Myth Busters: 5 Acne facts you didn’t know were true

Let’s all acknowledge the absence of a silver lining in having an acne condition. We imagine you wouldn’t want to worsen nor start one, so for the sake of good, acne-free skin, it might interest you to know which widely believed pieces of information are nothing but myths.

Myth #1: Popping a zit is always bad

The irresistible prodding and popping a pimple can break the surrounding tissue and cause permanent scarring… if you do it the wrong way. Pop a pimple only when it is raised with a protruding white or yellow point. With a sterilized or disinfected needle, gently poke the surface and squeeze, but stop when it exudes clear fluid. It’s quite complicated and differs from pimple to pimple so while popping a zit isn’t always bad, it’s best to stay away and get a professional to do it.

Myth #2: Chocolate causes acne

Glory to the chocoholics out there because there’s been no solid proof that chocolate is harmful to the skin. The added sugar and dairy are the bad guys so you can still have (dark) chocolate with higher proportion of cocoa.

Myth #3: Don’t wear makeup when you have acne

Some cosmetics can exacerbate a breakout but that doesn’t mean all makeup items are bad. Take it easy with your foundation and opt for light, loose powder ones. You want to use products that are non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic.

Myth #4: Hair and acne have nothing to do with each other

Pomade acne appears when the oils from your shampoo, conditioners and other hair products regularly come in contact with your face. Some haircare items contain pomade that could clog pores and cause acne. The solution is to opt for water-based hair products rather than oil-based.

Myth #5: Get rid of acne by washing more

Cleansing is a crucial step to rid off dirt from our face but excessive washing can strip away the essential oils produced by our skin. The skin will become dehydrated and produce even more oil that could clog pores and worsen an acne-ridden complexion.

With these 5 myths debunked, you don’t have to worry about making the same mistakes and unknowingly trigger or aggravate a breakout. But if you’re still not sure how to soothe your acne-prone skin, we recommend visiting a professional.

Natasha Gan