It seems like everything is bad for the health. If not for the health, for the skin. We get this feeling like we can’t do anything right or that we’re the odd ones out when everyone else can stop their breakouts.
Often our acne issues are due to the myths we’re listening to. Yes, there is misinformation out there. It’s time to debunk these myths, so you get better skin care throughout the year.
There are myths about all skin care, but we’re going to stick to acne myths for this one. Here are five common myths that you will hear about the causes of acne and how to get rid of it, along with the truths about them. It’s time to look after your skin.
You Need to Wash Your Face to Get Rid of Acne Constantly
There’s a common belief that the only way to stop acne from forming is by getting rid of the bacteria constantly throughout the day. You may hear or see people tell you that you need to wash your face three or four times a day, as soon as it starts to feel oily.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, by washing your face too much, you run the risk of doing other damage.
Your face needs oil. Your whole body needs oil—the natural oil that it produces. Without the oil, the skin will become dry, flaky and irritable.
Of course, bacteria cause your acne breakouts. Therefore it’s so common to believe that you need to wash your face all the time. You want to get rid of the bacteria before you start seeing the whiteheads and blackheads to appear. There’s a common belief that the oils being released from the skin are making the bacteria build up worse.
Cleansing your face twice a day is all you need to prevent bacteria build-up and to control your oil levels. When you use the right cleansers, you will be able to promote hydrated, healthy skin. You get rid of the acne and will see that natural glow.
By the way, dry skin doesn’t mean acne free skin. It can be worse to control. You end up with inflamed and itchy skin that is more susceptible to bacteria build up at times. Dryness will also lead to other skin complaints that can last much longer than pesky acne, such as wrinkles.
Your Makeup Is Making Your Acne Breakouts Worse
You may hear people tell you that if you didn’t use makeup, then you wouldn’t have acne. This isn’t quite true.
It’s not the use of makeup that causes the problem. However, there are acne breakout reasons that are linked to makeup use. Therefore there’s a common myth surrounding the topic.
Makeup can add some impurities to your skin. Yes, it can block the pores and lead to some bacteria build up, but it depends on the type of makeup you use. It’s important to look out for oil-free makeup that won’t block the pores. It’s the oily makeup that means the natural oils can’t escape and the skin has the perfect home for bacteria growth, the bacteria growth then leads to more acne breaking out.
You also want to look out for non-comedogenic and paraben-free makeup. These toxins and impurities will lead to hormonal changes, oil production changes, and other problems that lead to acne breakouts. The healthier options do tend to be more expensive, but the cost is worth it for the better-looking skin.
Look out for zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and silica on the ingredients lists. These are good ingredients that help to soak up some of the oils your skin will release. They cover up your blemishes easily and help to avoid bacteria build up. Zinc oxide is especially good as it will fight off toxins and impurities within your skin, healing before the acne breaks out. You’ll also see less irritation and redness.
Another issue with makeup is that people don’t wash it off! You shouldn’t leave your makeup on overnight. Even with the right type of makeup, this will lead to the pores getting blocked and the skin cells unable to regenerate properly. You get bacteria growth overnight, and that leads to more acne on a morning.
On top of that, the makeup will transfer to your pillow. The next night (even if you’ve removed your makeup) you will end up with dirty, old makeup and bacteria getting into your skin.
Moisturisers Cause Major Problems for Bacteria Build Up
If you don’t use moisturizing creams on your face, why not? The most common complaint is that moisturizers cause acne. One belief is that they cause the pores to become blocked, which means oil and bacteria grow. It’s another myth that needs to be debunked.
You need to add moisture to your skin. Not getting enough will leave to various skin issues, including dry and damaged skin. Moisturising creams help to lock in the moisture in many cases, getting deep into the layers to protect and repair the skin. With good moisture, the collagen production and elasticity remain good. This prevents tears that lead to scarring, and more bacteria build up.
The problem that many people use the wrong types of moisturizing creams. They use products that have ingredients known for causing problems with the skin. They also don’t use products that are suitable for their skin type.
If you have dry skin, mineral oil and shea butter can be extremely beneficial. They last longer and will get deep into the layers. They help to repair dry skin conditions thoroughly and aren’t too bad for sensitive skin. Shea butter can also help to reduce inflammation, which will make some dry skin conditions easier to handle and manage.
However, if you have oily skin, you’ll want to stay away from anything that includes shea butter, mineral oil, cocoa butter, and some cold creams. They will add more oils to your skin, which leads to a bigger build up and they can lead to the blocked pore. You need to find a moisturizing cream that helps to encourage the skin to stop producing too many natural oils.
