There is a lot of information out there about acne and what causes it and that information is a mixture of both fiction and fact. Accordingly, let us take a look at a few of those things that are being said and see if we can divide the fact from the myth. Food There is no direct link between eating such things as chocolate or greasy cheeseburgers or drinking too many soft drinks and getting pimples. It is true however that food plays a role in all the body's systems and thus it does have a small part in whether developing acne is less or more likely. For example, eating greasy foods does not directly turn into increased oil production within the sebaceous glands that adds to acne, but foods that do increase the oil production would have an effect. However, iodized salt is as yet the only food that has been shown to have any substantial effect and it merely worsens acne but does not cause it. Hygiene The chances of getting an acne spot rise when a pore becomes blocked and bacteria get trapped inside. This means that hygiene habits that work to close the pores can play a role. But this effect is only very small and the dead skin cells and bacteria that become trapped and cannot work their way out of the pore to the surface are only influenced to a small degree by insufficient regular face washing. However, after acne arrives then good skin hygiene is especially important and mild cleansing twice each day with soap and water can help to treat acne and encourage healthy skin in general. Good hygiene is an excellent for several reasons but it is most helpful in treating acne because it provides a good surface allowing medications to work most effectively. Acne is strongly influenced by excess production of sebum (skin oil) which is triggered primarily by hormones and abrasive cleansers that are applied roughly do not just clear away this excess oil but also weakens the skin's ability to handle it. Stress Because stress has a tendency to weaken the body's immune system and also influence its level of hormones it might be thought that stress would play a part in the onset of acne. However, there is no clear evidence to suggest that stress can cause acne, but there is evidence to suggest that it might play a small role after acne has developed. One of the difficulties in assessing the role of stress is that people who suffer from chronic stress generally also suffer from other health problems which can complicate the picture. Bear in mind also that here we are talking about clinical stress and not simply the worries that we all have as part of the trials and tribulations of day to day living. Medication Many individuals are tempted to raise the dosage of an over-the-counter medication in the belief that if a little medication can do a little good then a lot of medicine will do a lot of good. Regrettably, this is not so and it both wastes medication and could actually harm the skin. You should always stick to the instructions on any medication and if any medication is not showing signs of working within a reasonable period of time then you should consult your dermatologist.
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