There are many people who struggle everyday with acne. Some struggle with bad acne, and then there are those who struggle with milder forms, sometimes even one pimple. Regardless of what type of acne you struggle with, the myths about acne don’t make the situation any easier.

Here are some of the myths and the truth behind them.

MYTH #1: Only teenagers get acne.

Nothing is worse than this rumor. It makes adults who struggle with acne, sometimes for the first time, feel horrible. Sometimes it even causes adults to think that they cannot get acne - which isn’t true. Acne can form at any stage of life. Teens are more prone to it, but pregnancy can cause acne (or giving birth can cause acne).  This myth is horrible, and causes many adult sufferers to deny themselves access to treatments simply because they think they cannot get acne.

MYTH #2: Dirt causes acne.

Dirty skin is more prone to acne, but that is because you are clogging your pores and introducing multiple viruses into your system. Dirt does not cause acne. You can roll in dirt all you want, get as dirty as you want, and still not get acne. In fact, washing your face too often can irritate those pores and cause infections - which can cause acne. Simply keep good hygiene and worry about the dirt later.

MYTH #3: Stress can cause acne.

This isn’t exactly true, although some people do notice a correlation between their stress levels and breakouts. That is because of hormonal changes that occur during stressful times, not because of the stress itself. You have to keep a balanced and healthy lifestyle, and then stress will not cause as many breakouts.

MYTH #4: Fatty foods and chocolate cause acne.

There are so many reasons for acne that range from bacteria to hormones. It is next to impossible to tell what causes acne, and people may undergo a variety of treatments before they find something that works. But no scientific link has been found between acne and fatty foods - like chocolate. Sometimes hives can appear to mimic acne, and if you get hives on your face from eating something you should stop eating it. Eat your chocolate when you want - there hasn’t been shown to be a link between food and acne.

These are some of the myths, and the truth behind acne. Remember, if you think you have a serious case of acne you should go see your doctor.