Facts and Fables about Acne

After the episode of Zapp (broadcast on the 6 February 2016) it was again apparent how difficult it is to change those fables surrounding the causes of acne. It’s time to clear up the most popular ones…

A matter of outgrowing it?
Indeed, one of the biggest misconceptions is that you just need to ‘grow out of it’. It is so important that acne is handled properly, otherwise it can go from bad to worse, and then later your son or daughter may be left with scarring.

Surely chocolate gives you spots?
Diet partly plays a role. It is recognised that food which has a major influence on your blood sugar levels can make acne worse. Chocolate is a good example of this. Definitely the milk type. But also sweets, biscuits, crisps and cakes. Dairy products also seem to aggravate acne. According to research, ‘fats’ have almost no effect on acne. What may well have an influence is if you often find yourself in a fatty atmosphere; for example working in a kitchen/snack bar.

Is acne contagious?
No it is not contagious. Acne is the body reacting to the P. acnes bacteria, alongside other factors such as increased sebum production. You cannot catch it from someone else.

Should you squeeze spots?
This is a definite no-go! Squeezing spots can actually lead to more inflammation and eventually even scarring which is very difficult to get rid of.

Does toothpaste help to dry out spots?
I wouldn’t advise this. Toothpaste irritates not only the skin, it can also cause new spots.

So how can you get rid of a spot as quickly as possible?
As soon as you see a spot appear apply some Benzoyl Peroxide or diluted tea tree oil onto the area. These substances kill the bacteria causing the inflammation. An Exfoliant with Salicylic Acid can be applied over that; Salicylic Acid cleans the pores. If you have something important to go to, and the spot has a white head, you can carefully prick it with a sterilised needle and gently squeeze it out.

Is acne hereditary?
The acne causing gene has not yet been discovered, however acne often seems to run in families. If one of your parents has had severe acne when they were younger, the chances are that you will also suffer from it. But that doesn’t mean that you have to just accept it. There are many things that can be done to ensure that you keep it as much under control as possible.

Is sunshine good for acne?
It is often thought that the sun helps with acne. This is because when your skin becomes brown the acne is less noticeable. Unfortunately this will not help in the long term, it will make it even worse. First of all your skin dries out, but consequently the skin repairs itself by swelling up and increasing its sebum production. Two of the factors which can aggravate acne…

Does sweating aggravate it?
It is a misconception that sweat alone causes acne. However, sweat in combination with tight clothing and friction can cause an outbreak of acne. Do you wear a cap or headband during exercising? This can cause an outbreak on your forehead. It is therefore always important to wash your face and body after a work-out.

Going to the beauty therapist?
Be careful about seeing a beauty therapist. Although there are very professional people, a treatment by a beauty therapist usually just causes more problems. The products (scrubs) or methods used (steaming, squeezing) are too irritating for a problem skin.

EXTRA TIPS:
• Change your pillow cases regularly (every couple of days)
• Clean your telephone daily with an alcohol wipe
• Give your treatment time to work (minimum 4-6 weeks)
• Don’t stop as soon as your skin is free from spots.
• Never go to bed without washing your face.
• Wash your hands before you wash your face.
• Seek help from a skin therapist or your GP if you are unsure what to do.
• Wash your make-up brushes weekly with a baby shampoo.
• Camouflage tip: a non comedogenic foundation – small amount of powder – concealer. OR a green cover stick under your foundation, masks the redness.
• Spots and inflammation under the skin on your hair line may be caused by your shampoo or hair styling products.
• Eat everything in moderation, and exchange food with simple carbohydrates for low sugar foods as often as possible.
• Protect yourself properly in the sun.
• Lots of small bumps on your forehead? They may be yeast pimples.
• Expensive skincare doesn’t mean quality.

Regards, Jetske

(Dr. Jetske Ultee-Research Physician Cosmetic Dermatology)

You can also read:
Step-By-Step Plan for Teenagers with Acne
More About Yeast Pimples
Is Expensive Skincare Better?