The Truth About Acne: Myth vs. Reality

We have all undergone the horrible reality of living with acne during our awkward teenage phase. While some of us are happy never to see another pimple in our lifetime, others still suffer from breakouts well into adulthood. For many of us, acne just happens without any warning or indication that it is making its way to the surface of our epidermis. 

We just accept it, treat it as best as we can with whatever skincare products we own and hope for it to go away just as quickly as it appeared. 

There are several myths about acne, and in this blog post, we break down the most common ones. 

Myth 1: Poor hygiene causes acne

Dirt or poor hygiene cannot be linked to acne flare-ups. Excessive scrubbing or regular cleaning might aggravate acne by irritating the skin. Washing your face twice a day is usually the recommended amount, but you can still keep your face clean if you only wash it once daily. 

Furthermore, piling on layers of different skincare products can irritate your skin, causing it to react negatively. The idea of less is more applies well when it comes to skincare. A good cleanser, toner (with no alcohol) and moisturizer are all you need to maintain healthy-looking skin. 

Myth 2: Eating junk food can cause acne

While we are in no way encouraging you to load up on junk food and greasy meals, eating these foods once in a while will not give you acne. However, the narrative changes if this unhealthy food is all you exclusively eat. A balanced diet is crucial since an unbalanced diet consisting mainly of junk food may increase acne-prone individuals' susceptibility to outbreaks.

Just because you take pleasure in consuming greasy meals like pizza, hamburgers, french fries, and chips does not mean your skin will produce more acne-causing oil. However, working in an environment with a lot of grease, like flipping hamburgers and using a deep fryer at a fast food restaurant, might exacerbate your already sensitive, acne-prone skin.

Myth 3: Only teens can get acne

This is completely false. In reality, the most prevalent skin condition is acne. Acne affects people of all ages and races. Acne affects 30% of adults, including both men and women. Even though 85% of teenagers experience some sort of acne, anyone can get it.

Numerous adults continue to experience acne well into their 30s and beyond. Even though acne may appear differently on a 30-year-old than it did on a 17-year-old, the fact remains that it is still a form of acne. While some adults can still experience blackheads, white heads, the majority of adults have acne that appears as tiny red swollen lumps and sometimes a boil. 

Myth 4: Acne goes away on its own

Acne is not a condition that you must endure or that will go away with time. Some people's acne goes away in their late teens or early twenties, particularly guys. However, about 40% of women continue to experience acne well into adulthood, which can be quite frustrating.

Other forms of acne can be so severe that they go away unless you take medication to clear your skin. Do not try to pop your zits, as this can make it worse by causing inflammation and introducing more bacteria to your skin. It is always best to use proper topical treatments to eliminate your acne. 

Get a facial to soothe your skin

At Balsam Spa, we offer many services, including facial treatments to help soothe your acne-prone skin. Call us at 1-905-895-7777 or complete our online contact form to reach us.