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Acne myths
Only teens get acne.
Acne usually begins in the early teen years and subsides
in the late teens to mid-20s. But many people develop it
late in that cycle, or even in their late 20s or 30s. People
can have acne at any age for many reasons.
Acne is related to diet.
Years of research show no correlation between diet and
acne. Chocolate has been off the forbidden list since the
mid 1960s. Other equally appealing foods--sugar, greasy
foods, milk, and seafood--don't result in acne in the
general population. If a certain food triggers acne for you,
avoid the food. You may have an allergy to it.
Frequent face washing helps clear up acne.
Acne is not caused by dirt or poor hygiene. Aggressive
scrubbing does not affect the oil deep in your pores where
acne starts. Frequent and aggressive scrubbing can actually
harm your skin, irritating it, and making the acne worse.
Use your hands to gently wash your face, the rough texture
of a washcloth may also irritate your skin.
Popping pimples helps.
It may seem to make them less noticeable for a while,
but the practice actually can cause them to stay around
longer. Squeezing pimples pushes the bacteria further into
the skin, causing more redness and swelling.
Acne has to run its course.
There are successful treatments available for acne.
Contact a UI Family Care physician or a UI Health Care
dermatologist for specific information. Call UI
Health Access, 319-384-8442, ext. 403, or 800-777-8442,
ext. 403, for help locating a doctor.
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A blemish by any other name is still unwelcome.
Acne is a skin condition caused by the overproduction of
sebum, a natural oil produced by the skin and hair. Teens
are ready targets for acne because their rapidly changing
hormones trigger an overproduction of sebum. Sebum can clog
pores, trapping bacteria, and resulting in an infection
called a pimple.
Acne can affect any age, but is most common in teens with
eight of 10 teens experiencing some degree of acne. "A few
pimples may not seem like much but it can be a big problem
for an individual," says Donna D'Alessandro, M.D., UI Family
Care pediatrician.
Acne is hereditary; if a parent had it, the child has a
greater chance of getting it. Once you have acne, there is
no cure for it, you have to wait for the infection (pimple)
to heal. Check with your physician to see what treatments,
either over-the-counter or prescription, may be effective
for you. "Effective treatments have changed so it's worth
asking your health care provider about options," says
D'Alessandro.
The best treatment for acne is prevention. Following
these simple steps may help:
- Eat a balanced diet -- Whole grains and fresh fruits
and vegetables contain valuable natural phytochemicals
and antioxidants that promote healing.
- Drink lots of water. This helps get rid of skin
debris.
- Get some exercise. Activity increases blood flow to
the skin. Wash your face after exercising.
- Wash and rinse. Regular washing pulls away dead skin,
oil, and bacteria. Don't scrub. It can irritate the skin
and make it worse.
- Use oil-free makeup, sunscreens, or lotions.
- Wash your hair to keep oil from your face.
- Remove all makeup before going to bed. Use mild
cleansers like Cetaphil or Neutrogena to wash your face.
Mild exfoliating cleansers and scrubs also may be used
but ask your doctor first.
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For more information:
Listed above are several Web sites that offer additional
information on this topic. University of Iowa Health Care
does not sponsor or endorse these sites, or guarantee the
accuracy of the information contained on these sites. These
links are here for general information only, and should not
be used for personal diagnosis or treatment. If you have any
questions, please contact UI
Health Access.
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