Myths about Acne

Myth 1: Only people with oily skin can get acne

Acne is caused by clogged pores and bacteria. Flakes of dead skin cells and dirt can clog pores trapping acne causing bacteria for people with dry skin. Oily skin types produce excess oil, which can lead to clogged pores and therefore acne. The type of treatment used to treat acne will be determined by your skin type, oily or dry.

Myth 2: Acne treatments work quickly

The best acne treatment is prevention. The acne cycle takes eight weeks, meaning it can take up to eight weeks to see your full results from an acne skincare regimen or treatment. Consistency is key in seeing results along with sticking with your prescribed regiment, even if you don’t see results right away.

Myth 3: The sun can clear acne

The sun can may make your pimples appear less noticeable, but that doesn’t mean they are gone. Sun exposure can make acne worse by dehydrating the skin and therefore triggers increased oil production. You may also see an increase in hyperpigmentation and darkening of your acne scars. We recommend a physical sunscreen of an SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin from sun exposure.

Myth 4: Scrubbing your skin will get rid of pimples

Over-exfoliating worsens acne. We recommend using a cleanser based on your skin type that contains either salicylic or glycolic acid.

Myth 5: Retinoids make your skin more sensitive to the sun

Retinol and Retin-A’s are used to treat acne. These products are designed to be used at nighttime to promote cellular turnover because they lose their efficacy when exposed to sunlight. Again, we recommend an SPF 30 or higher to stay protected from sun exposure.