Are You Being Fooled by Online Acne Advice?

So we’ve all been there, we’ve tried all the acne products that our friends have suggested. We’ve tried the things that are parents have suggested to clear our acne. We’ve done the infomercials and still no results! So finally, we go online, start googling and searching for acne tips. And some of what we might find may be useful. However, be careful because a lot of times what you may find may not be the whole story.

Before I knew what I know now, I might have been fooled by a lot of this online acne advice. So I thought that I might shed some light on these acne tips online. How To Get Rid of Pimples was an article that I might have read when I was just starting out and learning about acne. And the reason why I’m mentioning it here is because though it might seem like it has reasonable advice, I thought I might CLEAR some things up if you’re new to learning about acne and how to really clear your acne naturally.

“ACNE (PIMPLES) Acne is a common problem faced by almost all teen-agers and youth. What is acne and why do we get them. Acne is actually caused because of hormone imbalance. Your skin breaks out because of a hormone called testosterone. Both men and women have testosterone in their systems. In fact, did you know that in order to make testosterone, boys bodies have to make female hormones first? If you have acne, you haven’t got abnormal levels of testosterone. You’ve got skin that reacts abnormally to this hormone. You start producing testosterone around the time you start sprouting body hair. Testosterone tells glands in your skin, called sebaceous glands, to produce oily stuff called sebum. To add to the problem the inside of the tubes that hold each hair become gummy and get partially blocked – giving you blackheads. Put together if sebum blocks the tubes — you have big acne.

So go to your pharmacist or doctor to get your acne treated. Here are a few tips that will help you know how to treat acne at home.

1. If you have red angry looking acne, don’t touch it. If you squeeze now, all you’ll do is force the contents deeper into the skin that will make matters worst. And all you’ll end up with is redder, angrier acne than you had before. Don’t do it.

Ray: True. You have to wait until a pimple is “ripe” before you can really squeeze it. That is, if you want to squeeze it.

2. If you have a yellow custard top? Go for it. These beauties CAN be squeezed but there’s an art to it. Here’s how. Wash your hands thoroughly to avoid trouble and infection. Put a tissue over your finger. Why? Because you want the contents of the spot on the tissue, not splattered all over the mirror. Using the side of your thumb and the end of your finger, very gently start to squeeze. Don’t whatever you do, use your nails as this will damage your skin. Stop when you’re applying a lot of pressure and nothing is happening and you see clear fluid, rather than yellow grotty stuff and the spot begins to bleed. When you’ve finished dab it with antiseptic. Once the custard bit is out, the spot will heal more quickly than an unsqueezed yellow top would, providing that you now leave it well alone. Now wash your hands again.

Ray: It seriously grosses me out, first of all, that this author refers to a pimple as yellow custard top and “beauties.” However, it is true that you should wrap your fingers in tissue because your nails can damage your skin even before you pop your pimple. The advice that the author gives is pretty sound here, but I find that most people might need an actual “demonstration.” How I’m going to do that, who is going to do it, and who is going to record… is still another issue…

3. Whiteheads and blackheads. If acne is left untreated they may cause this problem. Here the rule is if they’re black, squeeze but if they’re small, white raised lumps leave them alone. All that stuff about clean hands, tissues and stopping if nothing is happening or you see blood, apply here too.

Ray: I can see where the author is coming from on this piece of advice. If it’s too small, it’s barely noticeable anyway for you to risk trying to squeeze it and maybe generating an even larger problem. But if it’s a blackhead, then the benefits might outweigh the negatives being that blackheads are often quite visible. Remember though, you want to use the right technique, because without that, every blackhead, whitehead, or pimple will turn into an even worse blemish. Keep coming back to check when I post the Aunty Angel Pimple Squeezing Technique… or… whatever I’m going to end up calling it.

Ray: So I did some more research and here’s some more of what I found online. Here are some more tips for acne treatment from a website called Knowledge Base Script. Some of what I read was good advice and other pieces of advice needed some clarification. Keep reading to find out more about the acne myths that you really should know about to get rid of acne.

1. DON’T TRY TO WASH IT AWAY
Acne isn’t caused by dirt. In fact people with oily skin have cleaner skin than average because they wash it more often. But it’s a fact that washing too much can make acne worse because it makes the skin dry and sore. So, wash no more than twice a day, using mild soap and water. If you have patches of dry skin, don’t worry about putting moisturizer on. It won’t make your acne worse. If you’re still concerned, use an oil free moisturizer.

Ray: True, though oil and dirt can clog pores thereby aggravating acne, they are not the direct causes of acne. But like I mentioned in my earlier posts, if you do wash your face too much, your body may adjust thinking that you’re face is “too dry” all the time and then produce even MORE oil. If you do have patches of dry skin, applications of various products are okay as long as they don’t clog your pores. The degree of sensitivity that your skin may have to certain products will probably take experimenting with. What I usually do is try it out for a couple days, if that’s fine I might

2. DON’T NUKE ‘EM
There are lots of over the counter creams, gels, lotions and potions. Most contain a powerful bleaching agent called benzoyl peroxide. You’ll find the strength written on the label. You might be tempted to go straight for the highest sort, working on the ‘let’s nuke ’em principle. The likely result is that you’ll irritate your skin like mad. It may also go all dry and scaly on you. But if you still are willing to bleach then use the mild one.

