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Subscribe to RSSAcne is something that only happens to high schoolers -- but if it does pop up later in life, just scrub your face a little harder, or pop a pimple or two to clear it up. Right?
Absolutely wrong, actually. These may be the things we tell ourselves about the skin condition -- but they're just not true. This morning on TODAY, New York dermatologist Dr. Jeannie Downie busts eight commonly-believed myths about all things acne.
1. Acne is something that only happens to teenagers. Teens definitely do suffer from acne, but some people develop acne for the first time in their 20s or 30s. In fact, in Manhattan's business districts, most patients treated for acne vulgaris are women between the ages of 20 and 45.
2. Acne occurs because your face is dirty. Many people feel like acne means their face is somehow unclean -- but that's just not true. The truth is, acne is a complex skin disorder that can't be boiled down to simply "dirt." It's likely that the connection between the skin condition and dirt was made because blackheads are, well, black -- but blackheads aren't caused by dirt, either.
3. To relieve acne, scrub your face really hard. Remember, acne isn't caused by dirt -- so you can't just wash it away. A cleanser with ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicyclic acid and sulfur compounds will help clear the skin, but it won't clear it any faster if you scrub harder. Scrubbing acne too hard can actually inflame blackheads, so be sure to be nice to your skin.
4. Popping your pimples makes everything better. Will you people please stop picking at your faces? Popping pimples spills inflammatory gunk into surrounding tissues, which can cause scarring.
5. Acne will go away on its own, so it doesn't need to be treated. Sorry, this condition can't be ignored. Doing nothing can even cause the condition to get worse. Mild, topical treatments -- such as over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide -- are best, and they're especially effective if started early.
6. Tanning will help clear acne. Tanning does help hide acne, but the UV rays ultimately dry the skin, and can make the skin condition worse. And do we really need to remind you that tanning causes premature aging, not to mention skin cancer?
7. Acne is unrelated to what we eat. It's not clear whether acne is caused by diet or genetics, but recent research links the skin condition to dairy. Ask your doctor if he or she recommends limiting dairy to help clear your skin.
8. Sweating helps get rid of acne. Some believe you can sweat out your acne, by going to a steam room or using hot towels. But in fact, some studies suggest that high temperatures and humidity can worsen the condition, so you might do best to keep it cool.
Let's crowd-source this: Have you struggled with acne, as a teenager or as an adult? How did it affect your life? And what worked to help clear your skin?
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My daughter started to develop terrible acne at 15. We first tried normal, over the counter remedies. When those didn't work and her face was so dry it was peeling, we visited a dermatologist. Even after a visit to the dermatologist for creams and antibiotics, her acne was lessened, but not completely gone. She left for a college in the deep south and within a month her acne was gone. She comes home for Christmas break and it returns. I have no idea what is up with her skin, just glad she is free from the devil that is acne while she is at school.
Your poor daughter - acne can be so hard on self-esteem. You are so right, it is the devil! I'm wondering if there is something in your hometown that she is allergic to that triggers her acne? Who knows. When I was young, I was on a course of the controversial drug Accutane. It really worked well for me and the only side effect I had was extremely dry lips. That issue cleared up after a week after my course was over. I am glad that I had such a positive outcome from Accutane as I understand that was not the case for many people.
Having acne is better than having Crohn's disease (which is linked to isotretinoin "Accutane").
I don't think anyone is comparing acne to horrible diseases nor was I flouting Accutane. Just stating what worked for me.
i had acne and horrible bouts of cystic acne all my life as a teenager and as an adult, nothing worked, i never went with Accutane because of the side effect warnings. After developing colitis a year ago i started taking Sulfazine for it and my lifetime of horrible acne cleared up, i still have the horrible acne scars from a lifetime of cystic acne but the acne is no longer manifest. Doctors are clueless as usual about why this happened, just as they are clueless as to what really causes acne or cystic acne. I know how a lifetime of acne can destroy a persons life and I hope that this information helps someone else so that they can their doctor about trying Sulfazine. It's side effects are vastly minimal compared to Accutane. In fact their are only two possible side effects. Depression and temporary infertility in young men. Severe cystic acne already cause these to side effects because the sufferer is depressed by the sight of themselves and no female wants to have children with an unsightly male with a face covered in cystic acne. So if i were still a young man i would take my chances with the Sulfazine. Again, I hope this helps someone, I remember looking everywhere for someone or something to help me end the pain and suffering that I endured with acne all my life.