Clearing up acne myths, and tips on preventing breakouts

Sep 3, 2009 3:12 PM

Good news for chocolate lovers—that chocolaty treat you devoured after dinner last night is not the cause of your unwelcome breakouts. In fact, there’s no evidence that eating chocolate or fatty foods triggers acne. The perceived connection between the foods you eat, such as chocolate, pizza, and french fries, and the pimples that oh-so-inconveniently appear on your face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders is just one popular myth. Here are some others:

You get acne when you don’t wash enough. Blackheads are not black because of dirt, and actually, hard scrubbing can lead to dryness and irritation, and make acne worse.

Popping pimples can make them disappear. While popping pimples can make them temporarily less noticeable, popping a pimple pushes bacteria further into the skin, making the area around the acne even more reddened and inflamed, and possibly leaving a scar that could last for months or longer.

The primary cause of acne? Sebum—an oil that builds up under your skin and clogs pores due to an increase in sex hormones, such as during puberty—which is why acne is most common in teenagers. But, in spite of the various TV ads for acne gels and creams aimed at teens, acne is not just a teen problem. About 80 percent of people between ages 11 and 30 have acne outbreaks at some point. Some adults can see it persist into their 40s or 50s even. For women, hormonal changes during pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, or from starting or stopping birth control pills can trigger acne. Another cause is genetics—you’re more likely to have acne if your parents had it. Stress, pressure from hats, headbands, and helmets, and some environmental factors such as pollution and high humidity can make acne worse.

Saving face

Before you go blaming your parents or shunning your sun hat, there are some do-it-yourself ways to lessen your risk of getting pimples:

Clean your skin gently. Some people try to get rid of grease and pimples by scrubbing their skin, but this can make acne worse.
Avoid touching your pimples. Squeezing or picking your pimples can cause scars.
Avoid sunburn. Some treatments for acne can make you more likely to get burned if you go out in the sun.
If you shave, shave carefully. You could try electric shavers or safety razors, whichever is more comfortable.
Use oil-free, non-comedogenic cosmetics and moisturizers. Some skin products can block pores and cause pimples.
Manage stress levels

While acne is not a serious health condition, it can cause pain, scarring, and feelings of frustration, embarrassment and depression about your appearance. If acne is a problem for you or your child, talk to your doctor or a dermatologist about treatment. Based on the severity of your breakouts, your doctor may prescribe a course of treatment with gels, creams or pills that you may need to use for several months.

—Ginger Skinner

Read more about the different types of acne and take a look at our comparison of prescription and over-the-counter treatments (for subscribers only) to find out what works best. For 7 natural remedies for acne, see our Natural Medicine Ratings (subscribers only).