Okay, let me just get this out of the way: Masturbation :clap: cannot :clap: cause :clap: acne.
Not sure why so many legit healthy habits (like yes, masturbation) have gotten the stink eye as potential acne-causers, but...yeah, it's a problem.
In fact, there are plenty of other pimple myths out there that could use busting. (And some that are ~gasp~ true.) Take this quiz to test your knowledge...
The answer: True—with a catch.
Skim milk has been linked with acne breakouts in people who are already predisposed to them, says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., a New York City–based board-certified dermatologist. It's hard to say whether it's due to inflammation caused by the sugars in milk or whether hormones passed on from the nursing cow are to blame, he says.
However, if you don't have acne-prone skin, cutting dairy isn't going to magically protect you from ever getting zits.
The answer: False.
For starters, using sunscreen is incredibly important for lowering your risk of developing skin cancer. Whether it will make you break out or not really depends on the product and your skin, says Gary Goldenberg, M.D., an assistant professor of clinical dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.
“Not every brand is right for everyone's skin,” Goldenberg says. He recommends looking for the words "non-comedogenic" on your bottle—which basically means that it won't block your pores. “I counsel patients to try several brands to find the one that works best for them,” Goldenberg says.
The answer: False.
While washing your face regularly is important to keep your pores from getting clogged (which, of course, can lead to zits), doing it too often can actually strip oils on the surface of the skin that are needed to keep your skin healthy, Zeichner says. Wash your face twice a day (morning and night) and after exercise or doing things that make you sweaty, Goldenberg says. Anything more than that is overkill.
The answer: True.
Some healthy foods, like tomatoes, may actually promote inflammation in your body, Goldenberg says. “This causes systemic inflammation on a low but steady level, making conditions like acne, rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema worse,” he says. That’s why he usually recommends that his patients try an anti-inflammatory diet. It’s not a guaranteed fix, but “sometimes it really works,” he says. Just be sure to consult with a derm or an R.D. before making this change.
The answer: False.
Exercise doesn't just build muscle—it's been shown to strengthen your skin, too, says Zeichner. He recommends thinking about exercising as recharging your skin's batteries.
Of course, there is a caveat: Make sure you wash your face and body with a gentle soap immediately after you work up a sweat to help keep zits (especially bacne!) at bay.
The answer: False.
For the record, wearing hats (especially those with a wide brim) can help protect your face from the sun. But hats that are too tight may cause acne breakouts on your forehead by trapping oil and bacteria along your hairline, Goldenberg says. The solution is pretty simple: Find a hat that fits and wash your face after wearing it.
It's also not a bad idea to regularly clean inside your hat so that you’re not applying old dirt, sweat, and makeup to your skin, Zeichner says.
