As well as the proven causes, there are many myths surrounding acne, many of which point unfair blame at the sufferer. For example, there is no truth that people with acne-prone skin are unhygienic.
In fact skin is more likely to be damaged by too much cleaning than it is by too little.
Neither is it true to say that a poor diet leads to acne. Of course a healthy diet is preferable to a bad one but greasy foods and chocolate have little effect on acne.
People with acne-prone skin don’t just have a physical condition to contend with, they can also be affected psychologically. The presence of spots and pustules on the face are difficult to hide so it is common for sufferers to lose self-confidence and self-esteem.
Equally, some of the strategies adopted to try and mask the condition, such as wearing heavy make-up or covering the face with hair, can actually make things worse and growing a beard can make the application of topical medications complicated.
The good news is that treatments do exist and the earlier the treatment, the lower the risk of lasting physical and emotional damage.
Read more about medicinal acne in general.
Read more about non-medicinal acne therapies.