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The Facts And Fiction About Acne
As is the case with most conditions there is a lot of information distributed about acne and its causes and this information tends to be a mixture of both fact and fiction. So, let us look at some of those things which are being said and see if we can work out the fact from the myth.
Diet
There is no direct connection between eating things like greasy cheeseburgers and chocolate or drinking too many soft drinks and getting pimples. It is true however that what we eat plays a role in the way the body functions and so it does have a minor role to play in whether acne is less or more likely.
For instance, greasy foods do not directly translate into increased oil production in the sebaceous glands that adds to acne, but foods that do contribute to an increase in oil production would have an effect. However, iodized salt is as yet the only food substance that has been demonstrated to have any appreciable effect and it just worsens acne and does not cause it.
Hygiene
The odds of developing an acne spot rise when a pore becomes plugged and bacteria are trapped inside. This means that hygiene habits that work to close the skin's pores can play a role. But this effect is only minimal and the dead skin cells and bacteria which become trapped and are unable to make their way out of the pore to the surface are influenced only to a minor degree by an absence of regular face washing.
However, once acne arrives then good skin care is particularly important and mild cleansing two times each day with soap and water can help in treating acne and promoting healthy skin in general. Cleanliness is a good idea for many reasons but it helps most in treating acne because it provides a good surface for medications to do their work most effectively.
Spots are greatly influenced by excess production of skin oil (sebum) which is triggered chiefly by hormones and harsh cleansers that are applied roughly do not just clear away this excess oil but also affects the the ability of the skin to cope with it.
Stress
Because stress has a tendency to weaken the body's immune system and influence its hormone levels it may be thought that stress should play a role in the onset of acne. However, there is no evidence to suggest that stress results in acne, although there is some evidence to suggest that it could play a small role after acne has arrived.
One problem in assessing the role of stress is that people who suffer from chronic stress generally also suffer from additional health problems that can complicate things. Remember also that here we are talking about clinical stress and not merely the worries which we all have as part of the ups and downs of day to day life.
Medications
A lot of people are tempted to increase the dosage of over-the-counter medications in the belief that if a little medication can do a bit of good a lot will do a lot of good. Regrettably, this is not so and it both wastes medicine and can actually damage the skin. Always stick to the instructions on any acne medication and if any medication does not show signs of working within two or three weeks then it is a good idea to seek the guidance of a dermatologist.
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