1.Myth-There is no need to treat pimples as they will resolve spontaneously over a period of time.
Fact-Athough acne may not cause or lead to serious medical problems, its psychosocial impact can be tremendous.Adolescents and young adults who suffer from severe acne often have a poorer quality of life due to dimished self-image and negative perception by peers.Also, when the infection goes deeper, it can lead to ugly marks, blemishes and scars. This can be prevented if the acne is effectively treated and as early as possible. It is not a minor skin problem that can be ignored and left to go away as one grows older.
2.Myth-I must not use any cream at night as my skin needs to breathe at night.
Fact- Nature has made the skin so well that even if you apply layers of cream, it will be able to ‘breathe’. In fact, it is recommended to use creams containing special ingredients like antioxidants, retinol, alpha hydroxy acids(AHA) like glycolic acid, lactic acid etc; at night for optimum benefit. At night,replenishing moisture lost during the day and feeding in active agents is important for a healthy glowing skin.
3.Myth-The more often I use scrubs on my face, the more my skin will glow.
Fact- Face scrubs encourage the shedding and removal of dead skin cells that accumulate on the surface of the skin. This helps to make the skin appear younger, brighter and smoother. However, using scrubs very often can irritate and damage the skin. Also the process of rubbing skin vigorously can lead to darkening of skin.Hence, face scrub should not be used more than once or twice a week. Also, it may be too harsh for dry and sensitive skin,especially during the winter months. It should be avoided on sensitive areas such as around eyes and mouth.
4.Myth-Make-up is very bad for my oily skin and I must stay away from it.
Fact-While shopping for skincare products and cosmetics, always look out for well-established , reputed brands that have tested their products extensively. If you have oily skin , use foundations and concealers which are ‘oil-free’ or ‘non-comedogenic’,light-weight and water-based formulations. You can also use powder on your face to give a matte look. Avoid products which are oil-based, thicker and creamy as these will worsen the oiliness and can cause acne.
5.Myth-All home remedies are very safe for my skin.
Fact-Every individual has a different skin type which reacts differently to different products.It is not necessary that what is suitable for one skin type is also helpful for another skin type.Very often the household treatments may be damaging for the skin.e.g.
- Masoor daal and gram daal powders used on dry skin type can further dry the skin and cause darkening of the skin.
- Honey and milk cream can give rise to or worsen acne in persons with oily skin.
- Lime juice or orange juice can irritate sensitive or dry skin type and give rise to rashes.
- Very often using oils (coconut oil, mustard oil etc) on scalp can give rise to pimple-like eruptions on the skin.
Hence, all household remedies must be used with great caution.
6.Myth-Blackheads and whiteheads are due to dirt and dust which cause clogging of the pores.
Fact-Blackheads and whiteheads occur when the sebaceous (oil ) glands become active due to stimulation by the male hormones, which commonly occurs around puberty.Acne is not caused by poor skin hygiene and cannot be washed away. This myth often leads to vigorous and excessive cleansing of skin with harsh medicated soaps and abrasive skin cleansers, which results in skin irritation, redness and soreness. Hence cleansing of the skin should be such that it removes excessive sebum(oil), without causing unwanted skin irritation.
7.Myth-I should use sunscreen only in summer-not during monsoons and winter.
Fact-The UVA rays are long-wavelength radiation which penetrates deeply into the skin. This causes tanning of the skin and uneven, patchy pigmentation of the skin. It also breaks down the elastin and collagen in our skin, causin premature wrinkling and skin sagging. The UVA rays exist all throughout the daytime hours and all the year round, even during the monsoons and winter months. Hence we should use a sunscreen all the year round-irrespective of the season.
8.Myth-Facial treatments by beauticians will help to resolve my acne(pimples).
Fact-Simple procedures that involve cleansing and extraction of the whiteheads and blackheads are usually safe, but one should ensure that all instruments used during the procedure are clean and sterile as there is a risk of spreading viral and bacterial infections with these procedures.However, squeezing of inflamed acne lesions( red, painful, pus-filled ones) must be avoided. Also, you must understand that these are temporary procedures and unless you are using oral and/or anti-acne creams, prescribed by your doctor, new acne lesions will continue to appear
9.Myth-There is no need to treat pimples as they will resolve spontaneously over a period of time.
Fact-Although acne may not cause or lead to serious medical problems, its psychosocial impact can be tremendous. Adolescents and young adults who suffer from severe acne often have a poorer quality of life due to demised self-image and negative perception by peers. Also, when the infection goes deeper, it can lead to ugly marks, blemishes and scars. This can be prevented if the acne is effectively treated and as early as possible. It is not a minor skin problem that can be ignored and left to go away as one grows older.
10.Myth-Make-up is very bad for my oily skin and I must stay away from it.
Fact-While shopping for skincare products and cosmetics, always look out for well-established, reputed brands that have tested their products extensively. If you have oily skin, use foundations and concealers which are ‘oil-free’ or ‘non-comedogenic’, light-weight and water-based formulations. You can also use powder on your face to give a matte look. Avoid products which are oil-based, thicker and creamy as these will worsen the oiliness and can cause acne.
11.Myth-Blackheads and whiteheads are due to dirt and dust which cause clogging of the pores.
Fact-Blackheads and whiteheads occur when the sebaceous (oil) glands become active due to stimulation by the male hormones, which commonly occurs around puberty. Acne is not caused by poor skin hygiene and cannot be washed away. This myth often leads to vigorous and excessive cleansing of skin with harsh medicated soaps and abrasive skin cleansers, which results in skin irritation, redness and soreness. Hence cleansing of the skin should be such that it removes excessive sebum (oil), without causing unwanted skin irritation.
12-Myth-Eating chocolates, oily, greasy, deep-fried foods, nuts and sweets make acne worse.
Fact-This is a myth as there is no scientific evidence that diet plays an important role in causing acne. Food restriction is unnecessary in the treatment of acne. However, a well-balanced diet rich in fibre and low in fats, salt and refined sugar is recommended.
13-Myth-The best way to take care of acne is to go for a clean-up every month as this will clear all acne and also prevent new ones from appearing.
Fact-Clean ups involve steaming the skin and extraction of the existing blackheads and whiteheads. Sometimes the steam can aggravate acne. Although people believe that steam is ‘opening the pores’, it actually causes swelling of the pores making them shut, worsening the acne. Hence steam is not always required before extraction. Also indiscriminate squeezing of inflamed acne (red, pus-filled boils or deeper lesions), can cause the pus to get pushed deeper into the skin, increasing inflammation and lead to scarring. One must take medical treatment from a dermatologist, to prevent new acne from appearing as a clean-up does not ensure that new acne will not appear.
