Your Reading Corner
7 Common Acne Myths Debunked By Doctor
Acne is a widespread skin disorder that affects people regardless of their age, race, or gender. According to statistics, about 85 per cent of young adults between the ages of 12 and 24 suffer from active acne, and 20 per cent of adults suffer from some form of low-grade acne.
Although acne is not a life-threatening condition, your confidence can take a hit especially if its severe. Whilst there are many effective ways to ease the symptoms and curb the growth of acne bacteria, there are plenty of widespread suppositions as well.
We pick the brains of an experienced aesthetic doctor in Singapore to debunk the top 7 common misconceptions about acne.
1. Acne only occurs in teenagers
It is true that a higher proportion of teenagers suffers from active acne as compared to adults. However, it doesn’t mean that adults can’t get acne. In fact, some people who had clear skin in their 20s can experience adult acne outbreak in their 40s or 50s.
Common triggers for adult acne include:
- Stress: Could be work-related, family, or lifestyle changes
- Hormonal fluctuation: Drastic swings in hormonal levels due to pregnancy, childbirth, or lactation may lead to increased production of sebum
- Enlarged pores: Large pores means that there is a higher chance of oil clogs and accumulation of dirt and debris
- Lack of exfoliation: When no longer have the luxury of time to care for your skin, dead skin cells accumulate and retains acne-causing bacteria
Squeezing the pus out can accelerate healing
It is definitely very tempting to pop the pimple and drain the pus. Squeezing pimples per se does not aggravate the condition. Without carrying out the procedure in a sanitary environment, there is a possibility that more bacteria may enter the wound, causing deeper infection and scarring of the skin.
Always make sure that you seek medical help for proper effective acne treatment in the clinic so that your skin does not get worse than it already is.
Oral and topical medication are the only treatments for acne
This is not true. For a long time, the only way to treat acne was to dispense oral medications such as Accutane and oral contraceptives.
With new development in acne treatment, doctors have devised effective in-house treatments to combat red, angry acne. In Radium Medical Aesthetics, the doctor tailored an effective acne program consisting of deep cleansing facial treatments and LED lights to treat mild acne.
People with recurring, stubborn acne can also opt for a permanent acne treatment using a Korean technology. Using insulated micro-needle, radiofrequency waves are delivered into the skin to destroy the offending sebaceous glands. With the offending glands destroyed, acne does not recur anymore.
Toothpaste to treat acne
Contrary to popular belief, using toothpaste as a spot treatment won’t cure your acne woes. Some agents in the toothpaste may serve as a drying agent but on the whole, it does not contain any miracle acne-curing properties.
In fact, most toothpaste contain a foaming agent called sodium lauryl sulphate. It has been known irritate and clog pores.
Oily food directly causes acne
Many people believe that the oil you get in your food may secrete from your oil glands. This is simply not true. There is no evidence that acne is caused by the oil consumed in your food. However, maintaining a well-balanced diet will definitely keep you healthy, and in turn give you better skin.
Exfoliation will aggravate acne
Regardless of your skin type, exfoliating your skin on a regular basis is an important step to remove dead skin cells and debris clogged deep in the pores. Stay away from harsh, abrasive products that may potentially harm the skin.
Choose natural exfoliant such as jojoba beads instead of microbeads as they are more gentle for the skin. Some medical clinics also offer deep cleansing facial treatments to reduce the chance of acne-causing bacteria from staying in the pores.
Wash your face more often to remove the bacteria
Washing your face more than twice a day can strip the skin’s natural moisture which will lead to an overproduction of sebum in your skin. When your skin reacts by producing more sebum, your skin ends up becoming oilier.
Dr. Siew is the Medical Director and co-founder of Radium Medical Aesthetics.
For people suffering from acne, don’t let acne hold you back. Don’t put your life on hold because of your bad skin. Radium Medical Aesthetics offers a wide range of customized medical treatments to treat a wide range of acne issues.
