MenScience gives the inside scoop on myths and facts about men’s acne and acne treatments. How much do you really know about breakouts? Take our quiz and see for yourself!

1. Popping acne pimples makes them go away faster.

• True

• False

2. You should wash your face several times a day if you have acne.

• True

• False

3. Eating greasy or oily foods causes acne.

• True

• False

4. Tanning clears up acne in men’s skin.

• True

• False

5. Where you work can affect your skin and cause acne.

• True

• False

6. Benzoyl Peroxide is the most effective ingredient for acne treatment.

• True

• False

7. Glycolic and Salicylic Acids are effective against acne.

• True

• False

8. If an acne medication causes your skin to get worse, you should stop using the acne product.

• True

• False

9. It takes 28 days for new cells to appear on the surface of men’s skin.

• True

• False

10. Acne-prone men should use noncomedogenic products.

• True

• False

11. Perspiration cleanses skin.

• True

• False

12. Teenagers (not real men) get acne.

• True

• False

13. Only men with oily skin get acne.

• True

• False

14. Acne is caused by bacteria.

• True

• False

15. Using a face scrub can control acne.

• True

• False

16. Acne is no big deal.

• True

• False

ANSWER KEY:

1. FALSE: Popping pimples may seem to reduce their size, but it can actually aggravate blemishes by spreading bacteria, causing them to take longer to heal. Not only that, but popping or picking at pimples causes scars and dark spots to form.

2. FALSE: It’s important to have a clean face, but washing your face with force several times a day can cause your skin to produce more oil to make up for the moisture being washed away. Not to mention skin will become red and irritated. Your best bet is to wash once or twice a day with a gentle liquid cleanser that contains Salicylic Acid and Tea Tree extract.

3. FALSE: Pizza, chocolate and junk food have long been labeled “acne magnets,” but there’s very little scientific evidence to back up this claim. However, men should aim to eat a balanced diet full of vitamins from fruits and vegetables, and drink a lot of water for overall well-being.

4. FALSE: When you tan, dead cells build up on your skin’s surface. This can often cause your pores to look tighter and the surface to look smoother. Tanning also masks redness caused by acne. However, once the tan disappears, you’ll be left with greater outbreaks and darker acne scars and marks. Protect skin exposed to direct sunlight by regularly applying sunscreen (especially if using a treatment containing Benzoyl Peroxide).

5. TRUE: Men who work in places that put them in constant contact with grease and oil (restaurants and garages, for example) may find themselves breaking out more because oil creates an ideal environment for bacteria to reproduce. Although there’s no simple way to rectify this, they should clean skin gently at least twice a day and try to keep their hands from their faces at all times.

6. TRUE: Benzoyl Peroxide is an antibacterial ingredient prescribed by dermatologists as the preferred topical medicine for safe treatment for acne. It clears acne-causing bacteria on the surface, absorbs excessive oils and clear pores, while promoting greater cell exfoliation and renewal. Doctors also prescribe Green Tea, Urea and Allantoin to help soothe acne-irritated skin. Because Benzoyl Peroxide has powerful antibacterial and exfoliating qualities, it may take some time for skin to get used to the treatment. Once skin has become accustomed to the treatment however, irritation, redness or dryness usually disappears. The best bet is to apply a small amount only once a day, and then increase frequency gradually over 5 – 6 days. If too much dryness occurs, decrease frequency and gradually increase again.

7. TRUE: Glycolic and Salicylic Acids work very effectively to exfoliate dead skin cells and clear pores. By reducing pore blockage, acne has less of a chance to form and breakouts are reduced. Exfoliation with gentle products that contain Glycolic and Salicylic Acids helps smooth and clean skin, while also reducing instances of ingrown hairs as well.

8. FALSE: During acne treatment, skin often seems to take a turn for the worse before it begins getting better. This is due in part to the need to become accustomed to a treatment and the exfoliating process of shedding dead skin cells. The important thing is to keep usage regular. If, however, skin remains irritated for a long period of time, stop acne treatment and consult a doctor.

9. TRUE: It takes new cells 28 days to form and move through the epidermal layer of skin to finally appear on the surface. This is why results are not always immediately apparent. Using a product with Glycolic Acid may accelerate this process and help clear away dead skin cells.

10. TRUE: Noncomedogenic means ingredients in the product do not clog pores or provoke acne. Although it’s definitely recommended for men with oily skin, you should use non-irritating, noncomedogenic products no matter what skin type you have. All MenScience products have been developed by doctors and are noncomedogenic.

11. FALSE: Perspiration helps flush toxins from the body and maintains body temperature, but it does not cleanse skin at all. In fact, leaving sweat on your body can actually cause acne breakouts. Because of this, remember to take a shower or wash your face immediately after sweating heavily with a gentle cleanser several times a day.

