How many times has a friend or relative told you to apply toothpaste on your throbbing pimple to make it go away? We simply love a good desi home remedy, whether to remove tan or body hair, brighten your skin, or even reduce acne. But home remedies only go so far as to offer temporary relief, for a more permanent solution, you need a dermatologist’s touch. There are several skin conditions that require a targeted approach that will relieve your skin of its concerns. But before we even learn about the right treatment, and check out products from dermat-recommended brands. It’s time we first unlearn a few myths popularised by misinformation or worse, half information.
So, without further ado, here are some common acne-related myths that need to be busted, followed by three products that you can try instead. Let’s bust some myths, shall we?
Myth 1: Vigorous Cleansing Makes Acne Go Away
Forget not touching pimples when they are fresh, many people tend to think vigorously cleansing or rubbing your face will help fade or get rid of acne faster. Contrary to popular belief, this is actually not true. Acne inflames your skin, making it sensitive, and scrubbing or harshly cleansing it can actually increase acne and thus cause a breakout. The best way to minimise, if not eliminate, acne is through gentle cleansing. Opt for a gentle dermat-recommended cleanser and apply it to your skin in soft, tender movements to avoid aggravating the acne.
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Myth 2: Acne Marks Are Permanent
Before we get into it, first, we have to understand the difference between acne scars and acne marks. Dark spots caused due to acne that appear on the surface level temporarily change the colour of the skin due to the excess melanin production. Acne scars, on the other hand, are deeper and can cause a change to your skin texture, such as indenting it or inflaming it, and neither is permanent. With the right ingredients and potent formulation, you can get rid of these acne-induced marks within a few days.
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Myth 3: If Left Alone, Acne Will Disappear
Okay, hold my juice. Now, there might be some truth to it, but not entirely. When you avoid touching your pimples, they don’t break out as opposed to when you constantly fidget with them. But this only means you stop an acne breakout from happening, and doesn’t necessarily mean elimination. To reduce existing acne and prevent new ones from popping up, you need medical solutions that will enter the inner layers of the skin and stop excess oil and acne-causing bacteria from spreading.
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Myth 4: Acne Appears Overnight
Has this ever happened to you, where one day you have clear skin, and the next, 7 uninitiated pimples are popping on your face? Well, you are not alone, and this is not something that happens overnight. Pimples appearing on the top layer of your skin are often due to underlying reasons such as stress, diet, lifestyle, and, most importantly, excess oil and sebum. Their appearance is the most visible sign that your skin needs some attention, asap. Treat your skin regularly by keeping oil in control while hydrating your skin adequately.
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Myth 5: Oily Skin Doesn’t Require Moisturisation
One might think oily skin doesn’t require moisturisation because the sebum ensures your skin stays hydrated. Well, this chain of thought doesn’t stick. Our skin is actually too smart for the likes of us, and when we don’t hydrate our skin, it actually produces more oil and sebum to moisturise our skin, doing us all kinds of favours. More oil equals more acne. Thus, even if you have oily skin, you need to hydrate your skin with a lightweight, gentle moisturiser that curbs excess oil production and keeps the skin hydrated.
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Parting Thoughts
If you want to get rid of acne, you need to first get rid of the myth that surrounds acne and acne-related issues. From aggressively washing your acne-ridden face to avoiding moisturisers on oily skin, the 5 common myths we have addressed above are going to be pivotal in your acne-reduction journey. Moreover, our a dermat-recommended products are going to be a game-changer in minimising acne and more.
FAQs
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Is acne only a teenage issue?
No, although teenagers are a bigger demographic of people who experience acne, it is a prevalent concern even among adults. People with mature skin may also experience acne, not due to hormonal changes like teens, but due to clogged pores, diet, dirty phones and pillowcases, and lifestyle changes.
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Can squeezing and popping pimples make them go away faster?
Squeezing and popping pimples does the opposite of making acne go away; it, in fact, aggravates the condition and spreads the acne-causing bacteria along with increasing inflammation.
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What are the different types of acne?
Blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, and pimples are all types of acne. Whenever your pores are clogged with excess oil, sebum, and dirt, it can be categorised as acne.
