I have been treating pimple in my patients for over a decade. And during that time many patients have asked me questions related to myths that they have heard, that simply aren't true. Here I will address the top 10 pimple myths that I have heard over the years with detailed explanations of why they are false.
Pimple Myth 1 - Washing your face more often will help clear up pimple
Facial blemishes are not caused by dirt. Contrary to what you may have seen in commercials, pores do not get blocked from the top down due to "impurities". Rather, the walls of a pore stick together deep within the skin, starting pimple formation. Far from preventing pimple, frequent washing may actually irritate pores and cause them to become clogged. A washcloth can add even more irritation. The best bet is to wash very gently with bare hands, and only wash twice a day.
Pimple Myth 2 - Stress causes pimple
Stress may have an effect on hormones and theoretically can promote pimple. However, an effective pimple treatment regimen is more powerful than a bout of stress any day. Some psychiatric medications may have pimple as a side effect, but stress itself is no big deal. Your time is better spent determining the right course of pimple treatment rather than feeling guilt about stress.
Pimple Myth 3 -Masturbation or sex causes pimple
This antiquated notion, originating as early as the 17th century to dissuade young people from having premarital sex, is just plain wrong. Don't believe the hype.
Pimple Myth 4 -The sun will help get rid of pimple
Although a tan may temporarily mask pimple, the sun can make the skin dry and irritated, leading to more breakouts in the future. In fact, there's no link between sun exposure and pimple prevention, but the sun's rays can cause premature aging and skin cancer. Always protect your skin by choosing a sunscreen of at least SPF (sun protection factor) 15 that says noncomedogenic or nonpimplegenic on the label, which means it won't clog pores.
The sun also reddens your skin, blending your skin tone with red pimple marks. However, a sun burn is actually skin damage, and sun exposure can cause irritation which will make pimple worse. People will often notice their skin breaking out as it heals from sun damage. The sun is a short-term band-aid which will often bite back with more pimple in the weeks following exposure. However, some sun exposure is not evil. It is actually important, and we get our vitamin D from the sun. Limiting sun exposure on pimple prone areas of your body is most likely prudent, but some exposure from time to time is not only unavoidable, but is perfectly okay.
Pimple Myth 5 -Diet and pimple are related
The bottom line is we need more research. We do know that people in some indigenous societies do not experience pimple at all. This is in contrast to the widespread presence of pimple throughout all modern society. It leaves us to question whether the indigenous people's diet contributes to their pimple-free skin. Discovering a dietary way of preventing pimple may be a future reality.
Although eating too many sugary, high-fat foods is never a good idea, studies show that no specific food has been proven to cause pimple. Every individual is different, though. Some people notice their breakouts are worse after eating certain foods — and these foods are different depending on the person. For example, some people may notice breakouts after eating chocolate, while others are fine with chocolate but notice they get breakouts after drinking too much coffee. If that's the case for you, it can help to cut back on that food and see if it makes a difference.
Pimple Myth 6 -Popping pimples will help them go away faster
Popping a pimple may make it seem less noticeable temporarily, but popping can cause it to stay around longer. By squeezing pimples and zits, you can actually push bacteria, dead skin cells, and oil further into the skin, causing more swelling and redness — and sometimes causing a red or brown mark or scar to form. Sometimes marks can last for many months and true scars (dents and pits) will last forever.
Pimple Myth 7 -Don't wear makeup if you want clear skin.
As long as you choose cosmetics that are nonpimplegenic or noncomedogenic, they shouldn't cause breakouts. In fact, some concealers now contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which help to fight pimple. You can also try tinted benzoyl peroxide creams that hide pimples while helping treat them.
If you've had moderate to severe pimple, though, talk to your doctor or dermatologist about the best cosmetics to use — he or she may recommend avoiding cosmetics altogether or only using certain brands so you're pimple isn't aggravated.
And even if a product is labeled nonpimplegenic or noncomedogenic, you should stop using it and talk to your doctor if you notice that it's irritating your skin or seems to cause breakouts.
Pimple Myth 8 - If you keep getting breakouts, it helps to use more pimple medication until the breakouts stop.
Because pimple medication contains drying agents like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, using too much medication may cause overdrying, leading to irritation and more blemishes.
If over-the-counter pimple medication doesn't seem to work on your pimple, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor or dermatologist. Also, if you're taking a prescription pimple medication, make sure you follow your doctor's instructions — some medications may take up to 8 weeks to make a significant difference.
Pimple Myth 9 - Pimple is just a cosmetic disease.
Yes, pimple does affect the way people look and is not otherwise a serious threat to a person’s physical health. However, pimple can result in permanent physical scars--plus, pimple itself as well as its scars can affect the way people feel about themselves to the point of affecting their lives.
Pimple Myth 10 - You just have to let pimple run its course
The truth is, pimple can be cleared up. If the pimple products you have tried haven’t worked, consider seeing a dermatologist. With the products available today, there is no reason why someone has to endure pimple or get pimple scars.
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