Winter isn't the best season when it comes to taking care of your skin. And if you've ever struggled with acne, you've probably heard of a million things that supposedly CURE it. But the truth is, you can only TREAT acne. There's no cure.
--You've also probably heard a few MYTHS . . . like that eating chocolate makes your face break out, which isn't true. Here are four more myths that most people believe.
Myth #1.) Acne Is Brought on by Stress. It's not. But if you're on MEDICATION to deal with stress, THAT can cause breakouts.
Myth #2.) A Dirty Face Equals More Zits. Not exactly, because dirt doesn't actually cause acne . . . excess OIL does. And if you're washing your face ten times a day, you're probably just irritating your skin more.
--Instead, use a mild facial cleanser that has two specific things in it: To get rid of the oil, it needs to have benzoyl peroxide. (--pronounced benz-oil.)
--And to break down pimples after they've already formed, it needs salicylic acid. (--pronounced sal-uh-SILL-ick.)
Myth #3.) Toothpaste Is a Good Way to Get Rid of Zits. If it's an emergency and that's all you've got, go for it. It works by drying the pimple out.
--But it can also irritate your skin and make it inflamed. So if you have time, you're better off going to a pharmacy and buying acne cream.
Myth #4.) Sunlight Kills Acne. It SEEMS like it should. But ultraviolet light can actually make acne WORSE.