There are a lot of myths about the causes and treatments of acne, just as there are urban myths about almost anything having to do with the human body. But you can't treat you acne efficiently if you don't have proper acne awareness. By acne awareness, we mean that you should know the true causes and treatment options about acne.

Myth 1: Only Teenagers Get Acne

False! Anyone can get acne at any time in their lives, although the new hormones surging around a teenager's body can sometimes make one more prone to acne. But acne is not cause by age. Acne is cause by bacteria in the pores. In other words, if you don't keep your skin reasonably clean, you will most likely get the mildest form of acne, known as pimples, zits or spots.

Myth 2: You Always Have To Go To The Doctor To Treat Acne

If you have a type of acne called cystic acne, which is painful and leaves many scars that can last for the rest of your life, you do need to go to the doctor. This kind of deep red sores that hurt will not respond to anything except prescription treatments and time.

But if you have regular acne, with little whiteheads that don't usually hurt and do not leave any scars, you can treat the acne by yourself. If you still have questions about your skin or about acne awareness, be sure to ask your doctor. Nothing will shock your doctor.

Myth 3: You Need To Use Alcohol Based Lotions To Get Rid Of Acne

Wrong! Harsh over the counter popular acne treatments that smell like alcohol are often way too harsh for proper acne awareness. Although they will certainly get rid of any oil or excess dirt on your skin, they will also strip away all of your sebum, which is your body's natural skin oil. When the body feels the sebum gone, it says "Oh no! We need more sebum!" And proceeds to make barrels of sebum to compensate for the just cleaned off sebum. Just use gentle cleaners or even a moisturizing soap two or three times a day as needed to get rid of excess oil and dirt.

Myth 4: You Need To Scrub Your Face When Washing It

False. You need to wash your skin gently, not scrub at it as if you were trying to remove mold from the tiles. Use warm water instead of piping hot. Pat dry instead of scrubbing with a towel. Knowing how to wash your skin correctly is a big part of acne awareness.