You will also want to control the amount of moisturizing creams that you use and look for other ways to add hydration to your skin. Overusing moisturizing creams will mean that the pores will become blocked. The skin can’t soak it all in, and it will sit on top instead. It will take a few minutes for moisturizing creams to soak in, but you shouldn’t feel oily or greasy afterwards.
Some people will use natural remedies for moisturizing cream. Coconut, olive, or almond oil are among the favorites. They can be good, but there is a risk of making the skin oilier than normal, especially if you have naturally oily skin. If this is the case, think about the timing that you use it. Overnight will give your skin chance to soak in all the benefits and not suffer from oily consequences. You should also rinse it off the next morning (and wash your sheets) to prevent pore clogging.
Sunscreen Will Block the Pores and Lead to Acne
If moisturizing cream isn’t blamed for blocked pores, another item you should use on your skin is sunscreen. It’s a common misunderstanding that sunscreen gets into the pores and complete blocks them. There’s a view that sunscreens are oily and just disrupt the balance of the hormones.
Like with moisturizing creams, some of them can be problematic. It does depend on the type of sunscreen you use for your skin. It’s important to find something that has the right ingredients to support your skin health.
There are sunscreens out there that include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Like with the moisturizing creams, these ingredients help to support the skin health, proving healing benefits, soothing benefits, and moisture-locking benefits. They help to get rid of the bacteria that cause acne to grow, rather than creating a breeding ground.
Not wearing sunscreen is an extremely bad idea. The UV rays from the sun do a lot of damage to your skin. You’ll hear all about the skin cancer risk, but the sun is also making your skin’s aging accelerate. The rays cause the skin cells to die and change the pigmentation. It also dries out the skin, so you’re left with dry, damaged, blemished skin.
Sunscreen needs to be part of your skincare routine. It’s just all about getting the right types of sunscreen.
Your Diet Is Causing Your Acne
You have oily skin and uncontrollable acne, and you will tend to get people telling you that your diet is bad. They see you eating a chocolate bar or a greasy meal, and they instantly tell you that you’re causing your acne problem.
Let’s get to the truth of this right away. Your diet isn’t directly causing bad skin. Eating a greasy burger or tucking into beachside fish and chips isn’t going to make you suddenly start releasing more oils. You won’t find that you break out into more spots.
However, there is some truth to the myth. While the food isn’t directly causing a problem, the oils that end up on your fingers from the food does. You get the grease onto your fingers and then transfer that grease to your face when you touch it. You may not even realize you’re touching your face, but that grease will transfer and make your skin look shinier than it should.
Whatever type of oily or greasy food you eat will cause this. Yes, this includes healthy oils and fats, like avocados and coconut oil.
It’s not just food grease that does this. You will naturally secrete oils into your hands. Those oils will pass into your face. You can also pick up oils and grease from your work or your everyday life. What you need to do is think about when you’re touching your face and start getting out of the habit of doing it.
But what about the chocolate myth? That’s not greasy!
It’s the sugar content that causes a problem. This happens with any food that is high on the glycaemic index, including foods that are naturally sweet and considered healthy. High-GI foods will spike your blood sugar levels. When your body must release insulin, the immune system doesn’t quite work as effectively. Bacteria, fungi, and other problems attacking your body won’t be fought against as well as they would normally.
The sugars will also affect your hormones. When you see an increase in stress hormones, your natural oil production is increased. Your face feels greasier than it has been in the past and the pores can become clogged.
However, chocolate in moderation isn’t going to make your acne worse. You can enjoy dark chocolate, which is lower on the glycaemic index.
The sugars can also cause some aging on your skin. Your body won’t be able to fight against free radicals as effectively, as you won’t absorb all your nutrients properly. That’s if you get enough nutrients!
While greasy food and chocolate don’t directly cause acne, you still can’t eat them all the time. Your overall health would be affected negatively.
Know the Myths from the Facts
Before you start listening to the things people tell you about acne and causes, make sure you check out the facts. It’s easy to think you need to give up sunscreen, moisturizing cream, and chocolate to control your oil production and acne. The truth is that you don’t.
It’s all about getting the right items for your skin. Once you get the right type of skin care products and learn more about your type of skin, you will see a reduction in oils and acne. You will also find that you care deeply about your skin, so it has a beautiful glow and makes you look younger than ever.
