Acne and teens: combating the misinformation revolution
In a recent study (2020) published in the journal Pediatric Dermatology, Yousaf et al found that of 130 teenagers surveyed, 45% consulted social media for acne treatment advice with sadly predictable results: only 31% of these teens made changes consistent with American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) acne treatment guidelines.1
Social media is a breeding ground for misinformation, giving new life to persistent skin care myths that can be especially dangerous to teens. Here are a few examples:
Suntanning clears acne
There are many online discussions suggesting that ultraviolet light kills C. acnes, the principal bacteria associated with acne. Your teenage patients may also have read that sunlight appears to dry up oiliness, and that redness from too much sun can camouflage red zits.
Putting these tidbits of information together, many teens conclude erroneously that suntanning is good for them and their acne. As the dermatology community knows, nothing could be further from the truth. Skin has a long memory when it comes to sun damage and over time; small increments of chronic sun damage collect to form skin changes associated with premature aging, such as brown spots and wrinkles, as well as pre-cancerous growths and potentially deadly forms of skin cancer.2
Dirt causes acne
As more teens engage in hiking, camping and other outdoor activities, online discussions increase about whether dirty or dusty skin can be associated with acne breakouts. These discussions ignore the fundamental truth that acne is an internal disease.
Acne is a complex hormonal and inflammatory condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the skin at the level of the pores, causing pore blockages, manifesting as microscopic and visible whiteheads and blackheads. Over time these can become red pimples.3
So, contrary to another popular myth, blackheads are not formed from dirt. Rather, hormones stimulate layers and layers of compacted dead skin cells to collect at the level of the pore opening. Concentrated melanin, the normal skin pigment, collects along with these dead cells and these dead cells combined with compacted melanin are what gives blackheads their classic “black” color.4
Sunscreens cause acne
While it is true that some sunscreens contain oils that could block pores (comedo-forming), there are many sunscreen options available on the market that are both non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic.5
Sunscreens provide invaluable protection against the dangers of sun exposure, including the development of some skin cancers. This is particularly important for people with acne who have sensitive skin.6 Here is a link to the American Academy of Dermatology’s patient education guide for choosing a sunscreen.
Acne isn’t bad in warmer months
Acne is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease and it doesn’t take a holiday. Treatment must continue as directed. Of course, certain acne treatments could increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight exposure, and this is one of the many reasons why acne treatment regimens are highly individualized.7
Depending on the treatment, a healthcare professional might advise nighttime use, rigorous sunscreen use and sun avoidance during the daytime, or other treatment plan alterations due to seasonality.8
Eating junk food causes acne
The belief that eating greasy junk food can cause acne is one of the most persistent myths about skin care, likely because there’s a grain of truth at its core. Although eating fast, greasy foods might appear to exacerbate acne in some people, there is little convincing clinical evidence substantiating a causal link between the two.9
The grain of truth is that following a healthy balanced diet – especially when living with a chronic medical condition like acne – is always a good idea.10
References
1. hmpgloballearningnetwork.com. (n.d.). http://hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/cathlab/event/15-acne-myths-addressed.
2. WebMD, 2021. Sun exposure and skin cancer. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/beauty/sun-exposure-skin-cancer#1. Accessed: Aug 2021.
3. My Cleveland Clinic.org, 2020. Acne. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12233-acne. Accessed: Aug 2021.
4. Medicinenet.com, 2021. What happens if you don’t remove blackheads? Available at: https://www.medicinenet.com/what_happens_if_you_do_not_remove_blackheads/article.htm. Accessed: Aug 2021.
5. Forbes, 2019. The best noncomedogenic sunscreens for 2019. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/loreleimarfil/2019/07/25/the-best-noncomedogenic-sunscreens-for-2019/?sh=2dfc12f2fc0c. Accessed: Aug 2021.
6. Forbes, 2019. The best noncomedogenic sunscreens for 2019. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/loreleimarfil/2019/07/25/the-best-noncomedogenic-sunscreens-for-2019/?sh=2dfc12f2fc0c. Accessed: Aug 2021.
7. The Healthy.com, 2021. Yes, your acne is worse in the summer – here’s how you can get rid of it. Available at: https://www.thehealthy.com/skin-health/acne/summer-acne-treatment/. Accessed: Aug 2021.
8. VeryWellHealth.com, 2019. Acne medications that make you more sensitive to the sun. Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/which-acne-medications-cause-sun-sensitivity-15652. Accessed: Aug 2021.
9. Verywellhealth.com, 2020. Why do I have teen acne? Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/why-do-i-have-teen-acne-15926. Accessed: Aug 2021
10. Verywellhealth.com, 2020. Why do I have teen acne? Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/why-do-i-have-teen-acne-15926. Accessed: Aug 2021
