Here are a few of the biggest myths about acne & helpful tips for clear and healthy skin:
- You will eventually outgrow acne — it’s only a teenage problem. “Acne is worse for females when they are women, and usually worse for males when they are teenagers,” says dermatologist Baxt. Although many think people outgrow acne, adult acne is a major concern for men and women.
- Washing your face consistently is the cure to acne. Washing one to two times a day with an anti-acne cleanser is helpful, but you can’t wash or scrub acne away. Acne is caused by clogged pores, bacteria, hormonal fluctuations and overgrowth of sebum, and washing more won’t fix those causes.
- Wearing sunscreen clogs pores. When you’re out shopping for a facial sunscreen, make sure it is noncomedogenic and good for use on your skin type. Look for oil-free sunscreen, powder or gel-based sunscreen. ALWAYS wear sunscreen, even if you don’t have acne. If you’re still unsure about using sunscreen on your pimples, apply Cover-Dot before you apply your sunblock.
- Your diet has nothing to do with acne. Diet has a huge role in causing acne, especially for adults. Healthy eating should always be a priority, but if you notice certain foods trigger a breakout, well then, you may have found the culprit.
- Sun exposure is good for healing a breakout. Sun kills bacteria and that’s why many people feel their acne gets better when they go to the beach. However, the sun will darken any marks left over from a breakout, so it is not good to heal a breakout at all. Sun exposure will cause the marks to persist for a longer time. Even if you don't have acne, it is important to apply sunscreen to reduce the negative effects of sun exposure which can lead to skin cancer.