Is The Connection Between Chocolate And Pimples Fact or Myth?

For years there have been many myths floating around about pimples (also known as acne, spots and zits) but just what it fact and what is fiction?

Here we look at some of the more commonly talked about myths and facts.

1. Certain types of food, especially chocolate, will make your acne worse.

There is no truth in the statement that such things as fatty foods, fast foods and chocolate exacerbate acne. However, it is true that some people are sensitive to certain foods and may have a reaction which can effectively worsen their acne. What is certainly true is that your diet can affect your general health, including your skin condition, and that you should eat a balanced and healthy diet which means a low fat diet which is rich in fruit and fresh vegetables.

2. Cleaning your skin frequently and vigorously will help to clear up pimples.

Pimples are caused by oil in your skin and not on the surface of the skin and simply cleaning the oil and dirt off your face will not in itself clear up your pimples. Indeed, if you wash too frequently and too vigorously you can make the problem worse. You should wash your face gently twice a day using an acne soap.

3. Stress causes pimples to break out.

There is no evidence that stress itself causes spots, although your actions when under stress might help to spread an already existing problem. For example, many people when they are under stress lean their face on their hands or rub their face and this can irritate a current acne problem.

4. If left to its own devices acne will clear up on its own.

Acne will certainly clear up if you wait long enough but this could mean a very long wait as many people suffer from acne well beyond their teens and into their twenties, thirties, forties and beyond. Waiting is not the answer and you should certainly treat your acne and get it cleared up as quickly as you can.

5. Covering pimples with make-up will make them worse.

Rather like food, certain brands of make-up can cause problems for specific individuals and so this is a question of trying make-up until you find brands that work best for you. You will also find that there are some brands of make-up which are specifically designed for people with acne.

6. You can get rid of zits by 'popping' them.

This is absolutely not true and you should never squeeze your spots. Popping a zit can often lead to infection which will not only help to spread the problem, but can also hinder healing and lead to scarring. If you really cannot resist the temptation then, rather than squeezing your spots, try pulling the base of the spot apart which can help to open up the pore and assist healing.

7. If acne medication doesn't work for you then you will simply have to live with acne.

There are literally hundreds of different acne medications available today in large part because people all react differently to specific medications and what works for one person will not necessarily work for the next person. If your medication isn't working then change to another medication with a different active ingredient.

8. Getting out into the sun and getting a tan will help to clear acne.

Getting a tan may well help to make acne less visible in some people but it will do nothing to help clear up the condition. Moreover, frequent tanning can cause your skin to age very quickly and can lead to skin cancer.