Adult acne can be a chronic and confidence-destroying condition, which affects many men and women throughout their lives. If you’re struggling to cope with adult acne, the chances are you’ve searched the internet and spend hundreds (if not thousands) on remedies over the years. The issue with adult acne is that it’s surrounded by poor information, bad advice and plenty of unscrupulous companies looking to make money out of people’s misery.
Knowledge is power – so it’s really important that anyone suffering from a chronic skin condition properly understands what it is, why it occurs and how it should be treated. Here we share some of the most potentially damaging myths surrounding adult acne, and explain why
‘Acne occurs because the skin is too oily/unclean’
Not at all true. The development of acne is a complex process involving the hair follicles and oil-producing glands within the skin. This activity is governed by hormones – so it can’t be controlled by external factors As a result bacteria multiplies and pores become clogged, causing acne.
‘Abrasive products will make acne worse’
One common piece of poor advice for acne sufferers is to avoid abrasive products, because they will ‘make the condition worse’. The key here is moderation – whilst using harsh abrasives wouldn’t be recommended (and is not a good idea for anyone unless you do so under the supervision of a skin specialist), using a gentle exfoliator once a week helps a great deal. This is because it removes dead skin cells on the surface which will clog pores and contribute to acne over time.
‘I should avoid make-up if I have acne’
There’s absolutely no evidence to suggest that wearing make-up makes acne worse – or indeed that avoiding it will help to clear up the condition. The problem with this advice is that it worries acne sufferers who use make-up to help them to feel confident and conceal their spots. Rather than avoiding make-up altogether it’s important to choose the right products – oil-free foundations and BB creams formulated for acne-prone skin.
‘My acne indicates underlying health issues’
We’ve all seen the articles noting that spots in certain places indicate underlying health problems. Whilst some of these anecdotes may be true for those without acne, it’s important not to take them on board if you’re suffering with the condition. Facial acne can be exacerbated by external factors – for example, hair styling products may contribute to forehead pimples, whilst extended phone use can cause more spots to appear on the sides of the face thanks to build-up of bacteria on the screen. This can be remedied by keeping your phone clean with antibacterial wipes, and keeping hair as clean as possible or away from the skin.
‘Medication won’t help’
Steroids and prescription medications should be a last resort – but in most people they do make a difference. Injections administered under the guidance of a dermatologist have been shown to consistently reduce the appearance of larger pimples, and specialist medications designed to keep acne at bay are regularly administered with success.
