Acne is an incredibly troublesome condition, but thankfully, it’s a manageable one. A dependable skin doctor in Salt Lake City can help you tackle this complex and often misunderstood condition. However, there are plenty of misconceptions about what actually causes acne which complicates the treatment process. You’ll need to correctly understand the condition and its true nature to be able to properly manage it. Here are some of the most common acne myths that just aren’t true to help you separate fact from fiction.
Myth #1: Hormonal acne only affects teenagers
Acne might be more common in teenagers, but everyone from any age group may experience a breakout of acne at any point in their lives. The reason it’s more prevalent among teenagers is because of hormones. During puberty, the body goes on overdrive to produce androgenic hormones like testosterone which results in oilier, acne-prone skin.
The truth is that acne is not exclusive to any particular age group. It can even follow you into middle age. Since hormones are relatively more stable in a person’s adult life compared to their teen years, hormonal adult acne is relatively easy to treat and keep under control.
Myth #2: Bad hygiene causes breakouts
While dirt and grime isn’t necessarily a good thing for your skin, your level of hygiene doesn’t actually play as big a role in acne breakouts as you might think.
Acne breakouts happen when your pores become clogged due to an excess of dead skin cells and sebum. While maintaining good personal hygiene may help stop these substances from building up on the surface of your skin, it can’t eliminate them entirely. You may still experience breakouts even with a strict personal hygiene and self-care routine. You’ll need to supplement your routine with a good acne product like clindamycin and tretinoin to truly see curb any future acne breakouts.
Myth #3: Blackheads are just dirt that’s trapped in your pores
Blackheads form due to pores that are clogged with excess dead skin cells, bacteria, and oil. The black color is only produced when the clogged substances in your pores are exposed to air.
Myth #4: Moisturizing can eliminate acne
Moisturising your skin isn’t actually a surefire way to put an end to pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. While moisturizing is great for general skin health, it’s not necessarily a comprehensive treatment for acne. That doesn’t mean you should completely do away with it. It can still work well to protect your skin as part of an acne treatment routine.
Moisturising your skin can help amplify the potency of acne treatments and alleviate the dryness that comes with using topical acne treatments like retinoids, salicylic acids, and antibiotics.
Myth #5: Toothpaste can make a pimple go away
Most people have probably heard that putting toothpaste on a pimple can make it go away. Although it may help dry out a zit, the result isn’t permanent. The dryness from doing so won’t be enough to heal it entirely. In some cases, toothpaste can dry your skin out so much that it results in red, irritated patches. You’re better off using topical creams like benzoyl peroxide instead.
With all this in mind, you can now get to the root of the problem of pimples and treat it appropriately. You’ll be on your way to acne-free skin.
