Myths about Acne

June 3rd, 2009, Posted in General

When looking for home remedies for acne there are some common misconception and downright untruths that are passed about by people. Acne has been a common problem for many years and science has only begun to find answers comparatively recently, so it is no surprise that there are plenty of myths about acne floating around the world. Just a few of these are discussed in this article, but there are many more. In general the best way to be sure if what you have been told is correct is to ask your doctor or other healthcare professional who will be able to advise you on the scientifically backed facts about acne and the latest developments.

Acne is caused by chocolate?

This has been shown to be untrue (you might be pleased to know!). In fact, in some cases chocolate may actually help someone recover from acne, although this is yet to be conclusively proven. However, eating lots of chocolate comes with its own obvious health problems - and in general eating a healthy diet may help with acne. The occasional chocolate bar isn’t going to give you an outbreak of pimples though. The same goes in most cases for other kinds of junk food, although again they aren’t the best if you are trying to eat a healthy diet.

Laying in the sun gets rid of acne?

This is another common one, although in actual fact darker skin is just more effective at hiding any pimples and swelling in the face. Laying in the sun for too long without adequate protection for your skin can cause much more serious problems than acne, so make sure you always wear enough sunblock and don’t lie in the sun for too long at one time.

Only teenagers get acne?

This is another myth - but it is easy to see where the misconception lies. Acne is caused by the production of a male hormone which happens to both sexes during puberty, but it can happen at any time during someone life and not just in their teenage years. Home remedies for back acne are in high demand because this is another place that acne can strike, although it is not usually as devastating as on the face.

Acne home remedies as well as over the counter acne medicine can both be effective when treating acne, but make sure you always consult with your doctor before embarking on any kind of treatment plan to make sure it is safe and isn’t a waste of time/money - or both!

Overview of Acne

June 3rd, 2009, Posted in General

Home remedies for acne are fairly numerous, which isn’t a surprise as it is a very common problem affecting many people worldwide - especially teenagers. Before thinking about home remedies and cures for acne it is important to have a basic understanding of what acne actually is.

The first thing you should do is go and talk to a doctor if you are worried about having acne. He or she will be able to provide you with the latest scientific research on the subject as well as advise you on the appropriate form of treatment specifically for you.

Acne is actually a set of rashes of the skin that are caused by various different reasons. Most people refer to acne as a bad outbreak of spots on a persons face, although it is an actual medical condition that affects millions of people in the US alone.

While acne is generally not a physically serious disease it can cause many psychological problems such as a loss of confidence, and may also leave visible scars on the skin in most cases.

Acne is caused by a change in the Sebaceous glands in the skin. There are two distinct visible forms - noninflammatory and inflammatory and affects the skin on the face and neck due to the high density of sebaceous follicles there. It is most common on teenagers going through adolescence due to an increase in the male hormones. These hormones actually occur in both sexes so it’s not only men who have problems with acne. The symptoms of acne can persist past adolescence though.

In its most severe cases acne can not only cause a loss of self esteem but also depression. This isn’t helped by the fact that many teenagers already feel insecure and unconfident about their bodies and looks - acne is just the final straw in many cases.

There are many myths about the causes of acne- the majority of them not found to relate to scientific evidence. For example many people think that easting a lot of chocolate can cause acne when this isn’t supported by many science studies that have been performed on this matter. In fact, it is possible that for complicated reasons chocolate could actually help in preventing and getting rid of chocolate (although that isn’t 100% certain yet). However there is some evidence that high-glycemic foods may help to cause acne, although scientists say that more research is needed in this case.