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ACNE FACTS:
1) 80 percent of the population suffers from acne.
2) Bacteria is generally the number one cause of acne.
3) There are many different types of acne.
4) Ultraviolet rays are acne contributors, not preventors.  Sun rays damage skin, not help it.  Although a tan may temporarily mask acne, the sun can make the skin dry and irritated, leading to more breakouts in the future.  Always protect your skin by choosing a sunscreen of at least SPF (sun protection factor) 15 that says noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic on the label, which means it won't clog pores.

ACNE MYTHS:
1) Acne is caused by dirty skin.  Acne pimples are not caused by dirty skin but by clogged pores.  In fact, if you wash your skin hard and frequently, you can actually make your acne worse. Vigorous washing and scrubbing will irritate the skin and make acne worse.  The best approach to hygiene and acne: Gently wash your face twice a day with a mild soap and pat dry.  Aggressive cleansing of the skin will irritate it, causing the skin to produce more oil to form a protective barrier against abuse.
2) Chocolate or fatty foods cause acne.  It may seem that each time we eat certain foods our skin erupts in acne, but its not so much the specific food as it is the acidic nature of the food.  The key is to balance your intake of acidic and alkaline foods, which keeps the skin in the proper pH range.
3) Stress causes acne. Stress can not cause acne, but it can make acne worse, and having acne can be very stressful.  When the body becomes stressed, the adrenal cortex converts adrenal androgens to testosterone in BOTH men and women, resulting in overactive sebaceous glands.  The ovaries produce 25% of the testosterone while 75% is converted from adrenal androgens in the normal female. Women only have 10% of the testosterone that men have.  Men have thicker skin and muscles than women and can handle much more testosterone.  When the male or female body is stressed, the adrenal androgen conversion can almost double the testosterone in both men and women.  This causes the T zone of the face to be oily, while other areas are still dry from dehydration.  Adult acne and rosacea are sometimes by-products of stress and/or dehydration.  Water and estrogen calm the "body's stress alarm system".  The most important element of acne treatment is to keep the skin (body) hydrated.  Water is a most important acne treatment in that it is alkaline (pH 7.3) and can be considered a natural treatment or an almost free acne treatment.

Below are a few examples of what acne can look like.  The third picture illustrates acne scarring, which is caused by severe cases of acne:

Look further into the Acne Group for more information on acne, acne treatments, the cause of acne, etc.

This site has information about acne, including medications used in the treatment of adult acne, rosacea, acne rosacea, lupus and skin conditions that co-exist with acne, such as rosacea, lupus, eczema, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. The pages on acne, acne treatment, and acne-related lifestyles can help treat acne. Acne sufferers who modify their lifestyles, experience more acne clearing. While treating symptoms of acne that are most visible and distressing, you should try treating the cause of acne! If we find and treat the cause of adult acne, then the symptoms of adult acne can be solved!

DISCLAIMER:

The information the Acne Group provides should not be considered medical advice, nor is it intended to replace consultation with a qualified physician. The Acne Group does not evaluate, endorse or recommend any particular medications, products, equipment or treatments. Acne may vary substantially from one patient to another, and treatment must be tailored for each individual case. Information provided by the Acne Group about products, medical conditions, symptoms, and related products has been obtained from the manufacturers sponsoring these products. The products and treatments described on this site are for informational purposes only. Statements concerning the products or treatments detailed on this web site have not been evaluated by the Acne Group and should not be construed as factual or accurate as they are representations by the manufacturer. The products and treatments described on this site are not intended to diagnose, heal, cure or prevent disease unless they present themselves as doing such.

Did you know that many acne sufferers are also affected by rosacea? Rosacea is caused by an acidic body and skin, and the main symptom is a red face. The Rosacea-Ltd web site has more information on rosacea.