There are a lot of myths about the causes and treatments of acne breakouts, just as there are urban myths about just about anything regarding our body.  However, you can’t take care of your acne efficiently if you don’t have proper acne awareness.  By acne awareness, we mean that you should know the true causes and treatment options regarding acne breakouts.

Myth 1: Only Teenagers Get Acne

False!  Anyone can get acne breakouts anytime in their lives, although the new hormones surging around a teenager’s body can occasionally help to make one more vulnerable to acne.  But acne is not caused by age.  Acne breakouts are caused by bacteria inside the skin pores.  In other words, if you don’t keep your skin reasonably clean, you will most likely get the mildest kind of acne, generally known as pimples, zits or spots.

Myth 2:  You Always Have To Go To The Doctor To Treat Acne

For those who have a form of acne called cystic acne, which can be painful leaving many scars that can last throughout your life, you really do need to go to the doctor.  This type of deep red sores that hurt will not respond to anything other than doctor prescribed treatments and time.

But if you have typical acne, with little whiteheads which don’t usually hurt and do not leave any scars, it is possible to treat the acne breakouts by yourself.  If you still have questions regarding your skin or about acne awareness, make sure to ask your doctor.  Nothing will surprise your doctor.

Myth 3:  You Need To Use Alcohol Based Lotions To Get Rid Of Acne

Wrong!  Severe over the counter popular acne treatments that smell of alcohol in many cases are way too harsh for proper acne treatment.  Although they will certainly get rid of any oil or excessive dirt on your skin, they will also strip away all of your sebum, which is your body’s natural skin oil.  When the body feels the sebum gone, it is triggered to produce more, and proceeds to make lots of sebum to make up for the just cleaned off sebum.  Just use a gentle acne cleanser or even a moisturizing soap 2 or 3 times a day as required to eliminate excess oil and dirt, you can also add a non alchohol based acne toner as well.

Myth 4:  You Need To Scrub Your Face When Washing It

False.  You need to treat your skin gently, not scrub at it as if you were trying to remove mold from your bathroom tiles.  Use warm water rather than piping hot.  Pat dry instead of scrubbing with a towel.  Understanding how to clean your skin correctly is a big part of acne awareness.

Filed under: Skin Care

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