12. FALSE: If only this were true! While acne outbreaks are often strongest during teen years (due to hormonal imbalances and improper skincare), acne can affect men their entire lives. Good skin health needs to be regularly maintained to avoid falling prey to blemishes.

13. FALSE: Acne can affect guys with any skin type, from dry to combination and even normal. Men with oily skin might be more susceptible to outbreaks, but they are by no means alone.

14. TRUE: Bacteria (P. acnes) play a big part in the creation of acne. Once a skin pore becomes clogged, acne bacteria begin to grow, causing blemishes to form. Benzoyl Peroxide is the most effective treatment for acne because it introduces oxygen into the bacteria, which kills it.

15. TRUE: Using a gentle exfoliating face scrub that contains Salicylic and Glycolic Acids can help clear pores of dirt and blockage, cutting down on the instances of acne. However, do not use a scrub if your acne is severe; it could aggravate your skin further.

16. TRUE….and FALSE: Acne is a painful, annoying condition, but it doesn’t need to negatively affect your lifestyle. While healthy skin is something we should all aim for, an occasional pimple or breakout is nothing to freak out about and can be treated with the right acne products. Remember: almost everyone is affected by acne. By using the most effective acne products and skincare techniques, there’s nothing to stop you from attaining a clear, healthy complexion.

SCORING:

13-16 Answers Correct: Acne Expert

9-12 Answers Correct: Good job! Add to your acne know-how with more tips.

5-8 Answers Correct: Knowledgeable, but check out our articles for more info.

0-4 Answers Correct: Needs work. Discover how to treat acne with our expert advice.

By: Deidra Garcia

About the Author:

Acne Org

Before becoming frustrated with all your pimples, you should read the clearpores reviews in order to make your mind about the efficiency of these types of products that can be really helpful for your skin condition. Acne may become quite discouraging for many people who will become keen on considering it as a genuine dilemma. But this is not the case. You should avoid thinking that your pimples will never go away because this is wrong; on the contrary, you may start reading the acne treatment reviews in order to find the product that is likely to work for you.

But regardless of the type of treatment you are going to choose, you will have to make sure that this cure is suitable for your acne condition and skin type. Every person is likely to come along with the specific skin type that has to be taken into account when searching for a new cure that may work miracles in your own case. Therefore, you should read the clearpores reviews in order to have updated information by your side. But if you are suffering from a severe acne condition, the professional must be visited in order to prescribe you the necessary medicine that will heal your skin problem.

For instance, the skin specialist can prescribe you an oral treatment that is likely to be more effective than the topical one that sometimes does not make any difference when it comes to observing the evident improvements and positive effects. For instance, the professional may also prescribe you a medicine called Differin; this medicine is used n order to cure the acne condition in a rapid manner but if you are not fully convinced of its effectiveness, you can also check the acne treatment reviews in order to clear your mind. This medicine is among the most popular ones thanks to its proven effectiveness; in case that this medicine does not work in your case, you will have to look for another one in order to get rid of your pimples.

The entire industry that deals with the constant manufacture of the acne skin products is growing from one year to another; people tend to pass from one medicine to another because they are hoping to find the best solution for their acne problem. But these people should become aware that changing the acne treatment once a week is not likely to lead to positive results; on the contrary, the skin will become more prone to developing the nasty outbreaks because its pores will be aggressed by the permanently changing products. Another aspect that should be taken into account and that is emphasized by all the clearpores reviews is that people should be more patient when it comes to trying a single product.

They have to take their time in order to allow the product to have the desired results; many acne products are regarded as ineffective ones but their “ineffectiveness” may be due to the people’s lack of patience. The instructions of every acne treatment are to be followed; every acne treatment will come along with these instructions and they are especially designed in order to convince people of the effectiveness of a particular acne product. Very good reasons are implied along the process; for instance, if you use a particular product too much, you are likely to affect your skin pores in a negative manner.

The skin will become irritated and this feature will make it more prone to the acne occurrence. If the medicine is not used according to the instructions that usually listed on its label, the effectiveness of the entire treatment is likely to be lowered in an irreversible manner thus wasting the person’s money and time. So, if you are trying a new acne product, you will have to learn how to become patient because the effects may be noticeable only after a couple of weeks; you should not rush into believing that the product is not efficient in your case. On the contrary, you will have to take the required time in order to make sure that the medicine has no effects on your skin condition.

The acne treatment reviews emphasize the importance of using the acne medicine in the appropriate manner by paying attention to all its prescriptions and indications; you have to know how to use just enough of the entire treatment in order not to damage the positive effects and their final quality. You will have to pay attention in order not to overuse a particular acne medicine; you have to be perfectly aware that the product’s so-called ineffectiveness should not be mistake with your own impatience that is not likely to do you any good when it comes to treating a severe acne form.

By: Clint Jhonson

About the Author:

Acne Org