Myth #1: Acne is caused by poor hygiene. If you believe this myth, and wash your skin hard and frequently, you can actually make your acne worse. Acne is not caused by dirt or surface skin oils. Although excess oils, dead skin and a day's accumulation of dust on the skin looks unsightly, they should not be removed by hand scrubbing. Vigorous washing and scrubbing will actually irritate the skin and make acne worse. The best approach to hygiene and acne: Gently wash your face twice a day with a mild soap, pat dry--and use an appropriate acne treatment for the acne.
Myth #2: Acne is caused by diet. Extensive scientific studies have not found a connection between diet and acne. In other words, food does not cause acne. Not chocolate. Not french fries. Not pizza. Nonetheless, some people insist that certain foods affect their acne. In that case, avoid those foods. Besides, eating a balanced diet always makes sense. However, according to the scientific evidence, if acne is being treated properly, there's no need to worry about food affecting the acne.
Myth #3: Acne is just a cosmetic disease. Yes, acne does affect the way people look and is not otherwise a serious threat to a person’s physical health. However, acne can result in permanent physical scars--plus, acne itself as well as its scars can affect the way people feel about themselves to the point of affecting their lives.
Myth #4: 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.
Acne drug
Sydney, Aug 25: Using the controversial acne drug Roaccutane could lead to more abortions, according to specialists.
Roaccutane is used for the treatment of severe, persistent acne, but it has made headlines in recent years for its unproven links with depression and suicide.
According to dermatologists, a move by health authorities to allow GPs to prescribe the heavy-duty medication will push up prescription rates and endanger patients.
Dr Stephen Shumack, secretary of the Australasian College of Dermatologists said that there was a risk that patients would not be informed of the dangers of birth abnormalities among babies born to women taking Roaccutane, forcing them to require an abortion.
"This would be a very bad move indeed," the Sydney Morning Hearld quoted Shumack, as saying.
"The college fears that appropriate people may not be given it, inappropriate people may be given it, and the side-effects may not be managed appropriately.
"And, overall, far more people will be given it, which increases the risk of pregnancies, especially if this is not properly screened for, and then there's more abortions," he added.
He said that under current arrangement there had been very few pregnancy issues with the drug.
More than 140,000 prescriptions were written for Roaccutane in the past financial year but prescribing is limited to the nation's 400 dermatologists and specialist physicians.
However, the Therapeutic Goods Administration's national drugs and poisons scheduling committee said that it would consider a proposal to extend prescribing rights to include 18,000 GPs.
Roaccutane manufacturer Roche, and several firms that sell the drug generically, have denied making the request.
Shumack described it as "ill-conceived" and said the college would oppose it.
"This would be a very bad move indeed," the Sydney Morning Hearld quoted Shumack, as saying.
"The college fears that appropriate people may not be given it, inappropriate people may be given it, and the side-effects may not be managed appropriately.
"And, overall, far more people will be given it, which increases the risk of pregnancies, especially if this is not properly screened for, and then there's more abortions," he added.
He said that under current arrangement there had been very few pregnancy issues with the drug.
More than 140,000 prescriptions were written for Roaccutane in the past financial year but prescribing is limited to the nation's 400 dermatologists and specialist physicians.
However, the Therapeutic Goods Administration's national drugs and poisons scheduling committee said that it would consider a proposal to extend prescribing rights to include 18,000 GPs.
Roaccutane manufacturer Roche, and several firms that sell the drug generically, have denied making the request.
Shumack described it as "ill-conceived" and said the college would oppose it.
