Acne: myths and facts

Myth: Sex and masturbation cause acne.
Fact: No known correlation exists between sex, masturbation, and acne. The sex hormone, testosterone, in males may cause oily skin (seborrheic skin) leading to acne. It begins mostly at puberty when hormonal changes take place both in males and females. In females, it is mostly seen during menstruation and pregnancy due to the hormonal changes, which cause an increase in the activated sebaceous glands and more oil is produced leading to acne.

Myth: Fatty foods, and oily and fried foods cause acne.
Fact: Oily, fatty foods, and fried food may aggravate acne, but they are not the cause. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables keeps the skin healthy.

Myth: Poor hygiene is a cause of acne.
Fact: Washing your face too often and too many times makes an acne breakout much worse. Wash your face only once or twice a day with lukewarm water, a mild cleanser, and gentle motion.

Myth: Cosmetics can cause acne.
Fact: This can be true to some extent. But this can be prevented by using non-comedogenic products. Make sure to remove your make-up before going to bed.

Myth: Tanning and sun exposure cures acne.
Fact:  Sun exposure temporarily conceals the redness of acne, by making the skin darker and tanned. Once the tanning disappears, acne becomes visible again. Tanning and excess sun exposure can cause premature aging or even skin cancer. Sunscreen lotions with SPF of at least 15 can be used to prevent it.

Myth: Pimples can be reduced by squeezing.
Fact:  Squeezing may spread the infection and increase acne. It leaves scars on the face.

Myth: Stress and acne are closely related.
Fact:  There is no precise reason to explain the correlation between stress and acne, but it is equally true that stress aggravates all skin problems.

Myth: Pimples go away on their own.
Fact:  Acne is caused by clogged pores in the skin. They can get infected and further spread all over the face.  Don’t leave pimples to swell and mark the skin. Use plenty of treatments available to clear up an acne breakout.

Myth: It is safe to stop the medicines as soon as the skin is clear of acne.
Fact: Always consult your dermatologist before stopping the medicine, or acne might flare up again.

Myth: Acne can be aggravated by long hair.
Fact: Acne is not aggravated by long hair, but it is due to the improper cleaning of the hair.

Myth: Acne is more common in girls than boys.
Fact: Acne is more common in boys due to the male androgen hormones.

Myth: Acne is contagious.
Fact:  It is never contagious, as the bacteria are present deep in the skin.