Acne is the most common skin disease in the United States, affecting more than 17 million teens and young adults. Adding the difficulties with the problem of acne is the large amount of incorrect information that is passed from teenager to teenager. In order to set the record straight, here are some of the most common myths you are likely to hear.

• Myth #1: Acne is caused by poor hygiene. Acne does not result from dirty or surface skin oils. Blackheads are the remains of dead skin surfaces, not dirt. Aggressive skin washing will in all likelihood aggravate pre-existing acne. The best approach to cleanliness is to gently wash your face twice daily with a mild soap and then pat dry before applying any of the anti-acne medications.
• Myth #2: Acne is caused by diet. This is one of the oldest myths. Extensive scientific studies have not found a single connection between diet and acne. In other words, chocolate, French fries, pizza and other fast foods do not cause acne. It does make sense to limit fatty foods to prevent obesity and cardiovascular disease, however. Studies have shown that foods with high iodine content (such as shellfish) may aggravate existing acne, but does not cause it.
• Myth #3: Acne is caused by stress. The ordinary stress that teens experience on a day-to-day basis has nothing to do with acne. Ironically, many medications prescribed for stress or depression can cause acne as a side effect.
• Myth #4: Acne is just a cosmetic disease and you will get scars if you keep picking. Yes, acne does affect the way people look and can result in permanent physical scars. However, squeezing blackheads rarely results in scarring. Picking and poking at acne lesions might make the lesions last longer and the temporary stain produced when a blackhead is squeezed will make you appear to have more lesions than you actually do.
• Myth #5: You just have to let acne run its course. The truth is, acne can be cleared up. If the acne products you have tried haven't worked, consider seeing a dermatologist. With the products available today, there is no reason why someone has to endure acne or get acne scars.
• Myth #6: Oily skin is the main cause of pimples. Acne is not caused by oily skin. It is a condition in which the cells that line the hair follicle are shed normally but fail to make it to the skin's surface to be washed away. These cells build up, mix with oil and bacteria, and form a plug. Yes, kids with acne do have oily skin, but a greasy complexion is a symptom of acne, not a cause.
• Myth #7 Acne is contagious. A popular myth spread mostly by fathers to keep their teen girls away from acne-covered teen boys. Sorry dad, nothing your teen can do will either cause them to "catch" acne or "give" it to someone else.
• Myth #8: Don't wear makeup if you have acne. Most dermatologists feel that cosmetics - even those with an oil base - do not cause acne or worsen the condition if it already exists.
• Myth #9: The stronger the medicine, the better. This is a myth most teenagers believe. If a 2.5% solution of topical benzoyl peroxide is working, then a 10% solution will work better. The truth is, if a lower dose is working well, then increasing the dose will have no effect on the acne and will only cost you more money.
• Myth #10: If your parents had acne, there is a good chance you will have it to. Some families may have certain skin conditions that predispose their children to acne. Therefore, this final "myth" may be true!

TREATMENTS THAT CLEAR UP ACNE BEST

One principle that will make acne treatment effective is called "patience". The pimple does not go away overnight thus the wrong way is to squeeze it out as it may leave disfiguring marks or scars. One way of the other, an effective treatment is discovered.

If over the counter treatments fails to help or for people with moderate to severe acne, treatments include topical antibiotics and medications that prevent the pores from becoming blocked, as well as more systemic treatments for the more severe cases.

For simple cases, benzoyl peroxide (i.e. OXI) is used. This is over the counter. This will dry up the skin and the acne. Important is to remove the dead skin each day or the pores will clog up again.

For mild inflammatory acne, several retinoid formulations are available- the purpose of this is to try the skin or cause the acne to mature. For the simple pimple, a topical retinoid (Retin A) will suffice. For the moderate to severe type, oral retinoids (Accutane) are used. But this is not to be used by pregnant women especially the oral type because it can cause fetal defects. Also the liver degrades the oral type so a liver function test is done. On the other hand, when a topical is used, the direct rays of the sun are avoided because the area of the are of application becomes extremely sensitive to sunlight and darkens.

When taking oral retinoids, do not any other medication that has Vitamin A as a supplement or simply the Vitamin because retinoids is Vitamin A and over ingestion of this can be toxic to the system.

The new topical antibiotics have a combination on an antibiotic (clindamycin or erythromycin) with benzoyl peroxide. The latter helps inhibit the antibiotic resistance but this can cause drying. If this is the case, a topical without benzoyl peroxide is used.