Ray: No, this is one those points that I feel a little bit more compassion about. If cigarettes can make someone feel good for a few minutes that’s great but it’s also very short term thinking. Then why not smoke cigarettes for the next 10 years? It’s not long term thinking and if you smoke for 10 years then you’ll definitely feel some of the detrimental effects after such a long period. It’s the same with these chemical products. They’re short term thinking and will do more damage in the long run than anything else.

3. MAKE A DATE – THE TWO MONTH RULE
If you have been using over the counter remedies for two months and there is no real improvement in your spots, this is the moment to go and make an appointment with your doc.

Ray: If you’ve been using over the counter remedies for two months and there is no real improvement in your spots then STOP. Read my website. And by the way, cancel that appointment with your “doc.”

4. YOUR DOCTOR – THE TWO MONTH RULE
The thing you are most likely to be given by the doctor is a prescription for antibiotics. These will either be topical (which means something you put on your skin) or tablets you have to take every day. Whatever treatment your doctor or pharmacist recommends, follow the instructions carefully and keep using for at least two months. There should be a noticeable improvement by this time. If not, go back to discuss other possible treatments Antibiotics are perfectly safe to take. You should take them for at least two months and then go back to your doc. If they seem to be working, he will probably tell you to keep taking them and give you some more. If they aren’t doing their stuff, don’t despair – he has loads of other spot busters in his black bag.

Ray: I thought that appointment with your “doc” was cancelled. Educate yourself, learn about how your body works, don’t just “cover” the problem with an acne cream hoping that everything will solve itself. You’re going to have to live with this one and only body that you’ve been bestowed with at birth for quite some time, learning about the tips and tricks behind how it works is definitely going to benefit you in more ways than just your complexion.

5. YOU ARE NOT AN ALIEN – BUT JUST BE PATIENT
Hundreds of thousands of teenagers seek help for acne. You are not alone. You are not an alien. And if people really care about you, they don’t even notice your acne, however bad you think they are. But you will need to be patient. Most treatments take time to work. At least two months. And some treatments, like antibiotics will work well but may have to be taken for months, or even years.

Ray: Okay on the hundreds of teenagers part, okay on the you’re not alone and okay on the you’re not an alien. But the “if people really cared about you then they don’t even notice your acne” is kind of BS. Whether it’s true or not, when I had acne, it got to the point where I didn’t even care if people noticed it or not, I NOTICED IT and I CARED.

But yes, you will need to be patient, but more than that, you’re going to have to WANT IT and you’re going to have to put aside your EXCUSES and do the work. I’d say, you can definitely turn things around in two month if you were really diligent with my advice. However, don’t take antibiotics for months, and especially not years, you’re really going to mess your body up if you do. And it’s going to take a lot more work, if you’ve taken antibiotics for all that time, to get yourself back on track. So if you are still popping those pills then STOP. Read. =)

6. THE MONTHLY CURSE… OR EXAMS
Acne does tend to get worse just before a period. It’s because there is a surge in hormone levels at this time. But boys don’t get away lightly either. Being hot and sweaty (particularly after sports like football) makes acne worse. And for everyone, stress – particularly at exam times – is a cue for a mega breakout. This is normal – and of course, even more reason for feeling stressed. Go chill. They’ll get better – promise.

Ray: This is true. If anything, I think most people with acne understand to a certain extent that when they get nervous and start sweating, their face feels dirty. If anything, try to calm yourself down and keep yourself cool. When I used to get ready in the morning before school, I’d be looking at myself in the mirror and become so frustrated with my face that I’d start sweating out of anger and anxiety. Then I’d suddenly stop and realize that I was probably just making the problem worse, that instead I should just take my mind off of it and go cool off (away from the mirror) because I was definitely not helping by “freaking out.”

Hormones do play a part whether you’re a boy or a girl. Stress affects chemicals in your body which, in turn, does affect hormone levels. So go chill and they’ll get better. Promise.

7. WATCH WHAT YOU PUT ON YOUR SKIN AND HAIR
Some beauty products are big no-nos. These include pomades and defrizzing agents for hair that tend to cause an outcrop of blackheads along the hairline and some of the heavier cosmetics. And be wary of suntan oils. Not all will make you break out, but some may. Try a friend’s first before you buy. By the way, the sun might dry up acne and a tan might hide them, but your skin is still vulnerable in the sun and needs protection.

Ray: I wrote about this in another article and my basic point was that it’s okay to use hair and skin products as long as they don’t take things overboard or clog your pores. All things in moderation!

8. CARRY ON KISSING
You can’t catch acne during kissing – go for it!

Ray: So untrue. If you want to have clear skin then you have to maintain celibacy. You can never come in contact with another human being ever again. Just kidding, kiss all you want! Just remember to use protection folks, I hear pregnancy is contagious.

9. CARRY ON EATING CHOCOLATE
It’s a myth that eating chocolate and fried foods causes acne. However, eating a good diet improves your general well-being and this is reflected in your skin.

Ray: chocolate and fried food will not cause acne. But this message is shrouded with some code. Chocolate and fried foods don’t cause acne in that, if you don’t have acne, you will not suddenly develop acne by eating sweets such as chocolate and fried food. But if you do have acne, then these foods will definitely aggravate your acne.

So how do you get around this so you can get back to eating chocolate and fried foods (though I don’t condone such activity), you need to build your body up to a point where you’re “normal” enough to handle such foods and not suddenly break out.