5 Acne Remedies That Don’t Actually Work
Nothing cramps your style like waking up with a huge zit.
Some of us reach for home remedies before we try over-the-counter or dermatologist-approved options. With so much misinformation about at-home acne treatment, we're here to debunk the five most common myths below.
Toothpaste
Hands off that minty tube! Although it's a common skin myth that toothpaste will help with acne, it can sometimes burn or over-dry skin. This can lead to nasty post-acne marks and not much relief. Instead of opting for a product that is made for teeth, keep a tube of actual acne drying cream in your nightstand drawer. Your skill will thank you later.
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Popping a Pimple
If you think popping a pimple that has come to a head is okay, we hate to inform you that it is most definitely not. No matter how tempting it may be, never pop a pimple. This breaks the surface of your skin and causes nasty scarring. Not only that, bacteria from your hands can enter a pimple and make it even worse than it was in the first place. No matter what you read online, popping a pimple is never a solution.
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Coconut Oil or Tea Tree Oil
Natural and holistic solutions seem to be all the rage right now, and the internet is full of suggestions. Two popular ones that seem to pop up are applying Tea Tree oil or coconut oil to the affected area. Tea Tree oil can be so strong by itself that it can actually burn your skin before it even gets to treat the pimple. If you're going to try this, use a Tea Tree oil mixed with a carrier liquid. Coconut oil is another at-home option you need to stay away from. The way coconut oil is naturally formulated can actually lead to more clogged pores and larger acne problems down the road. Coconut oil should only be used on your skin in places that aren't prone to breakouts (i.e. under eyes as makeup remover). Other than that, stick to coconut oil in your smoothies, not your face.
Avoiding Chocolate
Chocolate's gotten a bad rep with skin over the years. It's funny to hear people swear that chocolate is the culprit for their breakouts—it actually isn't! What's more likely an acne culprit is touching your face with greasy hands after you eat that chocolate. Stick to treats with low sugar content and you should be fine. Some studies show it can actually be the sugar that causes skin ailments.
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Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a catch-22 when it comes to acne. Sure, it can easily help dry out a breakout, but your skin is left confused because alcohol can easily make it dry out too much. Once your skin perceives it as ultra dry, it starts pumping more oil to compensate. Using rubbing alcohol as a solution will start you on this infinite acne circle. Just as you shouldn't use products that list alcohol as one of the top three ingredients, you shouldn't think of rubbing alcohol as a beauty savior.
Treating acne at home isn't rocket science! Now that you've figured out the most common myths about acne, check out THESE beauty products that are perfect for you based on your zodiac sign.