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Acne Myths Cleared Up
Discover the truth behind the most common acne myths.
 
Acne Myth: Acne is caused by dirt.
Acne Fact: Pimples are caused by a number of factors - but dirt isn't one of them. Pimples form when dead skin cells mix with your body's natural oil, forming a plug in your pores. Dirt plays no part in the process, so frequent washing of your face or body (more than twice a day) won't improve or help prevent acne. In fact, over washing or stripping your skin with alcohol-based products can actually make blemishes worse.

Acne Tip: Use a mild, soap-free cleanser just twice a day to gently remove oil, dirt, impurities and dead skin cells.
 
Acne Myth: Scrubbing and toning the skin stops blemishes
Acne Fact: Alcohol-based toners can strip the skin of essential oils, leaving it dry and irritated and causing your skin to over-compensate by producing excess oil which can lead to more breakouts. Abrasive over-the-counter exfoliants containing apricot pits or walnut shells can irritate or even tear the skin, which makes infection and further acne breakouts more likely.

Acne Tip: For the best results, you should use a gentle scrub and a mild alcohol-free toner.
 
Acne Myth: Acne is caused by sweets and french fries.
Acne Fact: Acne is not caused by what you eat in practically all cases. Because it takes about three weeks for a pimple to emerge, if one shows up the day after you ate a bunch of chocolate, there is no connection!

Acne Tip: There are all kinds of great reasons to eat a healthy diet, but getting rid of your acne unfortunately is not one of them.
 
Acne Myth: Only teenagers get acne.
Acne Fact: What IS true is that 90% of teens get acne but also about 50% of women and 25% of men get acne at some time during adulthood, sometimes for as long as 20 years. Pimples can also start as late as the 20s or 30s, especially in women, whose hormones are constantly fluctuating.
It's estimated that one in four adults between the ages of 25 and 44 get pimples, and nearly half of all adult women experience mild to moderate acne.

Acne Tip: Genetics and hormones are the acne triggers in everyone. In adults, stress can have a profound effect on hormones which, in turn, can cause acne to flare up. Relaxing can really help!
 
Acne Myth: Only teenagers get acne.
Acne Fact: It takes two to three weeks for a pimple to break out, which means that spot treatments are futile in terms of getting at the root causes of your breakout and will not prevent future breakouts.

Acne Tip: As an alternative to frustrating spot treatments, Proactiv pioneered the concept of regular twice-daily maintenance with a medicated skin-care system designed to help prevent breakouts from happening in the first place.
 
Acne Myth: Acne is no big deal.
Acne Fact: Sure, in one respect, acne can be seen as a common skin condition without serious health consequences, but in fact acne is a profoundly serious condition that can have devastating consequences emotionally, socially and physically.

Acne Tip: The longer you suffer acne breakouts, the more likely you are to have permanent scarring, so seek treatment right away. If your condition is severe, see a dermatologist; if mild to moderate, try Proactiv.
 
Acne Myth: Sun exposure helps blemishes
Acne Fact: Wrong! Sun exposure makes acne worse. Perhaps the myth started because light tanning may hide some red marks but sun exposure actually can increase plugging of the pores - producing comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and small pimples.

What's more, the unsightly after effects of blemishes; post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and macules, will actually get darker if you spend time in the sun. Over time, sun exposure damages the skin and increases the likelihood that your blemishes will leave permanent scars too.

Acne Tip: Many sunscreens also make acne worse, because they can clog pores. Look for oil-free sunscreen labeled non-comedogenic which means it's proven to not block pores.
 
Acne Myth: Acne is curable.
Acne Fact: Acne has no cure not with the most expensive prescription medication; not with the best over-the-counter system. However, acne can be healed and controlled with daily maintenance therapy with proven acne medicines.

Acne Tip: Acne is a chronic genetic and hormonal condition that can last for years or even decades. Acne has a cycle that the Proactiv 3-Step System is designed to disrupt. With daily maintenance, someone with acne can enjoy a complexion that's as clear as someone who has never had acne.