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Zapping the myths of zitsDiet, cleanliness not real culprits, doctors say
You're washing your face. You've laid off the french fries, you gave up chocolate and you stopped chugging sodas.
So what's up with the zits? Why won't they go away? Well, it's not about diet and hygiene. At least that's the word from dermatologists -- doctors who specialize in treating skin problems. "Foods have been tested at the University of Pennsylvania, where people were placed in a protocol and paid to eat chocolate because they said it made their acne worse," said Dr. Lawrence Schachner, a pediatric dermatologist in Miami. "And the people's acne did not get worse. I think it's an injustice, and it's unfortunate to promulgate those myths. It's time children stop being blamed for what they are eating and how they are washing." Alexa Boer Kimball, an assistant dermatology professor at Stanford University, said parental nagging about acne is similar to the grief moms and dads give their kids about being overweight. "The issues are more complex than diet," she said. "It's not their fault." Acne comes from a disorder of the pilosebaceous gland, Schachner said. During puberty, hormones cause that gland to make more oil, called sebum. At the same time, those hormones cause skin cells to shed faster. Those cells get mixed with all that extra oil and clog up the opening of a follicle. Meanwhile, the gland keeps on making more sebum, and then the follicle swells. Normal skin bacteria start multiplying in the follicle, and those bacteria make irritants that cause blackheads, pimples or nodules. Squeezing can cause scarsPopping zits is not the answer. Squeezing blemishes just makes acne worse, doctors said. And the ones you want to squeeze the most -- the puffy ones filled with stuff -- are the ones from which you really need to lay off. Squeezing pushes the infected matter deeper into the skin, and popped pimples are the ones that can cause scarring. If you just leave it alone, there won't be a mark when the pimple goes away. There are treatments to remove scars. They include laser abrasion and chemical peels, but it's best not to cause scars at all. Nonprescription and prescription remedies can be used to treat acne. Nonprescription products include special cleansers, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Special cleansers aren't necessary, doctors said. Benzoyl peroxide destroys the bacteria associated with acne, and salicylic acid corrects the increased skin shedding. When the over-the-counter methods aren't working, then it's time to see a dermatologist, Schachner said. A doctor might use antibiotics, corticosteroids or derivatives from vitamin A. But Dr. Janet Hickman of Lynchburg, Virginia, warns that acne sufferers should not try to cure themselves by taking more vitamin A. The medicine that doctors prescribe are safe derivatives of the vitamin that your liver won't store. Straight vitamin A can accumulate to dangerous levels in the liver and cause serious health problems, said Hickman, a member of the American Academy of Dermatology. Anxiety over appearanceRecent studies confirm what you already know. Acne can make a person feel pretty depressed. Acne can affect a person's self-esteem, confidence and body image. Some people suffer from embarrassment and start to withdraw from social events or feel depressed or angry. "Adolescence is a painful enough time as it is," Kimball said. "Everybody is trying to look their best. Acne makes kids feel horrible about their image and themselves. There's so much that dermatologists can do. There is no reason for someone with severe acne to suffer." RELATED STORIES: Bursting myths about acne RELATED SITES: Questions and answers about acne | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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