ACNE MYTHS: Does Dirty Skin Cause Acne?
Is Poor Hygiene the Cause of Your Acne?
MYTH:
Acne is caused by being dirty.
TRUTH: Having acne doesn't mean your skin is dirty or unhealthy!
Acne is not caused by poor hygiene but by hormonal changes taking place within the body. Sometimes the sebaceous glands within the dermis become overrun with oil and block nearby follicles. This causes clogged pores, which turns into acne characterized by pimples, zits, pustules, and even cysts.
It doesn’t matter how often you scrub your face or other areas affected by acne. In fact, a rigorous regimen of washing and scrubbing can actually irritate the skin and make the acne worse, not better.
Acne is not caused by poor hygiene. It doesn’t mean that hygiene isn’t important, but it's not the cause. Good hygiene in conjunction with acne treatment products can help. Rather than frequent, harsh washing, it is generally recommended that you wash your face twice a day with a cleanser formulated for your skin type and then pat it dry - never scrub your skin dry. Washing your face any more than twice a day can aggravate your skin and actually make acne worse.
