choosing make-up, get non-comedogenic, oil-free (water-based) and hypoallergenic (no added fragrance) products.

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