myths

Acne myths explained

  • Myth:

    Washing your face more often will help clear up acne

    Reality:

    Facial blemishes are not caused by dirt.1 Contrary to what you may have seen in commercials, pores do not get blocked from the top down due to "impurities". Rather, the walls of a pore stick together deep within the skin, starting acne formation. Far from preventing acne, frequent washing may actually irritate pores and cause them to become clogged. A washcloth can add even more irritation. The best bet is to wash very gently with bare hands, and only wash twice a day.2

  • Myth:

    Stress causes acne

    Reality:

    Stress may have an effect on hormones and theoretically can promote acne. However, an effective acne system is more powerful than a bout of stress any day. Some psychiatric medications may have acne as a side effect, but stress itself is no big deal.3 Your time is better spent determining the right course of acne treatment rather than feeling guilt about stress.1,4

  • Myth:

    Masturbation or sex causes acne

    Reality:

    This antiquated notion, originating as early as the 17th century to dissuade young people from having premarital sex, is not based on scientific evidence. A more plausible explanation may be that higher levels of androgens (male sex hormones) can cause increased sex drive. We also know that high levels of androgens can be related to more severe cases of acne. So it may be the higher androgen levels and not the associated increase in desire for sexual activity that is related to acne.

  • Myth:

    The sun will help get rid of acne

    Reality:

    10-20 minutes per day for sun exposure for people with lighter skin and 20-30 minutes per day for people with darker skin may prove beneficial for acne symptoms, especially body acne. However, overly exposing your skin to the sun creates skin damage, which leaves the skin irritated. This irritation can result in more acne in the weeks following over exposure as the skin heals itself. If you notice a break out "out of the blue," ask yourself if you got sunburnt about two weeks ago. That may be the cause.1-2,5

  • Myth:

    Diet and acne are related

    Reality:

    The bottom line is we need more research. We do know that people in some indigenous societies do not experience acne whatsoever across the entire population. This is in stark contrast to the widespread presence of acne throughout all modern society. It leaves us to ponder whether the indigenous people's unprocessed hunter/gatherer diet contributes to their acne-free skin or whether their clear skin is a result of genetics or some other factor. Discovering a dietary way of preventing acne may be a future reality, however, we may live so differently from our hunter/gatherer ancestors that it has become close to impossible to replicate our ancestral diet.1-2,6-8 But, let's see if we can work together to come to some concensus from our own experiences. If you feel that you have cleared your acne using a particular diet, or if you are planning on attempting a diet of some kind, please post your method on the Nutrition & Holistic health message board. Keep in mind that almost any diet will appear to work in the short term because as your body loses weight, insulin and other hormones react and acne tends to recede. Then, as body weight levels out or increases, acne symptoms tend to return. Any legitimately effective anti-acne diet should continue working after the initial weight loss period.

References

1. "Questions and Answers About Acne." National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Jan. 2006. National Institutes of Health. 2001. link.

2. Magin, P., D. Pond, W. Smith, and A. Watson. "A Systematic Review of the Evidence For 'Myths and Misconceptions' in Acne Management: Diet, Face-Washing and Sunlight." Family Practice. 22.1 (2005): 62-70.

3. Hirsch, Glenn. "Guide to Psychiatric Medications for Children and Adolescents". AboutOurKids.org. 27 Feb. 2007. link

4. Green, J., and R.D. Sinclair. "Perceptions of Acne Vulgaris in Final Year Medical Student Written Exam Answers." The Australasian Journal of Dermatology 42.2 (2001): 98-101. Abstract. PubMed. 15 Apr. 2002 link.

5. Gfesser, M., and W.I. Worret. "Seasonal Variations in the Severity of Acne Vulgaris." International Journal of Dermatology 35.2 (1996): 116-7. Abstract. PubMed. 15 Apr. 2002 link.

6. "Diet best medicine for pimply problem - study". RMIT.edu. 2 Apr. 2007. link

7. Brand-Miller, Jennie, Loren Cordain, S. Boyd Eaton, Kim Hill, Magdalena Hurtado, and Staffan Lindeberg, "AcneVularis: A Disease of Western Civilization." Archives of Dermatology 138.12 (2002): 1584-1590.

8. Cordain, Loren. "Implications for the Role of Diet in Acne." Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery 24 (2005): 84-91.

Further Reading

Adebamowo CA et al. "High school dietary dairy intake and teenage acne." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 52.2 (2005): 207-14. Abstract. PubMed. Feb. 2005 link.

Fulton, James E. Acne Rx. James E. Fulton Jr., M.D., PhD: 2001.

Kligman, Albert M., and Gerd Plewig. Acne and Rosacea. Berlin: Springer, 2000.