You don’t need to be an expert dermatologist to know that acne is incredibly common. In fact, acne affects roughly 50 million Americans annually, making it the most common skin condition in the United States according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). The prevalence of acne means there is an abundance of information about the condition floating around online. This unfortunately also means that there is plenty of misinformation as well, that can often be harmful. That’s why our board-certified dermatologists and physician assistants wanted to set the record straight by debunking some common myths about acne.

Myth #1: Eating Certain Foods Can Cause Acne

There are many potential causes of acne, but eating certain foods isn’t one of them. However, while your diet may not cause acne to develop in the first place, it can sometimes make acne symptoms worse. Foods that are especially oily, fatty, or high in salt can put additional stress on your body, which can in turn cause acne flare-ups to be more severe.

Myth #2: Popping My Pimples Can Help Alleviate Acne Blemishes

We always advise our patients against this. Squeezing or popping your pimples can trigger a natural inflammatory response, which can produce even more harmful bacteria into an acne blemish. The result is more and more severe acne, as well as the possibility of acne scarring.

Myth #3: Scrubbing My Face Enough Can Remove Acne

This is false, and can in fact actually be harmful. Wiping your face with a rough washcloth or scrubbing pad excessively can irritate facial skin and make acne symptoms worse in some cases. We recommend gently washing your face with a gentle cleanser in the morning and at night, as well as after physical activity that causes sweating, but not to overdo it.

Myth #4: Acne Can Be Permanently Cured

This is unfortunately false, however that doesn’t mean that there aren’t effective acne treatment methods available. For instance, if over-the-counter treatments aren’t helpful, we can prescribe oral or topical medications that are often more powerful. In cases where these medicines are not effective, we perform a variety of cosmetic treatments to address acne and acne scarring. This includes cosmetic laser treatments, chemical peels, facials, microneedling treatments, and more. All acne treatments at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta are customized to the needs and preferences of each patient we treat.

We know acne can be difficult to deal with, but you don’t have to fight it alone. For more information on acne, contact Dermatology Associates of Atlanta to schedule an appointment today. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more skin care tips and practice updates.