Acne Myths

How To Get Rid of Pimples & Acne, Facts & Information

Follow our top tips and myth-busters to help you learn how to get rid of pimples and how to get rid of acne with Proactiv.

Acne and pimples are among the most common skin conditions with sufferers all over the world, with all kinds of skin types. There is no single cause and, unfortunately, no single cure. But there are ways of managing the condition and preventing ugly breakouts.

Pimples and Acne are caused by dirt

Pimples and acne are actually caused by a combination of dead skin cells and the natural oils in your skin. Rather than using a harsh, abrasive skin cleanser, use a soap-free cleanser twice daily for a gentle purification.

Alcohol based toners stop skin blemishes

It’s a common misconception that drying out the skin and stripping it of essential and natural oils will contain blemishes and stop from becoming breakouts. This isn’t true. Often alcohol based toners will dry out the skin harshly, causing it to overcompensate and producing more oil. This may also result in skin irritations and more blemishes, as well as an uneven skin tone.

Pimples are for teenagers

Anyone can get pimples and acne. It’s a combination of genetics and hormonal triggers which affect your skin and result in pimples or acne breakouts. Often stress is a very strong trigger in adults, and hormonal fluctuations in teenagers and adult women can also affect your skin’s sensitivity.

Over 85% of all people between 12-24 have pimples. Pimples can also start as late as the 20s or 30s, especially in women, whose hormones are constantly fluctuating.

It's estimated that one in four adults between the ages of 25 and 44 get pimples, and nearly half of all adult women experience mild to moderate acne.

Tip - Genetics and hormones are the breakout triggers in everyone. In adults, stress can have a profound effect on hormones, which in turn, can cause breakouts to flare up. Relaxing can help!

Establish a skin care regime early and stick to it

Don’t pop your pimples! It’s important to manage the cause of breakouts rather than treat the symptoms and a strong skin care regime like Proactiv designed especially for your skin type and triggers that will help you develop a prevention scheme to help you to achieve a long-term bright and healthy complexion.

Leave your zits alone - you’ll grow out of it

This myth is damaging in more ways than one. It can encourage teenagers to “ride out” their period of blemished skin instead of seeking a solution. It can also can cause further alienation in adults who suffer from constant spots as they may feel too embarrassed to seek help.

The truth is, pimples can strike at any age and while there are solutions, the options differ greatly for each person. Uncontrolled blemishes can leave permanent physical and emotional scars. No matter how old you are, it's important to establish a good skin care routine early - the best way to control pimples is to prevent them from appearing in the first place.

Certain foods cause breakouts

No, those french fries you had yesterday didn't cause today’s new breakout. In fact, scientists have been unable to find ANY real connection between diet and pimples. All the foods you've been too scared to eat - pizza, french fries, chocolate - are not going to trigger breakouts so don't be afraid to indulge every now and then as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Sun exposure helps blemishes

Wrong! While small amounts of sun can initially improve spots, ongoing sun exposure can increase plugging of the pores - producing comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and small pimples.

What’s more, the unsightly after effects of blemishes; post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and macules, will actually get darker if you spend time in the sun. Over time, sun exposure damages the skin and increases the likelihood that your blemishes will leave permanent scars too.

Of course sun exposure also dramatically increases your chances of developing some form of skin cancer, so ultimately, the risks of sun exposure greatly outweigh the few benefits.

Tip - Some sunscreens may make breakouts worse, because they can clog pores. Look out for oil free sunscreens labelled non-comedogenic - which means it's proven to not block pores.

Acne has a cure

Not yet...but don't lose hope. Breakouts can be controlled with continued daily use of effective products, like Proactiv, which contain the blemish control ingredient Benzoyl Peroxide. It’s also important to remember, even if your pimples go away, it doesn’t mean you are cured. It's important to be consistent with your skin care regime, even after your skin is clear, to help prevent new outbreaks from appearing