One of the most troubling things a teenager has to contend with is Acne. High school pressures are bad enough, but now there are the painful, erupting pimples on their back, neck and faces. Acne can lead to being cast out and teased and can affect them well into adulthood.
There are many myths about acne that have been repeatedly debunked, yet people still remain ignorant about them.
Myth number one: Greasy and fatty foods cause acne. This is completely untrue, but one used the most. Chocolate has also been named a villain, also not true. You can have a breakout if you’re allergic to these, but why would you be eating them then?
Second, there is the myth about acne being caused by a lack of hygiene. One’s facial hygiene really has nothing to do with one’s acne. While it is of course a good idea to have good facial hygiene, the cause of acne is by bacteria beneath the skin, not on top of it. It is for this reason that the best acne treatments are those that treat acne from the inside out, not the other way around.
The third myth is that stress causes acne outbreaks. This only happens rarely in people that are already prone to outbreaks. The average person, adult or teen, exposed to regular, everyday stress is not necessarily going to get acne.
4th is that acne is not serious and doesn’t need to be treated, it will go away naturally. This may seem to be true on the surface, but issues relating to acne are more than just cosmetic. Left untreated, acne can leave severe scares on one’s face that will affect what they look like forever.
If you think about a celebrity that has acne scars, you will probably remember that it was the first thing you noticed when you first saw them, and also the first thing you remember when you recall their face. Yes, acne can cause self-esteem and confidence issues in a big way.
Lastly, the myth that you cannot do anything about acne. Children suffering from acne would go untreated, because for years their parents were under the impression that it was a part of puberty and that they had to go through it. Little did they know that it could have long term effects. Luckily today, there are many acne products that are being marketed that have proved to work effectively.