Acne Myths

Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that haunts teenagers at the time they are most concerned about their appearance.

Almost all people have their own theories on how acne begins, but most of these have no scientific basis.

For instance, it's a common belief that certain foods cause acne. The ones often blamed are fried fatty dishes, chocolates and nuts. While some foods may aggravate the condition in some people, there is no special diet for acne.

"When the first pimple pops up on an adolescent's face, fear of acne may cause him or her to shy away from candy bars, sugary soft drinks, and French fries. While this may be a sensible change in eating habits, the role of diet in acne has not been proved," according to Dr. Susan Baker of the Boston Children's Hospital in Parents' Guide to Nutrition.

"Diet has long been linked to acne in folklore. Oily foods, chocolate, nuts, cheeses, iodine, and sugar are most often blamed. The very word comedo (blackhead) is derived from the Latin word for glutton. Careful studies have thrown some doubt on these beliefs, but people do vary. If any food seems to aggravate the condition it can be avoided on a trial basis," said Kurt Butler and Dr. Lynn Rayner of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii in The Best Medicine.

A popular college joke is that pimples are caused by too much sex or spending a lot of time in the bathroom. Again, this belief is not based on facts.

"Contrary to myth, acne is not caused by dirt or masturbation. Cleanliness can lessen it, but sexual activity has no effect on it," said Dr. H. Winter Griffith, a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice.

"Acne tends to occur most prominently during the teenage years because of hormonal changes that take place. At this same time of life, sexual feelings are beginning to become stronger so it is natural to think that acne and sexual feelings have something to do with each other. However, there is no relationship between sex and acne in any way," added Dr. Ronald M. Reisner, professor of dermatology at the University of California School of Medicine in Los Angeles.

What then causes acne? In spite of much research, the exact cause remains unknown but this disfiguring condition which is characterized by skin eruptions on the face, chest and back, is believed to be due to hormones that accompany a person's sexual development.

"Many dermatologists maintain that the type of acne that typically plagues teenagers is caused by hormones that stimulate glands, increasing the production of oil. The condition can be aggravated by stress, the stage of menstrual cycle, and picking or squeezing the affected areas," explained Baker, an instructor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.

"Usually acne first becomes most noticeable in the early teens when these hormones increase and the body begins to develop an adult figure. However, the earlier production of these hormones by the adrenal gland results in minor forms of acne which are commonly seen in children as young as eight years old," said Heisner.

Acne starts when the sebaceous (oil) glands in the skin are plugged with dead cells. Unable to reach the surface of the skin, oil accumulates and the plug gets larger, eventually becoming visible as a "whitehead." As the whitehead continues to grow, it may find its way to the skin surface and later become a blackhead with exposure to air.

"Often these comedos will ooze out without being noticed. But sometimes bacteria will break down the oil into free fatty acids that irritate the tissue and cause inflammation. This pimple is usually resolved by the body's defenses, or it drains and heals. But sometimes it grows, damages surrounding tissue, and results in permanent scarring," said Butler and Rayner. (Next: How to deal with acne.)

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