MYTHS ABOUT ACNE

BLACKHEADS ARE DIRT IN YOUR PORES

-Dirts have nothing to do with

blackheads

-Skin cell turnover is a natural process

that pushes oil and debris out of your

pores

When that doesn't happen fast enough,

your pores collect a backlog of oil,

skin debris, and protein.

-Dirt is not part of the equation.

-That's why derms suggest a retinoid

vitamin A derivative to help reduce

blackheads.

The increases the turnover of skin cells,

keeping pores clear

PORES CAN OPEN AND CLOSE.

-This is a common misconception – cold

water “closes” pores and hot

water or steam “opens” pores

-Pores, the little holes all over your face

that are passageways that allow sweat

to cool you and sebum to condition

your skin, do not have muscles and

therefore cannot open and close.

-steam can help loosen the sebum that builds up in

the pore, allowing it to exit more easily.

-Exfoliating with a physical scrub as well as

with glycolic acid and salicylic acid

Even washing your face helps makes pores look

smaller as it too helps eliminate dead skin cells and

removes leftover makeup that can lodge inside pores

making them appear larger.

STRONGER PRODUCTS ARE BETTER

PRODUCTS

If you've spent more than 30 seconds looking at acne products in your drugstore, you know that benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid rule the ingredient labels and with good reason.

These ingredients are often recommended because benzoyl peroxide blasts bacteria and salicylic acid unclogs your pores, tackling both problems.

Still, there's no need to go overboard, especially when it comes to benzoyl peroxide.

A review found no difference between products that are 2.5% benzoyl peroxide and ones that are 10%—except that stronger products may be more irritating

THE SUN MAKES ACNE BETTER

-Exposure to sunlight may reduce inflammation in your body, and since acne is an inflammatory process, you may see less of it initially

-Over time, the sun breaks down your skin's collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm, tight, and young-looking. "When collagen breaks down, your pores have less support around them, and they flop open

This can create blackheads, some of which may be present for life

-sun damage makes it more difficult for the skin to repair itself, so it increases your risk of acne scars

SUNSCREEN CLOGS YOUR PORES

There are two categories of sunscreen:

chemical sunscreens: which absorb UV

light .common ingredients: oxybenzone

avobenzone) can irritate the skin, causing

inflammation and breakouts .

physical sunscreens: which reflect UV rays

(common ingredients: titanium dioxide

and zinc oxide). might actually help. "Zinc

oxide, a common active ingredient in

physical sunscreens, may kill acne-causing

bacteria

STRESS CAN'T CAUSE ACNE

-The pimple that surfaced just in time for

your wedding day probably wasn't an

unfortunate coincidence.

-Stress creates a hormonal imbalance in

the body, .which can lead to acne

-According to research conducted by the

Wake Forest University School of

Medicine, stressed out teenagers are

23% more likely to have severe acne.

Researchers suspect stress-induced

inflammation may also play a role,

affecting men and women of all ages.

MAKEUP MAKES ACNE WORSE

It's true that some products can clog your pores and

ultimately cause pimples, but the right makeup

can actually improve acne

powder-based mineral foundations with ingredients

like silica, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide.

"Powder foundations absorb oils that would

otherwise be clogging your pores

If you prefer a liquid foundation, make sure it's non-

comedogenic.

That means the product hasn't been found to

promote acne per the cosmetics company's

standards

CHLORINE IMPROVES ACNE

It might seem like swimming dries up your

pimples. "Chlorine can dry out pimples,

but it can also irritate your skin, causing

more breakouts in the long-run

Be sure to rinse off when you're done

swimming, and use an oil-free lotion to

offset any dryness.

TOOTHPASTE CAN HEAL A ZIT

Toothpaste has baking soda, hydrogen

peroxide, alcohol, menthol, essential oils,

and triclosan, which, yes, can dry pimples

out

But it's not made for your skin, so it can

cause irritation and rashes." This means

you could essentially be trading one

problem for another. Instead, try a spot

treatment that contains benzoyl peroxide.

It's made specifically for your skin—and

won't leave your face smelling like

spearmint.

RESOURCES

http://www.medicaldaily.com/

www.health.com

http://www.proactiv.com/

http://www.info.com/